Innovation, regulation and credit risks in APAC financial services

For firms operating in the financial services sector in recent years, the landscape has been shaped by significant and sustained challenges. 2025 brought escalating geopolitical risks for financial institutions (FIs) navigating the financial and operational impacts of military conflicts, shifting tariff structures, rapidly changing diplomatic dynamics and evolving trade rules. This trend is expected to continue throughout 2026. Across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, FIs and other financial services firms have faced a complex mix of pressures, including rapid digitalisation, rising competition from fintechs and highly fragmented regulatory environments.