Bank Cler and Zak: How to succeed in digital banking

By Professor Patrick Reinmoeller Patrick Reinmoeller, Elie El Khoury, Thibaut Jechoux, Lars Spicker Olesen and Paul Tourel

Mariateresa Vacalli is CEO of Bank Cler, a subsidiary of the larger Basler Kantonalbank (BKB), a traditional local incumbent in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. She needs to secure the successful future of Bank Cler and its mobile bank Zak, in an increasingly digitally connected and competitive space. The variety of disruptive business models with a range of online financial services offerings backed by traditional banks, foreign competitors and fintechs poses a complex challenge. After attracting many customers following its launch in 2018, Bank Cler’s mobile-only bank Zak has seen its number of customers stagnating. Having analyzed the business models of other digital banks and the threat of tech giants entering and competing in the Swiss market, Mariateresa needs to choose whether to focus on the existing omnichannel strategy and customer segments or expand internationally.

Learning Objective

The case allows students to step into the shoes of the CEO of Bank Cler, a subsidiary the traditional BKB bank and to choose between strategic options for its digital bank Zak to respond to increasing competition from digital banks and startups in the financial services space. Assessing information about digital offerings, disruptive and traditional players, and market dynamics encourages comparisons of value curves, Business Model Canvases and Strategy Diamonds to justify the strategic choice.

Keywords	Business Model Canvas, Digital Banking, Digital Transformation, Strategy, Strategy Diamond, Value Curve
Settings	Europe, Switzerland Bank Cler, Banking 2019-2021
Type	Field Research
Copyright	©IMD 2022
Language	English

Order this case study

Reference: IMD-7-2357

IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre, UK Office

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Fax +44 (0)1234 751125
Email [email protected]

The Case Centre, US office

Babson College

Babson Park, Wellesley MA 02457, USA
Tel +1 781 239 5884
Fax +1 781 239 5885
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

Copyright information

IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.