This edition of the Financial Services Spotlight is an integral part of one of Gartner's most-important annual undertakings: Gartner Predicts. This is the time when the entire Gartner research and analysis community comes together to offer its clients an informed, realistic and actionable view of the conditions they likely will be facing in the coming year — despite the uncertain economic, social and political outlook.  Read more		Annemarie Earley Editor in Chief Financial Services

			Financial Services in 2003: Not Back to 'Normal' Yet 6 December 2002 Richard De Lotto  Annemarie Earley  Financial services decision makers are hoping that 2003 will be just another "normal" year. However, complex and difficult conditions will continue; financial services providers need to be prepared.

	How to Use Gartner Predictions 2003 as a Planning Guide 5 December 2002 Richard De Lotto  There's a saying, "predicting the future is hard because it hasn't happened yet." Gartner's Strategic Planning Assumptions have a built-in planning guide, the probability statement.		The USA PATRIOT Act Will Spell Trouble in 2003 2 December 2002 Richard De Lotto  The hastily adopted USA PATRIOT Act will affect financial services providers operating in the United States in complex and surprising ways. The act is not going away, at least not anytime soon, and FSPs must prepare for compliance.
	For Financial Services, 2003 Is a Critical Year for Customer Focus 25 November 2002 Kimberly Collins  Financial service providers ignore the customer at their own risk in the future. The competition for your clients is heating up.		Economy Will Not Impede Financial Services CRM in 2003 2 December 2002 Kimberly Harris  Bradford Adrian  Customer relationship management will continue to be a major concern for financial services providers in the coming year. FSPs will focus on realigning CRM investments and ensuring business benefit in marketing, sales and service.
	Latin American Financial Services 2003: Local Factors First 2 December 2002 Richard De Lotto  Maria Kun  Despite strong global influences, regional factors will dominate the Latin American economies in 2003. This market will continue to present opportunities for agile, innovative financial services players.		Bill Payment Will Pay Off for Banks in 2003, If Done Right 27 November 2002 Avivah Litan  Consumers who pay bills online at their banks will be more than twice as likely to stay at their banks in 2003. However, the systems must be less confusing and more must be done to increase adoption.
	Online Bill Payment Will Be Top Bank Priority in 2003 25 November 2002 Avivah Litan  Online bill payment will be a top priority for U.S. banks in 2003. It continues to be the fastest-growing financial application on the Web.		Predictions 2003: Our Vision of the Global Financial Services Industry 27 November 2002 David Furlonger  Though cost pressures mean that its actions will be largely tactical during 2003, the global financial services industry needs to do some serious strategic thinking about its future. Customer relationships, business models and regulatory issues will all come under the microscope.
	Architectural Reflection and Regrouping Will Mark 2003 4 December 2002 Mary Knox  Financial services providers must use cost- and risk-reduction initiatives to further the development of flexible and interoperable architectures in 2003, if they are to succeed in 2004.		Insurance in 2003: Strategy Reassessment and Realignment 25 November 2002 Kimberly Harris  Insurers will focus investment on front- and back-office processes in 2003, especially on partner relationship management, wealth management, claims processing, underwriting, risk management and sourcing.
	Three 'Hot Spots' for Banking in 2003 2 December 2002 Don Free  A difficult economy presents serious challenges for financial services providers in 2003, but also real opportunities. Three areas to watch: application integration, wealth management and check processing.		Wireless Financial Services Predictions for 2003 25 November 2002 Bradford Adrian  The coming year will be a period of transition for wireless financial services. Certain types of implementations, and certain geographies, will show growth, but most will not. There's one bright spot: mobile payments.