2006-10-09

If Banks where Rock Bands

The Kuwaiti workforce mostly work in the government or government affiliated institutions. For the Kuwaitis that work in the private sector, a big part are active in the financial sector including banks and investment companies. On the subject of banks, I found this fun article from Bloomberg that compares banks to rock bands.


1) Goldman Sachs = The Rolling Stones

Because it is number 1 and deservingly arrogant.

2) Citigroup = Ozzy Osbourne

because it is growing old disgracefully, just like the prince of darkness, Ozzy.

3) Deutsche Bank = Fleetwood Mac

Immensely profitable? Check. Years of infighting and not communicating with one another? Check. Badly in need of a style makeover? Check. It's Fleetwood Mac.

4) JPMorgan = Radiohead

Too clever and needing another big hit to remain relevant.

5) Barclays Capital = Oasis

Insolent and failing to break into the US Market, just like Oasis.

6) Morgan Stanley = Coldplay

Deadly earnest. Blue-blooded. Well-heeled. Regularly at the top of the charts.

7) Merrill Lynch = Madonna

Peaked in the 1980s and have been irrelevant since the 1990s, notwithstanding umpteen attempts at reinvention.

8) HSBC = any boyband

The true performers earn peanuts, while the management reaps the financial rewards.

9) UBS = Phil Collins

Both rich, both based in Switzerland, and no one with any sense gives a hoot about either.

10) Commerzbank = David Hasselhoff

Big in Germany, and no one understands why.


Now for the Kuwaiti banks, I don't work in a bank so to all my banker readers, what bands are Kuwaiti or Arabic BANKS?

4 comments:

  1. I think just about all the ones you've mentioned arent just retail banks but are Investment Banks which frankly is so much cooler. Banks here...ahh not so cool...and even less cool is the avilability of representative Arab artists. Hence, Im sad to say that you can't really make the same comparison here.

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  2. GULF BANK = THE CLASH

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  3. stallion: sounds right for Kuwait
    1001: hmm, it does not need to be scientific, it is just for fun.

    anon: why? because they are punks or because they rock?

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