The day-long expo, which offers 30+ seminars from leading retail finance institutions, analysts and technology vendors, alongside an extensive exhibition, has already attracted much interest from the financial technology community, with IBM signing as the event's first corporate sponsor. In addition, the Financial Times and The Banker have signed as media sponsors. Organisations confirmed to speak on the day include Royal Bank of Scotland, Nationwide, BACS, Identrus, Chip and PIN Programme, Celent, Forrester, IBM, Marks and Spencer Financial Services and many more.

The launch of Finexpo 2003 - RFT follows the success of Finextra Research's earlier event, Finexpo 2003 - City Technology Strategies. This took place in January 2003 and attracted over 740 delegates and guests, 40 speakers and 36 exhibitors from the investment banking and capital markets communities.

Visitors to Finexpo 2003 - RFT have the chance to check out the latest technology, network with their peers and hear presentations from top bankers, analysts and vendors on business-critical issues, including multi-channel banking, customer profitability, mobile payments and chip card technology strategies.

To date, over 180 approved delegates from banks and retail financial services institutions have already registered for free passes and the line-up of confirmed technology vendors includes IBM, ACI Worldwide, Aspace Solutions, Callidus, Financial Objects, KANA, NCR, Open Transaction Systems, Practiv and Strategic Planning Society (SPS).

'Retail Financial Technology Strategies 2004', Finextra's report on the results of its survey of the technology goals, strategies and spending plans of key retail finance institutions will be launched at the event. Advance copies of the report will be available from the organisers.