"Two disruptions of absolutely unimaginable scale are radically and totally transforming retail banking: (1) a worldwide convergence of financial services, telecom, retail, healthcare and media and (2) the chaotic mash-up of multiple emerging phenomena including nanotechnology, big data analytics, telemedicine, smart cities, machine-to-machine interaction (the Internet of Things) and the incredibly rapid growth of the middleclass in Asia, South Asia and parts of Africa. The new middleclass represents hundreds of billions of dollars in fresh revenue for retail banks. By training and temperament, however, most retail bankers are unable to "think beyond the branch."