During a recent stay in Marrakech, one thing struck me almost immediately. Banks seemed to be everywhere. Branches, cash machines and visible financial infrastructure formed part of daily life. After a few days, therefore, I realised how different that felt from Switzerland.
Back home, banking has become almost invisible.
Most of us rarely enter a branch anymore. Instead, we pay digitally, transfer money online and manage investments through our phones. From a user’s perspective, this is an extraordinary success story. Indeed, financial services have become more convenient, more accessible and considerably more efficient.
Yet I find myself wondering whether invisibility carries a hidden cost.
When Convenience Replaces Contact
The less visible a service becomes, the easier it is to forget the people behind it. Technology has solved many operational problems. However, it has not removed the need for judgment, perspective and trust.
Moreover, financial decisions rarely stay simple forever. When complexity arrives, whether through entrepreneurship, Nachfolge or growing family wealth, people seldom look for another app feature. Instead, they look for clarity. They look for someone who understands the situation.
Consequently, invisible banking works perfectly well for everyday transactions. For meaningful decisions, however, the human element still matters.
The future of banking will certainly be digital. As a result, efficiency and convenience will continue to improve, and that is genuinely welcome.
Nevertheless, the institutions that truly stand out may be those that combine digital excellence with real human connection. In other words, the aim is not to choose between technology and people. The challenge is to keep both visible.
