Once upon a Time there was the Bank (and once upon the Time there were the «Bankers»)

Banks used to be very definite firms having in common some important features:a strong hierarchy, a focus on processes, an idiosyncratic technology, an orientation tostability and predictability, a strong and specific culture. But the bank business hasstrongly diversified: we now have private, investment, corporate, retail banks and, atthe same time some traditional deposit taking banks have evolved in market fundedfinancial institutions. Because form follows function the bank organizational form hasalso diversified. As a consequence bankers, but also bank scholars, lost their originalidentity and don't share any more a common set of skills, culture and competences.