There was something a little surreal about this year’s Sibos. While the banking sector’s woes and the demise of Lehman Brothers were on everyone’s mind, it was almost business as usual on the exhibition floor, as vendors announced new products and banks plugged their services, with no shortage of champagne and canapes.

The two bankers I overheard talking about their experience at Sibos 2008, as I boarded a plane back from Vienna, also seemed rather unfazed by current events. In fact, their main complaint had little to do with the hard times facing the industry and more to do with the above-mentioned partying. They lamented having to attend Sibos parties every evening, especially being “stuck there” when they had to wait for a shuttle bus to get back to their hotel. It is a hard life indeed.

They did later touch on the financial crisis, but their comment was surprisingly upbeat. They did not express concern over possible job losses or impending financial regulation, but instead rejoiced that investment bankers would … “finally be humbled.”

Filed under: Credit Crunch, Sibos, regulation