SWIFT has made the decision to cancel the fintech conference Sibos 2020 in Boston due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The idea is to replace the October event with a virtual alternative.
Sibos is one of the largest conferences in financial services, this event hosted by the payments network provider has been running for over 40 years. The location of the event moves throughout the world with each passing year.
This year it was supposed to take place 5-8 October 2020 in Boston. But SWIFT took the decision to cancel the event as the organization believed it was “the most responsible course of action given global circumstances”.
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This fintech “expo” hosts finance professionals and brings them together from around the world. It also covers a range of banking topics including payments, securities services and technology. In 2019 SWIFT set a record for attendance with around 11,500 delegates in attendance.
“We reached this decision after extensive consultation with the community and in the interest, first and foremost, of protecting the safety and wellbeing of our customers, partners and staff,” SWIFT said in a statement.
“This is not a decision we take lightly, but one we believe is the most responsible course of action given global circumstances.”
The 2021 physical Sibos will therefore now be in Singapore from 11-14 October.
This event has been going smoothly for almost all 30 years of its existence.
Money20/20 has pushed back its Europe conference in Amsterdam to September.
Sources: https://www.globalcustodian.com/swift-cancels-sibos-2020-boston-eyes-virtual-alternatives/https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/35624/covid-19-swift-cancels-sibos
