Who is developing the next generation of banking applications?

Great question! Very difficult to pinpoint who the next innovators are in this field down to a few names. I can tell you that its not the Core Banking Software OEMs.

Middle Tier Application Servers are now what most of the front-end apps are interfacing with. Regionally restricted banks have opted to use regional providers to code apps for them or use their already coded apps. So such makers will vary from region to region. Some of the products are generic enough to be driven across all markets, for example a company in Singapore that I know of, makes very good leasing apps for the banks for their front-end, they market this across the SAARC / ASEAN and GCC region. Likewise there are specific players who will only market in specific regions.

If you attend conferences like MEFTEC, Sibos, Next Bank Asia, or Finovate, etc. you will see a lot many players who are active in apps vertical.