Spending: Fear, Regulation Are Driving IT Spend: Continuity and compliance to drive investment.

Bank CIOs have their hands full these days. As financial institutions weigh the likely impact of natural disasters, terrorism, fraud and regulation on their businesses, many are expected to loosen their IT purse strings in an attempt to tackle compliance and operational risk issues in 2005.

Research analysts say Sarb-anes-Oxley, homeland security and even the massive U.S./Canadian electrical blackout from a year ago have each done its part to stir some banks into preparatory mindsets, especially as security, risk and compliance become increasingly tethered to performan