The latest from the bank IT budget wars: 72 percent of North American bank technology executives expect their budget to stay the same or decrease in 2010, which is about the same situation they found themselves in 2009. Only 28 percent think their budgets will increase. In 2008, nearly half of executives saw their budget increase, according to a new survey by Aite Group, in conjunction with Bank Systems & Technology.

So, the expectations for 2010 are significant. All this is magnified when it comes to discretionary items; most bank IT budgets comprise non-discretionary spending items. More than 80 percent of executives expect their discretionary budgets to stay flat or go down, compared to 74 percent in 2009 and 68 percent in 2008. It may be a tough year for vendors.

At the same time, a push for more outsourcing has yet to materialize, despite some heavy marketing by IT service providers. All this is no doubt putting some big projects on hold. When things finally pick up, there will be a lot of projects competing for attention. 

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