Key Financial Services Industry Trends Shaping 2026

The financial services industry is continuing its acceleration. AI is rolling out across the enterprise, and compliance expectations continue to diverge based on jurisdiction. It’s an unprecedented technology shift to say the least, and the pressure is being felt throughout the IT industry to catch up and remain resilient. More important now than ever before, learn how Auvik provides financial institutions with full network visibility and monitoring that catches problems before they become outages.

Summary of 2026 financial services industry trends

As we continue to prepare for the year ahead, here’s what we can expect to see as financial services trends in 2026:

1. Enterprise AI and Automation: Banks are done with pilot testing. They’re rolling out AI across entire organizations now, and agentic AI is the next thing everyone’s watching.
2. Data Infrastructure Modernization: Old data silos are killing AI projects. Banks are increasing spending to build systems that can actually feed real-time analytics.
3. Stablecoins and Digital Assets: The GENIUS Act is providing payment stablecoins with a clear regulatory path. Banks are looking at potential trillion-dollar-plus deposit threats and trying to determine their response.
4. Cybersecurity and Operational Resilience: Financial crime hit record levels in 2024, and AI-powered fraud is only getting worse. Regulators are tightening resilience requirements after multiple public outages.
5. Regulatory Localization: Forget global standards. Each major jurisdiction is operating nearly independently now, which makes compliance even more challenging for anyone operating across borders.
6. Private Credit and Alternative Lending: Alternative lenders are faster, and their AI underwriting is pulling ahead. Traditional banks need to either compete or partner up.
7. Hyper-Personalization: Customers are expecting even more personalization. Advisers using AI for personalization are seeing 5x more leads and 2x conversion rates.
8. Wealth Management Changes: Human advisers working with AI tools is becoming the precedent. Morgan Stanley reports 98% of their advisers use AI.
9. Banking Platform Modernization: Banks are moving past digitizing old systems. API-first architecture, ecosystem partnerships, and embedded finance are the future.
10. Talent and Skills Shortage: There aren’t enough technical people. CPA candidates are down 27% over the past decade, meaning everyone’s fighting for AI and the data talent to power it.

Top financial services trends for 2026

#1: Enterprise AI and automation

AI is no longer experimental. After years of pilots and proofs of concept, 2026 will see banks actually scale AI across their organizations. Deloitte’s 2026 Banking Outlook points to agentic AI as the next big thing, with systems that can make decisions and handle complex tasks on their own.

The numbers back up this theory as well. Deloitte says 63% of finance functions are actively using AI. Additionally, EY found over 70% of banks are using agentic AI in some form, with 16% fully deployed and 52% running pilots. Morgan Stanley hit 98% adviser adoption of AI tools. Taking these statistics into account, it’s clear that enterprise-wide rollout is doable.

But here’s the catch for IT teams. AI systems need serious network infrastructure. Real-time data processing, model inference, and integration with legacy systems all demand reliable connectivity. If your network can’t handle AI workloads without creating bottlenecks or opening security holes, you won’t get the value you’re expecting from these investments.

#2: Data infrastructure modernization

AI is only as good as the data behind it. But right now, that’s a problem. Deloitte found that over 90% of bank data users say data is either unavailable or takes too long to get. Legacy silos aren’t just annoying. They’re actively preventing AI from delivering value to users.

Banks are pouring money into what Deloitte calls “AI-ready data,” meaning systems that are accurate, timely, broad in scope, and properly governed. West Monroe’s 2026 outlook says technology readiness is becoming the factor that separates banks that will acquire from banks that will get acquired. Mid-market institutions face a real reckoning here.

For IT, this means managing cloud migrations, hybrid environments, and new data pipelines while keeping everything secure and compliant. The network connects all of it. If data can’t flow where it needs to go without latency or reliability issues, those AI projects are going to lag, if not, fail entirely.

#3: Stablecoins and digital assets

The GENIUS Act is creating clear rules for payment stablecoins, and traditional banks should start to pay attention. Deloitte’s analysis puts the potential deposit threat at over one trillion dollars as consumers and businesses get access to dollar-denominated digital assets that move instantly and globally.

Banks have choices to make. Issue their own stablecoins, offer custody services, process stablecoin transactions, or partner with crypto-native companies. KPMG describes what’s coming as a “multi-moneyverse” where traditional deposits, tokenized deposits, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies all need to work together.

From an IT standpoint, adding digital asset capabilities means thinking critically about network security, transaction processing, and compliance systems. You’ll need to monitor new payment rails in real time, integrate with blockchain networks, and defend against attack vectors that likely won’t look like anything you’ve seen before.

#4: Cybersecurity and operational resilience

Financial crime is getting worse. Deloitte reports $2.5 billion in APP fraud losses from imposter scams, which is a record. AI-powered fraud is accelerating. After a few high-profile banking outages made headlines, regulators are paying much closer attention to operational resilience. According to KPMG, tech and cyber risk management is now a basic requirement for doing business in financial services.

Regulators worldwide are stepping up. EY reports the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act is ramping up enforcement through 2026. Hong Kong’s new cyber legislation kicks on January 1, 2026. Meanwhile, RFI Global found 37% of US households are worried about deposit safety, but only 23% are comfortable with AI being used for fraud detection. That’s a trust gap that’s going to be difficult to close.

For IT, this is about visibility and speed. Can you spot anomalies? Can you respond quickly? Can you keep systems running when something goes wrong? A network issue that turns into a banking outage headline is a very different problem than it was five years ago.

#5: Regulatory localization and compliance complexity

Global regulatory alignment is breaking down. Each major jurisdiction is going its own way. According to EY’s analysis, the US is deregulating to push innovation. The EU wants simplification and competitiveness while the UK is prioritizing growth over risk. In contrast, Asia-Pacific is focused on fintech and Latin America cares most about financial inclusion.

If you operate across borders, this is a compliance nightmare. West Monroe says automated, real-time compliance monitoring is becoming a competitive advantage, not just a cost. Similarly, KPMG notes the regulatory perimeter is expanding to cover tech providers, buy-now-pay-later firms, ESG ratings providers, and crypto companies.

IT infrastructure matters here more than people realize. Real-time monitoring, automated reporting, and audit trails, all of that depends on a network you can see into and document clearly. When a regulator asks questions, you need to show what’s happening across your whole technology stack.

#6: Private credit and alternative lending

Alternative lenders keep gaining ground and their speed is a big reason why. West Monroe calls private credit a “growth engine” that’s pulling ahead of traditional bank lending. Deloitte’s Investment Management Outlook notes hedge funds are moving into private credit, and fundraising has stabilized after dropping a third from the 2021 peak.

A few things could accelerate this in 2026, including clearer tariff policy, more access through 401(k) plans, and broader retail participation. Regulatory changes are helping too. The SEC stopped limiting closed-end funds from putting more than 15% into private funds, and the Department of Labor pulled back guidance that discouraged private equity in retirement plans.

For traditional banks trying to compete, technology is the differentiator. AI-powered underwriting, fast application processing, and integration with partner ecosystems each require a modern, flexible IT infrastructure that can actually support their capabilities.

#7: Hyper-personalization and customer experience

Customers want personalized experiences, and they’re getting pickier about it. RFI Global says mobile banking is now the primary channel. Features like security hubs, card management, and customer-controlled settings are table stakes. Chase is pushing into travel booking and equity trading through its app. The bar for personalization keeps rising.

The payoff is real. ON24 found that advisers using generative AI for personalization see 5X more leads and double the conversion rates. Additionally, 72% of high-net-worth individuals want highly personalized products. The problem is that while 91% of B2B marketers collect first-party data, 48% have immature data governance. They’ve got the data, they just can’t use it well.

Personalization at scale needs real-time data access and consistent performance. When the whole experience depends on instant data processing, network reliability directly affects whether customers get what they expect or become frustrated.

#8: Wealth management changes

Wealth management is landing on a hybrid model, namely human advisers with AI tools. ON24’s research shows the nuance here. Sixty percent of wealth clients expect advisers to use AI. But 80% of affluent clients would pay extra for human advice over digital-only. Only 34% are open to advisers using AI tools, and just 6% would rely on AI alone.

The opportunity here is significant. RFI Global says high-net-worth households hold $8.06 trillion in mutual funds now, up from $6.02 trillion in 2022 and $3.49 trillion in 2020. Mass affluent households keep about half their money in low-yield deposits, which is potential wealth management growth waiting to be captured. Deloitte saw M&A deal volume jump 46% in the first half of 2025, with a quarter of deals involving estate, retirement, or financial planning capabilities.

IT teams need to make this work. AI tools have to integrate with existing wealth platforms and client data has to stay secure across different types of interactions. Advisers need reliable access to information, whether they’re in the office, at home, or at a client meeting.

#9: Banking platform modernization

Banks are rethinking how they build technology. West Monroe describes a shift from digitizing old systems to building API-first, AI-driven platforms with real-time data and ecosystem partnerships. This is what makes embedded finance possible, with banking services showing up inside non-financial apps and experiences.

Deloitte points to diversifying revenue as a driver. Strong fee-based growth from investment banking, wealth management, stablecoins, data monetization, and embedded finance is helping offset pressure on traditional net interest income. Banks that can offer flexible, API-accessible services are better positioned to grab these opportunities.

This puts serious demands on IT. API gateways need high availability meaning real-time data pipelines can’t have any hiccups. Every ecosystem integration adds complexity and expands the attack surface. Managing all of this requires visibility into every connection and potential failure point.

#10: Talent and skills shortage

Financial services have a people problem. Deloitte says 64% of financial organizations plan to add more technical skills in fiscal 2025-2026. The priorities include AI and automation, data analysis, and technology integration. AI-related job postings are up 25% since 2022.

Unfortunately, this will likely be a challenge. CPA exam candidates are down 27% over the past decade. Seventy-five percent of accounting professionals are within 15 years of retirement. Meanwhile, demand is shifting toward cross-disciplinary skills like prompt engineering and critical thinking. Deloitte notes firms are hiring liberal arts graduates who can think critically about AI outputs.

For IT departments, the talent shortage means doing more with less while environments get more complex. Automation, intuitive tools, and solutions that don’t require deep expertise for basic monitoring and troubleshooting will become necessary as this technical employee shortage continues.

Analyzing emerging financial service trends 

Beyond what’s happening right now, here are a few longer-term developments worth monitoring over the next five years:

• Tokenization of traditional assets: Australia is testing 24 use cases. The EU’s ELTIF 2.0 makes alternative investments more accessible to retail investors. Tokenized money market funds and similar instruments will probably gain traction as regulatory frameworks get clearer.
• Central bank digital currencies: Stablecoins are moving faster, but central banks are still working on CBDCs. How CBDCs, stablecoins, and traditional payments interact will directly shape future financial infrastructure.
• Climate and nature risk: KPMG says regulators are trying to make sustainability disclosures less burdensome and more useful. Expect more sophisticated ESG data requirements and risk modeling over the next few years.
• AI governance: EY reports 70%+ of banks are using agentic AI, but governance frameworks haven’t caught up. Industry standards for AI risk management are probably coming soon.
• Consumer trust: RFI Global found 84% of US consumers have concerns about AI in banking, including privacy, security, and less human interaction. Rebuilding trust while pushing AI forward is going to be increasingly challenging.
• Neobank maturation: Twenty-nine percent of US consumers use neobanks now, and primary banking relationships nearly doubled since 2022. SoFi hit profitability, which suggests the model can work long-term. As this trend continues, traditional banks will encounter more competition.

How Auvik can help you prepare for future changes to the financial service industry

Each trend on this list relies directly on IT infrastructure that works. AI deployments, digital asset integration, platform modernization, compliance across multiple jurisdictions, security threats – none of it works if you don’t have visibility into what’s happening on your network.

Many of the aforementioned problems come down to visibility gaps. Managing hybrid environments, keeping up with compliance, detecting security threats, and avoiding outages during critical transactions all come down to the simple truth that you can’t protect what you can’t see. You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken.

Auvik helps counteract this problem by providing you automated network discovery so you know exactly what’s in your infrastructure. With monitoring that catches issues before they become outages and management tools that don’t require a PhD in networking to use, having a clear, real-time view of your network is the difference between managing risk and just hoping for the best.

Auvik’s SaaS management also helps you track the cloud applications spreading across your organization. Shadow IT is a regulatory concern now and third-party risk is on every compliance checklist. Knowing what software your people are actually using is no longer optional.

Help futureproof your healthcare IT infrastructure with Auvik

Financial services is set to change in 2026. Not only is AI scaling, but digital assets are going mainstream and regulations are fragmenting. Combined with rising customer expectations, making it through all these changes requires IT infrastructure that’s not just reliable, but adaptable.

Auvik gives financial institutions full network visibility with alerting that catches problems early and simplifies management across complex environments. Whether you’re worried about cyber resilience, regulatory compliance, or just keeping things running during a period of heavy change, Auvik shows you what’s actually happening.

Automated network mapping, real-time performance monitoring, endpoint visibility, and SaaS management all add up to fewer surprises, less scrambling, and more time to focus on the initiatives that matter.

Want to see how it works? Explore Auvik for financial institutions and discover how other banks, credit unions, and investment firms are utilizing it.