Bernard Marr, a world-renowned futurist and author of Generative AI in Practice, identifies seven key trends that will define banking and financial services in 2026.
- AI Agents in Banking and Finance. AI agents capable of complex, multi-step tasks will automate transaction reconciliation, compliance checks, fraud flagging, and application processing. For customers, they’ll act as personal financial assistants, optimizing rates and managing portfolios autonomously.
- The Customer Experience Revolution. As switching providers becomes easier, AI-driven personalization delivers frictionless access through apps and in-person banking. Predictive analytics anticipate pain points, while evolved chatbots resolve problems end-to-end without wait times.
- Bridging the Fintech Skills Gap. Despite high salaries, banks struggle to find talent in AI and ML engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and blockchain development—skills the World Economic Forum identifies as critical amid acute talent shortages.
- Tokenized Assets. Tokenizing real-world assets enables trading without complexities or middlemen through smart blockchain contracts. The market surged to $25 billion in 2025 (245x increase from 2020) and will continue accelerating.
- Further Breakthroughs in Quantum Finance. JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC began applying quantum computing to risk analysis in 2025. Expect 2026 scaling through hybrid workflows combining classical and quantum processing for complex calculations.
- Stablecoins Go Mainstream. Stablecoins offer stability with crypto benefits. Following U.S. legislative changes, major institutions announced plans in 2025, with acceleration expected as more countries adopt crypto-friendly legislation.
- Building Resilience in Uncertain Times. Disrupted supply chains and capital flows drive focus on resilience through regulation simplification and innovations like dynamic cross-border payments. The convergence of AI, blockchain, and quantum technologies is rewriting finance’s rules. Institutions embracing these changes while maintaining customer experience focus will thrive.