AI, Crypto, and Fraud Dominate Banking Execs' 2026 Agenda
Event summary
- Cornerstone Advisors' annual report surveyed 416 banking executives, revealing AI, crypto, and fraud as top priorities for 2026.
- Nearly half of banks (49%) and 59% of credit unions have already deployed generative AI.
- Fraud losses increased for 40% of banks and 50% of credit unions in 2025, with first-party fraud accounting for over 40% of total losses.
- Over 70% of banks have discussed stablecoins at the board level, and more than half have discussed tokenized deposits or blockchain.
The big picture
Cornerstone Advisors' report highlights the strategic shift in banking towards operationalizing emerging technologies like AI and crypto, while managing escalating fraud risks. The findings underscore a broader industry trend where competitive pressure from fintechs and crypto-native firms is driving traditional financial institutions to adapt rapidly. With over 80% of banks and credit unions planning to increase technology spending in 2026, the disconnect between strategy and implementation remains a critical challenge.
What we're watching
- AI Operationalization
- How banks and credit unions will translate generative AI investments into measurable results.
- Fraud Management
- Whether increased fraud prevention budgets will effectively curb rising losses, particularly from first-party fraud.
- Crypto Integration
- The pace at which banks will move beyond boardroom discussions to actual deployment of stablecoins and tokenized deposits.
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