In 2025, commercial banking proved it could move fast. Real-time payment networks went mainstream, ISO 20022 became the global data standard, and artificial intelligence began transforming everything from compliance to customer engagement. But 2026 poses a more nuanced challenge: how to sustain that speed responsibly while scaling innovation, deepening trust, and monetizing the infrastructure banks have built.
Across North America, nearly every institution has entered the real-time era. FedNow has connected more than 1,500 institutions, while the RTP Network surpassed $481 billion in transaction value in a single quarter. The ISO 20022 migration for Fedwire and Swift has been completed, unlocking structured, actionable data at an unprecedented scale.
Yet many banks are realizing that implementing technology is not the same as extracting value from it. This year will be the year where institutions shift from deployment to differentiation. In 2026, we’ll see savvy banks using the rails, data, and digital platforms to drive measurable business outcomes: new revenue models, better liquidity management, and more meaningful customer engagement.
The trends defining this transformation share three through-lines: scale, value, and trust. Each represents the next chapter of digital maturity — it’s not about moving faster but moving smarter.
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