Research Report
2026 Digital Banking Performance Metrics
The benchmarks that separate digital leaders from everyone else
Digital banking is no longer about adoption—it’s about outcomes. Top-performing institutions are translating digital engagement into growth—while others see flat usage despite similar investments. The 2026 Digital Banking Performance Metrics report from Cornerstone Advisors, commissioned by Alkami, delivers the industry’s most trusted benchmarks across retail and business digital banking, revealing where financial institutions are winning, where they’re stalling, and where opportunity is leaking through the cracks.
Now in its seventh year, this report goes beyond anecdotes to provide real-world performance data from nearly 150 banks and credit unions—plus, for the first time, a dedicated deep dive into business digital banking.
Get the data, benchmarks, and insights you need to challenge assumptions, reset priorities, and build a digital banking strategy grounded in reality.
Key Takeaways at a Glance:
- Mobile banking activation jumped to 82%, reinforcing mobile as the primary engagement channel
- Digital account opening hit 27% of total checking openings, but 3.36 applications are abandoned for every 1 completed
- Digital loan applications surpassed 50% of all consumer loan volume for the first time
- Business digital banking enrollment is strong, but capability gaps—not demand—are holding institutions back
What You’ll Learn in This Report
- Why mobile has cemented itself as the primary banking channel, even as P2P and PFM struggle to hold relevance
- Where digital account opening breaks down—and how abandonment is costing institutions thousands of accounts per year
- What business customers actually use (and what they don’t) in digital treasury, payments, lending, and mobile
- The metrics that matter most—and how to apply a practical framework for measuring what truly drives results
About Cornerstone Advisors
For over 20 years, Cornerstone Advisors has delivered gritty insights, bold strategies and data-driven solutions to build smarter banks, credit unions and fintechs. From technology system selection and implementation to contract negotiations, vendor management, performance improvement programs, strategic planning, merger integration and enterprise program management, Cornerstone combines its expertise with proprietary data and research to help financial institutions thrive in today’s challenging environment. For more information, visit www.crnrstone.com, connect with us on LinkedIn and Youtube, and subscribe to GonzoBanker® for our opinionated take on all things banking.