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Cornerstone Advisors Research Report

What’s Going On in Banking 2026

AI, Crypto, and Fraud: Oh My!

As bankers head into 2026, they are walking through unfamiliar terrain, uncertain economic conditions, intensifying competition, and rapidly evolving technology.


The What’s Going On in Banking 2026: AI, Crypto, and Fraud—Oh My! report by Ron Shevlin captures how forward-thinking banks and credit unions are navigating the new financial services landscape.


Based on insights from 416 senior executives at institutions with assets of $250 million to $50 billion, this year's report goes deeper than ever, pairing survey data with hard-edged analysis of what’s hype, what’s real, and what demands action now.

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Key Findings of the Study

  • Optimism remains high heading into 2026, with more than 80% of bank and credit union executives feeling confident about the industry’s prospects despite economic, regulatory, and political uncertainty
  • AI adoption accelerated sharply in 2025, with generative AI now deployed by roughly half of banks and nearly 60% of credit unions, and agentic AI rapidly moving onto board agendas
  • Fraud has become a strategic threat, driven by rising first-party fraud, increasing losses, and growing concern among executives, prompting higher budgets but inconsistent system upgrades
  • Crypto, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits entered the boardroom, with most institutions discussing them at senior levels, even as regulatory uncertainty and unclear use cases slow execution
  • Technology spending will increase for most institutions in 2026, but execution gaps persist as planned system replacements continue to fall well short of actual deployments

Virtual Event: Explore Key Findings with Cornerstone

February 25 | 10 AM PT | 1 PM ET

Join Cornerstone Advisors Chief Research Officer Ron Shevlin and Chief Executive Officer & Founding Partner Steve Williams as they present key findings from What’s Going On in Banking 2026: AI, Crypto, and Fraud—Oh My! and explore what the year holds in store for banks and credit unions.

Study Results Featured In

Quotes From Study Participants and Readers

"While it’s human to vent our frustrations, financial institutions embrace too much of a ‘woe is me’ attitude towards change. We forget that we are the gatekeepers of modern life. People need us in order to access the financial system—a necessity to get anything done today. Change will come. Rise to the occasion and innovate or get left in the dust."

 

Evan Mulcahy | AVP of Digital Experience
Advantis Credit Union
"To survive, we have to be fast and nimble. Buckle up and hang on!"

 

Steve Stone | Chief Executive Officer
1st United Credit Union
"If we didn’t have to be audited, verified six different ways in each area, we might actually make money."

 

Chief Financial Officer
$1.2 Billion Bank
"Just do it and stop complaining."

 

Mike Butler | Chief Executive Officer
Grasshopper Bank

About the Author

Ron Shevlin - Headshot - Circle BnW-1

Ron Shevlin

Chief Research Officer

As Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors, Ron Shevlin heads up the firm's research efforts and authors many of its studies. He has been a management consultant for more than 30 years, working with leading financial services, consumer products, retail, and manufacturing firms worldwide.

Before Cornerstone, Ron was a researcher and consultant for Aite Group, Forrester Research, and KPMG. Author of the Fintech Snark Tank blog on Forbes, he is ranked among the top fintech influencers globally and is a frequent keynote speaker at banking and fintech industry events.

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