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Research Report

What’s Going On in Commercial Lending 2026

Commercial lending isn’t slowing down — but the rules of competition are changing fast. Based on insights from over 400 banking leaders, this report, co-authored by Cornerstone Advisors Senior Director Joel Pruis and Chief Research Officer Ron Shevlin, and commissioned by Baker Hill, reveals the strategies separating high-performing institutions from the rest.

What You'll Learn in This Report

  • Where banks are seeing loan growth — and where they’re losing share
  • Why most CRM and AI investments aren’t delivering — and how to fix it
  • What top-performing institutions are doing to improve speed, efficiency, and deal flow
  • How private credit is reshaping competition (and which segments are most at risk)

Report Stats At a Glance

75%

 

of banks cited commercial real estate loans as a high priority, up from 60% in 2025 and 49% in 2023.

30%

 

of bankers expect artificial intelligence to deliver a strong impact, with another 30% anticipating a moderate impact.

53%

 

of bankers identified startups and early-stage companies as the borrower segment most at risk of migrating to private credit providers.

Ready to See Real Results With Your Financial Institution?

Solutions from Cornerstone Advisors

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Performance

Cornerstone’s Performance solutions provide a wide range of consulting expertise to help clients identify opportunities to increase efficiency and productivity across their entire organization, whether it’s enhancing the digital experience or optimizing payments. We leverage these services with our proprietary tools, including Performance Vault and Analytics Vault. Armed with unparalleled insider data analytics and benchmarking intel, your bank or credit union will gain the confidence to make sound, data-driven decisions.

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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.