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As Ron Shevlin, chief research officer at Cornerstone Advisors, explains, a bank account can function as a “paycheck motel” — primary when the ACH deposit lands, but the funds eventually end up elsewhere.

The report also signals a slowdown in momentum within the open banking landscape; for instance, Visa has paused its U.S. open banking product due to regulatory concerns. Chris Miller from Cornerstone Advisors noted that this decision underscores the unsettled nature of the sector, potentially stalling adoption particularly for smaller institutions that might struggle with compliance challenges.

Banks Face AI, Crypto, and Fraud ‘Oh My!’ Moment in 2026

Chris Miller, senior director at Cornerstone Advisors, told American Banker that Visa's pause of its open banking platform "highlights just how unsettled the space still is" and how changing laws and fees "could definitely slow adoption, especially for smaller players that can't afford compliance missteps."

Research reveals how forward-thinking banks and credit unions will navigate the financial services landscape in 2026.

As Chris Miller of Cornerstone Advisors aptly puts it: "If a digital platform doesn’t change behaviour, it’s just a prettier website."

As new payment channels emerge, including agentic commerce and Google's new UPC solution, Mastercard and Visa will work hard to maintain their position as the default payment type within those new ecosystems, according to Tony DeSantis, senior director at Cornerstone Advisors.

Cornerstone Advisors’ report, “The Journey Toward 2030: Becoming a Smarter Bank,” claims roughly 70% of U.S. consumers have accounts at multiple banks.

"Before the Plaid deal, the UltraFICO score accessed checking and savings account data, such as account age and balances, to augment traditional credit‑file data," said Ron Shevlin, chief research officer for Cornerstone Advisors. "With Plaid, the UltraFICO score will use real‑time or near‑real‑time cash‑flow data, such as inflow, outflow and account activity, to enhance the score."

“It would be a material shift in the credit card market and lead to many cards being closed for risk profile," said Tony DeSanctis, senior director at Cornerstone Advisors. "Availability of credit would drop significantly, and the ability to lend to sub-prime and even near prime customers would be greatly reduced.”