Bank Director's 2026 Technology Survey: Banks Feel Heat From Growing Field of Competitors

A new Bank Director survey, sponsored by Jack Henry, shows banks fear fintech rivals, adopt AI tools, yet lack clear Gen Z and stablecoin strategies.

Rhea-AI Summary

Jack Henry (JKHY) is highlighted as sponsor of Bank Director’s 2026 Technology Survey, which tracks how U.S. bank leaders view competition, emerging technologies and strategy.

Surveyed community bank leaders now see fintech firms such as Block and PayPal as a top competitive threat: 58% cite them, behind only local banks/credit unions at 61% and ahead of big national banks at 48%; 40% cite neobanks such as Chime. Sixteen percent point to crypto and stablecoin platforms as a threat, but only 10% report a stablecoin strategy and 7% a tokenized deposit strategy. Seventy percent say they lack a strategy to reach younger accountholders, particularly Gen Z.

On technology use, 76% view tech mainly as an efficiency tool, and 88% have drafted AI acceptable use policies. Seventy-two percent have implemented generative AI and 30% use agentic AI, while 69% cite integration with existing systems as a top concern. Most banks offer P2P payments (82%), and many believe cryptocurrency (79%) and stablecoin (63%) are overhyped.

Market Context

JKHY's 2.13% pre-publication gain coincided with four of five listed peers rising, so the survey arr...

Analysis

JKHY's 2.13% pre-publication gain coincided with four of five listed peers rising, so the survey arrived amid broadly positive, though mixed, technology-services trading.

Key Figures

Fintech competitive threat: 58% Local bank or credit union threat: 61% Big bank competitive threat: 48% +5 more

Fintech competitive threat

58%

Community bank leaders citing fintech firms as a top threat

Local bank or credit union threat

61%

Community bank leaders citing local banks or credit unions as a top threat

Big bank competitive threat

48%

Community bank leaders citing big banks as a top threat

Neobank concerns

40%

Community bank leaders expressing concerns about neobanks

No Gen Z strategy

70%

Banks reporting no strategy to reach younger accountholders

Stablecoin strategy

10%

Institutions reporting a stablecoin strategy

Tokenized deposit strategy

7%

Institutions reporting a tokenized deposit strategy

Generative AI adoption

72%

Banks reporting implementation of generative AI

Key Terms

stablecoin, tokenized deposits, agentic ai, generative ai

4 terms

stablecoin financial

"Just 10% say their institutions have a stablecoin strategy"

A stablecoin is a type of digital currency designed to keep its value steady, often by being backed by traditional assets like money or commodities. For investors, stablecoins offer a reliable way to move money quickly across digital platforms without the value fluctuations common with other cryptocurrencies, making them useful for saving, trading, or transferring funds with less risk of sudden losses.

tokenized deposits financial

"7% have one for tokenized deposits."

Digital tokens that represent traditional bank deposits held at a regulated institution, recorded on a blockchain-like system so each token is a claim on the underlying cash. They matter to investors because they can speed up transfers, enable new trading and lending services, and increase transparency much like converting paper money into an instantly transferable digital voucher, while still carrying banking and regulatory risks tied to the issuer.

agentic ai technical

"Thirty percent use agentic AI."

Agentic AI refers to computer systems that can make their own decisions and take actions without needing someone to tell them what to do each time. It's like giving a robot a degree of independence to solve problems or achieve goals on its own, which matters because it could change how we work and interact with technology in everyday life.

generative ai technical

"Seventy-two percent implemented generative AI"

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Bank Director's 2026 Technology Survey examines how bank leaders are thinking about the competition, emerging technologies and strategy.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank Director, the leading information resource for directors and officers of financial institutions nationwide, released the results of its 2026 Technology Survey, sponsored by financial technology provider Jack Henry & Associates. The findings reveal how today's bank leaders think about competitive dynamics, artificial intelligence, digital assets and technology adoption.

Community bank leaders now view fintech firms as a greater competitive threat than national and superregional banks. In the survey, 58% cite fintech firms such as Block and PayPal as a top competitive threat – second only to local banks/credit unions (61%) and outpacing big banks (48%). Forty percent share concerns about neobanks such as Chime. This is the first time survey respondents have cited fintechs as a greater competitive threat than big national banks.

That shift may reflect a regulatory landscape favoring greater competition. More fintechs have sought bank charters – PayPal and Affirm Holdings applied for ILCs in 2025, and more than a dozen firms applied for national trust bank charters with the OCC, including Coinbase and Circle.

"Bank leaders are feeling the pressures of a growing field of competitors, particularly payments-focused fintechs and neobanks," says Emily McCormick, vice president of editorial & research at Bank Director. "Further, almost a third perceive that their payments offering is insufficient to meet customer needs, which points to a widening competitive gap."

In the survey, 16% point to crypto/stablecoin platforms as a top threat. The GENIUS Act (July 2025) laid out a framework for payment stablecoins, but final rules haven't been released. Just 10% say their institutions have a stablecoin strategy; 7% have one for tokenized deposits.

"No matter when final stablecoin rules are issued, GENIUS requires those rules go into effect in January 2027," says Lee Wetherington, senior director of corporate strategy with Jack Henry. "In the interim, institutions must ensure their core infrastructure bridges fiat and on-chain monetary networks and can support the tokenized money use cases that gain traction and scale in the years ahead."

Of potentially greater concern: 70% say their bank has no strategy to reach younger accountholders, especially Gen Z, the cohort shaping the future of financial services.

"Banks are finally recognizing the fintech threat, yet they don't have formal strategies for Gen Z," says Jennifer Geis, senior strategic advisor for research and payments with Jack Henry. "They're ignoring the very demographic fintechs have targeted to disrupt generational continuity, drive unprecedented deposit attrition and capture a significant share of small-business banking."

Full survey results are now available online at BankDirector.com.

Additional Key Findings

Efficiency Over Growth
Seventy-six percent see technology as primarily an engine for improving efficiency; 24% view it as a means of generating growth.

Getting Educated On AI
Eighty-eight percent drafted an AI acceptable use policy; 74% educate employees about AI-enabled fraud (up from 66% and 54%).

Gauging AI Usage
Seventy-two percent implemented generative AI (operations, marketing, compliance). Thirty percent use agentic AI. Almost a quarter use neither.

Integration Challenges
Sixty-nine percent cite integrating new tech with existing systems as a top concern when it comes to their bank's own technology use. Among banks with a failed tech project, more than half pointed to integration challenges as the culprit.

Prioritizing Payments
Eighty-two percent offer P2P payments (+9 pts). Fifty-eight percent offer mobile payment acceptance; 49% offer real-time payments to SMB clients (+10 pts).

Most Not Sold on Crypto
Majorities believe cryptocurrency (79%) and stablecoin (63%) have been overhyped; 43% say the same of tokenized deposits. Just 15% believe generative AI is overhyped.

About Bank Director
Bank Director reaches the leaders of the institutions that comprise America's banking industry. Since 1991, Bank Director has provided board-level research, peer-insights and in-depth executive and board services. Built for banks, Bank Director extends into and beyond the boardroom by providing timely and relevant information through Bank Director magazine, board training services and the financial industry's premier event, Acquire or Be Acquired. For more information, please visit BankDirector.com.

About Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.^® 
Jack Henry^® (Nasdaq: JKHY) is a well-rounded financial technology company that strengthens connections between financial institutions and the people and businesses they serve.  We are an S&P 500 company that prioritizes openness, collaboration, and user centricity – offering banks and credit unions a vibrant ecosystem of internally developed modern capabilities as well as the ability to integrate with leading fintechs.  For 50 years, Jack Henry has provided technology solutions to enable clients to innovate faster, strategically differentiate, and successfully compete while serving the evolving needs of their accountholders.  We empower more than 7,200 clients with people-inspired innovation, personal service, and insight-driven solutions that help reduce the barriers to financial health. Additional information is available at www.jackhenry.com.

For more information, please contact Bank Director's Marketing Associate, Emma McMillan-Zapf, at emcmillan@bankdirector.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank-directors-2026-technology-survey-banks-feel-heat-from-growing-field-of-competitors-302879103.html

SOURCE Bank Director

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What does the survey reveal about banks’ overall view of technology’s role?

The survey shows that 76% of respondents view technology primarily as an engine for improving efficiency, while 24% see it mainly as a means of generating growth.

How prepared are banks for artificial intelligence according to the survey?

Eighty-eight percent of respondents have drafted an AI acceptable use policy, and 74% educate employees about AI-enabled fraud, up from 66% and 54%. Seventy-two percent have implemented generative AI in areas such as operations, marketing and compliance, and 30% use agentic AI, while almost a quarter use neither.

What integration challenges do banks report with new technology?

Sixty-nine percent of respondents cite integrating new technology with existing systems as a top concern. Among banks that experienced a failed technology project, more than half attributed that failure to integration challenges.

Which payment capabilities are banks prioritizing?

Eighty-two percent of respondents offer person-to-person (P2P) payments, an increase of 9 percentage points. Fifty-eight percent offer mobile payment acceptance, and 49% provide real-time payments to small and midsize business clients, which is up 10 percentage points.

How do bank leaders view cryptocurrency, stablecoins and tokenized deposits?

Majorities of respondents believe cryptocurrency (79%) and stablecoin (63%) have been overhyped, and 43% say the same about tokenized deposits. By contrast, only 15% believe generative AI is overhyped.

Where can readers access the full 2026 Technology Survey results?

Full results of Bank Director’s 2026 Technology Survey are available online at BankDirector.com.