LAKE MARY, Fla.–Financial executives in the U.S. are more bullish about the possibilities being provided by artificial intelligence than their counterparts in other parts of the world, but the numbers are high for both groups.
That’s according to the State of the Nation 2026 report released by Finastra Financial Services , which revealed that 93% of U.S. executives are excited about the opportunities presented by the rapid pace of technological and cultural change for their financial institutions, compared to a global average of 86%, the company reported.
“This confidence is reflected in how U.S. firms view their competitive standing: 4 in 5 respondents rate their technology modernization as ‘ahead’ of their peers, with the same number of U.S. financial institutions reporting they are leading in terms of their security and reliability posture,” Finastra stated. “U.S. organizations are also leading the charge in AI adoption, with 65% in active deployment compared to 61% globally. This gap is expected to widen as 42% of U.S. institutions plan to increase their AI investment by more than 50% in 2026.”
The Findings
According to Finastra, among U.S. financial institutions, live AI use cases are notably higher across the following areas:
- Data analysis and reporting: 47% (vs. 40% globally)
- Document intelligence extraction: 41% (vs. 35% globally)
- Credit underwriting and decisioning: 35% (vs. 31% globally)
“While optimism is high, U.S. banks face more pronounced hurdles than their global counterparts,” Finastra said of its findings. “Half of U.S. executives identified regulatory and compliance hurdles as a major challenge to scaling their modernization efforts, and 50% cited the talent and skills gap as a top barrier compared to 43% globally.”
The survey further found 47% of U.S. firms see data security as the primary barrier to seizing new opportunities.
‘Never Been Faster’
“The pace of change in financial services has never been faster, and U.S. leaders are responding with urgency and ambition. By putting AI and modernization into action today, U.S. institutions are not just keeping pace; they are sharing what comes next,” Finastra Ceo Chris Walters said in a statement.
‘Unique Shift’
According to Finastra, the data also reveal a unique shift in consumer expectations in the U.S. market.
“American financial institutions are significantly more likely to say their customers expect a hybrid of human and digital interactions (42% vs. 30% globally),” the company said. “Furthermore, 46% of U.S. financial institutions cite a need for personalized recommendations to meet client expectations, compared to just 32% of their global peers.”
Finastra said that in order to meet these needs, U.S. banks are leading in personalized service offerings that include:
- Personalized recommendations: Offered by 46% of U.S. firms vs. 32% globally.
- Customizable digital wallets: Offered by 38% of U.S. firms vs. 29% globally.
A ‘Clear Shift’
Finastra said its 2025 research surveyed senior professionals at financial institutions and banks across France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE, UK, the U.S. and Vietnam.
“While U.S. institutions take the lead in AI adoption and investment, there is a strong emphasis on AI among global financial institutions overall,” Finastra said. “In fact, only 2% of financial institutions now report no use of artificial intelligence, signaling a clear shift from experimentation to execution across the industry.”
For the full report, go here.
