Finastra Research Reveals U.S. Financial Institutions Outpace Global Peers in AI Adoption and Modernization Investments

Finastra today released new findings from its annual global survey, the Finastra Financial Services State of the Nation 2026, highlighting that U.S. financial leaders are notably more bullish about the opportunities presented by rapid technological change compared to the global average. As the industry moves from experimentation to execution, U.S. institutions are backing this optimism with significant investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and infrastructure modernization.

The research reveals 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%. 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.
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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. 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. 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. Additionally, 47% of U.S. firms see data security as the primary barrier to seizing new opportunities.

“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,” said Chris Walters, CEO of Finastra. “To fully realize this moment, the industry must work together to bridge the talent gap and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. At Finastra, we’re committed to turning this momentum into real, measurable value for our customers and the broader banking ecosystem.”

The data also reveals 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). 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. To meet these needs, U.S. banks are leading in personalized service offerings including:

• 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.

Finastra’s 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. 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 global results, access the Finastra Financial Services State of the Nation 2026 report here.

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