Banking Execs Prioritize AI, Crypto, and Fraud Prevention

Cornerstone Advisors report finds financial institutions focused on operationalizing emerging technologies and combating rising fraud losses

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:07pm

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A new report from Cornerstone Advisors reveals that banking executives are increasingly focused on deploying generative AI, exploring crypto and tokenization, and combating escalating fraud threats. The annual "What's Going On in Banking" survey of 416 senior leaders found that while optimism remains high, concerns around execution, deposit growth, and cybersecurity are top strategic priorities for 2026.

Why it matters

As community banks and credit unions navigate a rapidly evolving financial services landscape, their ability to effectively leverage emerging technologies like AI and crypto while also shoring up fraud prevention will be critical to maintaining a competitive edge and protecting their bottom line.

The details

The report found that nearly half of banks (49%) and 59% of credit unions have already deployed generative AI, with many more planning investments in 2026. Agentic AI adoption remains early but is now being discussed at the executive or board level at more than half of institutions. Additionally, over 70% of banks have discussed stablecoins at the board level, and more than half have discussed tokenized deposits or blockchain, driven by competitive pressure from fintechs and crypto firms. However, the report also found that roughly 40% of banks and 50% of credit unions experienced higher fraud-related losses in 2025, with first-party fraud now accounting for more than 40% of total fraud losses.

  • The What's Going On in Banking 2026 report was released on January 29, 2026.
  • Cornerstone Advisors CEO & Founding Partner Steve Williams and Chief Research Officer Ron Shevlin will present the report's findings in a webinar on February 25, 2026 at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET.

The players

Cornerstone Advisors

A consulting firm that has delivered insights, strategies, and solutions to build smarter banks, credit unions, and fintechs for over 20 years.

Ron Shevlin

The chief research officer at Cornerstone Advisors and the author of the What's Going On in Banking 2026 report.

Steve Williams

The CEO and founding partner of Cornerstone Advisors.

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What they’re saying

“AI, crypto, and fraud are no longer future-state discussions — they're reshaping banking right now. What separates leaders from laggards in 2026 won't be who experiments the most, but who operationalizes these technologies with discipline and purpose.”

— Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer, Cornerstone Advisors

What’s next

Cornerstone Advisors will soon release two additional reports focused on commercial lending and fraud.

The takeaway

As banking executives navigate the rapidly evolving financial services landscape, their ability to effectively deploy emerging technologies like AI and crypto while also strengthening fraud prevention will be critical to maintaining a competitive edge and protecting their institutions' bottom lines.