Alkami Identifies the Top Trends Shaping Business and Commercial Banking in 2026

Core Insights - The article discusses the evolving expectations in business and commercial banking, highlighting the opportunities for regional and community financial institutions to strengthen their relationships with clients through enhanced digital capabilities [1][2]. Investment Focus - Financial institutions are focusing their investments on digital onboarding, real-time payments, embedded fraud protection, and seamless integration into existing workflows to meet the rising expectations of business and commercial clients [2][3]. Key Trends in Business and Commercial Banking - The top ten trends shaping business and commercial banking in 2026 include: 1. Growth in digital onboarding and self-service account management [5] 2. Evolution of fraud protection from a cost center to a competitive advantage [5] 3. Emergence of AI-powered relationship management as a key differentiator [5] 4. Critical need for real-time treasury and payments capabilities for instant financial visibility [5] 5. Rising expectations for consumer-grade digital experiences in business banking [5] 6. API-driven connectivity embedding banking into business workflows [5] 7. Expansion of data democratization for small and midsize businesses [5] 8. Increasing demand for mobile-first treasury access with full commercial functionality [5] 9. Shift towards best-of-breed treasury stacks over one-size-fits-all platforms [5] 10. Improvement in usability and control through adaptive, role-based treasury platforms [5] Strategic Implications - Financial institutions that invest in building comprehensive digital sales and service platforms will be well-positioned to enhance client relationships and meet evolving expectations through real-time capabilities and data-driven insights [3].