Executive Summary:
- Banks are working to improve data maturity, define success metrics, and move beyond early AI efforts.
- Fintechs and emerging technologies are changing the competitive landscape, especially around deposits.
- Building internal expertise is becoming more important to reduce risk and support innovation.
As your committees and executives steer technology initiatives, the Bank Director 2025 Technology Survey – sponsored by Jack Henry™ – delivers insights that can sharpen your strategy and strengthen your competitive edge.
Consider these five key takeaways to guide your next move and stay competitive:
1. Advance Your Data Maturity
You're likely facing challenges in unifying customer financial data and managing it effectively. These include integrating new technologies with legacy systems, rising costs, and underutilized data.
By aggregating data into a single source of truth, you can unlock greater efficiency and insights.
2. Measure What Matters
Innovation stalls when you don’t track the impact of your tech investments.
If you're not measuring ROI, you're not managing outcomes – and most banks admit they often skip this step. Without clear success metrics, it’s impossible to deliver high-impact results or justify future investments.
To build momentum and trust, start by defining your market benchmarks and financial and operational performance metrics. Then, focus on keeping your board engaged through consistent updates and transparent reporting.
3. Move Beyond AI Experimentation
You may have started with AI policies and employee education – but that’s just the beginning.
While AI is transforming operations and reshaping customer engagement, many financial institutions haven’t moved beyond pilot programs. Operational efficiency remains the top driver of tech strategy, and AI can accelerate that progress.
To unlock the full potential of AI, begin by strengthening your data capabilities. This foundation enables you to act on AI-driven insights, streamline processes, automate service, and deliver smarter, more personalized experiences.
4. Spot Your Competitive Blind Spots
Don't underestimate how emerging technologies like instant payments, AI, stablecoins, and crypto are reshaping deposit strategies.
While community banks often view local financial institutions as their main competitors, fintechs pose an even greater threat. Now is the time to embrace an open banking strategy that empowers your customers to invest in technology how and when they want – through your bank, not around it.
Build solid strategies around competitive threats like emerging technologies and fragmented market share to win the deposit battle and stay competitive.
5. Close the Talent Gap
Limited in-house expertise – especially in data strategy and fraud prevention – is putting pressure on your bank.
If you're still relying on spreadsheets, you're increasing exposure to governance, data integrity, and compliance risks. These vulnerabilities extend far beyond IT – impacting innovation, marketing, and customer experience, too.
Closing the talent gap is essential to building a resilient, future-ready organization.
Download the full survey findings to improve your growth strategies.
Ready to take the next step? Connect with a Jack Henry expert to elevate your success.
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