Banking is changing fast. Technology is shortening development cycles and reshaping how clients interact with their bank. A large wealth transfer is also bringing a new set of expectations. These shifts are impacting what clients value and how the industry designs financial services.
AI is moving from pilots to everyday use. It is already changing how products are built, by supporting software development, testing and documentation, which can shorten delivery cycles. It is also being applied to areas such as fraud detection, where speed and consistency matter. At the same time, AI is starting to change the client interface. Instead of navigating complex journeys, clients will increasingly expect to ask questions in plain language and get help in context.
Over the next two decades, wealth will massively change hands, moving from older to younger generations. These new asset holders will be more comfortable with digital services and expect clear information and self-service, with support when it matters. They will also need guidance, delivered in new formats, as they take on greater responsibility for their wealth. This will influence how they choose a bank and how they access investing and wealth services.
Marc Bürki, co-founder and CEO of Swissquote, breaks down the bank's strategic priorities for 2026 and the ongoing transformations in the banking sector.
For many clients, the app is the bank, and that day-to-day experience shapes the relationship. Mobile banking is overtaking desktop use and clients judge banks on how easy it is to complete a task. This also changes how digital journeys are designed: with mobile, banking is becoming something clients do in frequent, shorter interactions, wherever they are.
As digital banking expands, so do cyberthreats and fraud attempts. Banks are responding with enhanced real-time monitoring, behavioural analytics and closer industry cooperation to detect and prevent fraudulent activity before it impacts clients. Strengthening resilience remains essential to sustaining trust in digital finance.
Exchanges are moving towards 24/5 trading to match global time zones and on-demand expectations. The NYSE, Nasdaq and many other national security exchanges have already announced plans to enhance their trading capabilities. Banks will need broader coverage for supervision and client support, plus robust and secure technology to address extended trading hours. Automation will be one of the key components to scale infrastructure and deal with increased clearing and settlement complexities.
Tokenisation turns a real-world asset into a digital token that represents ownership, recorded on a shared digital ledger. It can help extend the availability of financial products by letting clients invest smaller amounts in assets and support quicker settlement by reducing manual steps and increasing overall efficiency. Banks and market operators are already testing tokenised bonds and funds, but scale will depend on adoption and the industry’s capability to adapt to new requirements.
