What do banks most want from their fintech partnerships? In 2026, the answer is increasingly straightforward: help us operate better.
According to York Public Relations’ 2026 State of Fintech survey, 31% of bank executives identified improving operational efficiency as their institution’s primary objective for fintech partnerships over the next 12 to 18 months. That puts efficiency ahead of deposit growth and acquisition at 26% and enhancing digital banking channels at 14%.
Why Efficiency Is Moving to the Forefront
Banks have spent years adding technology. The next challenge is ensuring those investments reduce complexity rather than add to it.
Manual processes remain embedded throughout financial institutions. Employees often move between systems, re-enter information, reconcile data and complete workflows that could potentially be automated or streamlined.
Technology that reduces those burdens can affect far more than operating expense. It can improve employee capacity, shorten turnaround times and allow existing teams to support greater volumes.
Fintechs Need to Quantify the Impact
“Efficiency” cannot remain an abstract benefit. Fintech companies need to demonstrate specifically what changes after their technology is implemented.
Does the solution reduce manual processes? Lower cost per transaction or loan? Shorten decisioning time? Improve employee productivity?
From Feature Selling to Outcome Selling
Features still matter. But increasingly, the more compelling story may be what those features allow the institution to accomplish.
A bank isn’t simply purchasing automation. It’s purchasing the hours automation gives back to its employees. It isn’t simply purchasing integration. It’s reducing the operational friction created by disconnected systems.
In 2026, efficiency isn’t merely a product benefit. It’s a buying priority.