Second annual survey reveals banks’ fintech investment plans, priority segments, partnership objectives, and criteria driving vendor selection in an era of disciplined execution
ATLANTA, Georgia – Feb. 26, 2026 – York Public Relations, the nation’s leading public relations and marketing firm dedicated exclusively to financial institutions and fintechs, today published its 2026 State of Fintech report, providing a comprehensive look at banks’ fintech investment plans for 2026 through 2028.
Conducted by York Public Relations, a total of 756 C-level executives at U.S. banks with assets ranging from $30 million to $7 billion participated in the survey, providing insight into whether banks plan to increase, reduce, or maintain investments, where those investments are targeted, why they are being made, and what criteria are used to select fintech partners. This year’s survey also captured AI adoption plans.
Key findings from the 2026 survey include:
- Fintech Spending Remains Strong: For the second consecutive year, 78% of U.S. banks plan to increase their fintech spending — and not a single bank reports plans to reduce investment.
- Operational Efficiency Emerges as the Dominant Objective: 31% of bank executives cite improving operational efficiency as their top objective for fintech partnerships, signaling a shift from broad digital transformation to disciplined execution and measurable outcomes.
- Digital Banking Solutions Remain the Top Investment Priority: For the second year in a row, digital banking ranked as the #1 fintech investment category, with half of all respondents ranking it as their top area of focus.
- Payments and Lending Drive Modernization: Payment technologies secured the second spot in investment priorities, followed by lending technologies in third, reflecting accelerating demand for real-time payment capabilities and streamlined loan origination processes.
- Integration Capabilities Remain the #1 Selection Criterion: For the second consecutive year, integration capabilities ranked as the most important factor when evaluating fintech partners, underscoring that banks are evaluating operational impact — not features alone.
- AI Moves From Trend to Commitment: 64% of bank executives indicate they are actively pursuing or planning to pursue AI initiatives in 2026, though AI ranked fifth in overall investment priority — suggesting banks are embedding AI within existing strategies rather than treating it as a standalone initiative.
“This year’s findings tell a clear story: banks have built the digital foundation, and now they are focused on making it work harder,” said Mary York, Founder and CEO of York Public Relations. “The shift toward operational efficiency as the top objective reflects a more disciplined, outcomes-driven approach to fintech investment. For fintech companies, this means the conversation has changed. It’s no longer enough to promise transformation — you have to prove integration, quantify efficiency, and demonstrate measurable ROI.”
The State of Fintech report also includes detailed analysis from York Public Relations, Q&A profiles with fintech executives, and contributed insights on key industry trends for industry influencers. Topics covered range from payments modernization and lending technology to AI adoption, deposit growth strategies, and vendor selection in an increasingly competitive landscape.
The State of Fintech Report is available online. For more information or media inquiries, contact info@yorkpublicrelations.com.
About York Public Relations
York Public Relations is the fastest-growing public relations and marketing firm dedicated exclusively to financial institutions and fintechs. Creators of The State of Fintech, the firm offers Public Relations, Media Relations, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Creative Marketing, and Crisis Communication services. Total funding of its client base exceeds $2 billion and represents over 10,000 financial institutions. For more information, visit www.yorkpublicrelations.com.