What are the key opportunities in 2026?

• As client expectations evolve and competition from fintech firms and neobanks increases, what are the key challenges in commercial banking today?
  
  
• How is the evolution of commercial banking affecting bank-client relationships?
  
  
• How can banks embrace the diversification of partnerships to better serve their customers?
  
  
• What are the key opportunities for commercial banks when it comes to digital-based currencies and infrastructures? To what degree are they already investing in these opportunities?

Changing client expectations, the emergence of digital-based currencies and infrastructure, and growing competition through neobanks and fintechs are not only affecting the retail banking space — they’re also emerging in commercial banking. Clients are looking for more cost-efficiency, seamless integration, and faster payments solutions.

So, how are these shifting tectonic plates of commercial banking affecting the bank-client relationship? While the pressure of fintech competition plays a crucial part of the innovation imperative, another key opportunity emerges: partnerships.

The commercial banking landscape today is shaped by a diversification of relationships — whether that is with fintechs or by forging new relationships to embrace stablecoins, CBDCs, or other alternative payment methods. Partnerships have become key not only to remain relevant, but to stay ahead of the curve in modern commercial banking. Yet banks are traditionally burdened by legacy systems and processes, and thus partnerships — both existing and new — will be equally burdened by addressing legacy concerns.

Register for this Finextra webinar, hosted in association with Visa, to join our panel of industry experts who will discuss they key challenges and opportunities in commercial banking in 2026 and beyond.