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3 Questions for 2026
It can be easy for bank leaders to get caught up in the operations of their institution — and rightfully so. But directors and executives should also be looking outside their bank and its markets to the macro issues that could affect performance. With a cloudy crystal ball for the year ahead, here’s where I’d suggest bank boards focus their attention.
#1 How could new charters pose a competitive threat?
In December 2025, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced conditional approval for five national trust charters to companies that focus on digital assets. While interest in charters from the crypto space isn’t surprising following the passage of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, bank lobbyists raised alarms.
Separately, PayPal Holdings applied for an industrial loan charter so the payments giant could better lend to small businesses and offer interest-bearing savings accounts.
An increasingly competitive environment is taking shape, and banks will need to consider how to meet the challenge. And for those that built a banking as a service niche, this could also raise questions about partner fintechs’ interest in sticking with their relationships.
#2 How will my bank use AI?
Banks spent 2025 identifying nascent use cases for artificial intelligence and developing policies to guide its use. But questions linger. How will AI impact staffing and development? How will banks address gaps in data management and rising concerns about fraud?
And in the absence of federal regulation, state legislators have passed laws focused on transparency, discrimination and AI’s potential for consumer harm. Last month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to curb state-level actions and work with Congress to pass a “minimally burdensome national standard” — one that would undoubtedly affect the banking sector.
#3 What’s the real state of the economy?
Despite early concerns about tariffs, the U.S. economy has remained strong, with quarterly GDP growth at 4.3% for the third quarter. But there are some dire statistics underneath that positive news.
J.D. Power recently reported that the percentage of consumers classifying themselves as “financially healthy” hit a 13-month low, at 30%. And the Bank of America Institute reported that lower income households continued to feel squeezed by rising inflation and slowing income growth, making them “most vulnerable to economic shocks if they transpire,” researchers wrote. “The consumer has remained resilient for longer than many had expected and as we look to 2026, a key question is: will this continue?”
• Emily McCormick, vice president of editorial & research for Bank Director
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