Redefining banking in 2026 – beyond the core
Redefining banking in 2026: Insights from IDC & FIS
For technology and operations leaders at large financial institutions, the modernization agenda has never been more complex or consequential. The question is no longer whether to modernize, but how to do it without compromising stability, compliance and customer experience.
Jerry Silva, Vice President and Global Head of Financial Services Technology Research at IDC Financial Insights, brings 40 years of perspective to that challenge. In this exclusive report developed through a candid conversation with FIS®, he challenges the assumptions driving most large-bank modernization programs and offers a more rigorous framework for what actually works.
Silva's central argument will resonate with any executive managing large-scale transformation: most banks launch modernization projects. The report goes beyond strategy to address the operational realities large institution leaders face directly, from deploying data, AI/ML and automation to drive personalization and real-time payments, to navigating the cybersecurity imperatives, workforce changes and governance frameworks that determine whether transformation succeeds or stalls. This is the intelligence your leadership team needs to move forward with confidence.
Inside the report, you'll discover:
- Why composable architecture is winning: How banks are ditching full core rip-and-replace for modular, cloud-native builds that compress product launch timelines and reduce operating costs
- AI, automation and real-time payments in practice: Concrete ways leading institutions are deploying these technologies to sharpen risk management, deepen personalization and drive operational efficiency
- Where your competitive window is and how long it will stay open: Why first-mover advantage on features is shrinking as AI commoditizes, and what institutions are investing in now to build a more durable edge
- Which execution factors most often determine whether transformation delivers: Why data fragmentation, model explainability and IT skill set gaps are where large-scale modernization programs most often succeed or stall
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