Commercial banking

As financial institutions race to modernize their operations, agentic AI is emerging as a catalyst for change—shifting from assistive tools to autonomous digital teammates.

Rikard Bandebo is the Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Economist of VantageScore

Deepankar Mathur, is associate director of Searce, a tech consulting firm.

The company is relying on a boost from initiatives in crypto-related finance, AI-powered payment tech and connections to international digital wallets, though analysts cautioned geopolitics are hindering momentum.

Mounting liabilities are raising the stakes for an economy that has come to rely more and more on high-end consumer spending to power expansion.

Investor reaction to the proposed $8.6 billion deal has been sour, with both banks' share prices falling more than 11% as of Friday afternoon. The response appeared to reflect the market's distaste for mergers of equals and the risks associated with crossing the $100 billion-asset threshold.

The continued investment in branches is a continued investment in bankers. A well-trained, motivated banker turns a physical location into a relationship hub.