What will define the future of banking: Technology or trust?

At the FT Global Banking Summit, one message resonated across every discussion: technology is transforming banking. That said, from what we heard at this summit, trust remains firmly at its foundation, From AI to tokenisation, the sector is undergoing a profound shift, and as our CEO Tanya Retter reminded delegates “Technology cannot replace trust”. Leadership, ethics and professional judgement will define success in this new era.  

Digital Transformation: The big drivers  

The Summit explored the forces reshaping banking globally, stablecoins, tokenisation, agentic AI, hyper-personalisation. These developments promise efficiency and new models of value exchange, but they also raise critical questions: 

• How do we ensure resilience and integrity in digital ecosystems? 
• How do we balance profitability with sustainability and customer trust? 

Professional standards and ethical leadership are not optional. They are essential to navigating these challenges responsibly. 

Let’s dig deeper:  

Stablecoins and Tokenisation: digital currencies (see our blog here) pegged to a stable assets and tokenised real-world assets are set to unlock capital and streamline transactions, so they are more secure and open new models of value exchange across borders. Major banks are piloting these technologies, with live deployments expected by 2027. 

AI Accelerating Operations: Artificial intelligence is streamlining compliance and improving risk management. The result reports from banks of efficiency gains of up to 40%. 

Agentic AI: Moving beyond uses that deploy AI to automate tasks, agentic AI acts as an intelligent decision -maker, learning from context, and supporting a wider audience. This evolution enhances accessibility and customer experience, moving AI from a passive tool to an active participant in workflows.  

Hyper-Personalisation: Data and AI are enabling real-time tailored services. Personalisation at scale is no longer a distant vision but an emerging reality. 

These innovations are not happening in isolation. They are deeply connected to broader strategic and market trends. For example, banks are starting to balance profitability and sustainability strategies Meanwhile, regulatory developments such as the US GENIUS Act are setting benchmarks for stablecoin policy, and this is expected to influence the global approach to regulation in this space. Meanwhile, consolidation pressures differ markedly between the US and Europe. 

Skills for future bankers 

Technology alone isn’t enough. The future belongs to those professionals (and those that employ them) who combine technical fluency with deep subject matter expertise and ethical judgment. 

Core capabilities identified across discussions include: 

• AI Fluency – Working effectively with intelligent tech and systems 
• Responsible AI – Navigating ethical and regulatory implications 
• Data Literacy – Interpreting and leveraging data responsibly 
• Critical Thinking – Making sound decisions in complex situations 
• Subject Matter Expertise – Anchoring innovation in professional knowledge  

The Human in the Loop 

As Institute CEO, Tanya Retter, emphasised during her panel session, trust remains the cornerstone of banking. Leadership, culture, and talent will determine whether innovation serves. customers responsibly. Upskilling, learning pathways, and attracting the right talent are essential to ensure that technology enhances, not erodes, confidence in our profession.