Intelligent banking

AI has the potential to revolutionise banks

To understand how AI will usher in a new era of smart banking and create an intelligent bank, KPMG conducted an extensive research program, interviewing executive leaders across eight key global markets. This research outlines a comprehensive blueprint for AI in banking, helping banks chart a path toward unlocking AI’s immense value.

At-a-glance insights:

They have high expectations

0%

believe that banks that embrace AI will develop a competitive edge over those who do not.

62%

expects a moderate to a very high ROI from AI investments.

But the pressure is on to prove ROI

0%

face significant pressure from shareholders to show immediate ROI on AI investment.

AI spending will likely increase significantly

0%

plan to increase the percentage of global budget spend on AI.

of which

62%

say up to 20 percent.

and

38%

say 20 percent plus.

The Banking sector is widely investing in AI, although the majority are only investing moderately.

82%

report a moderate-high allocation of their global technology budget to AI initiatives

Leadership goals for AI adoption focus heavily on operational gains rather than strategic value

How to realize value from your AI transformation journey

To address these challenges, KPMG introduces the three phases of AI value — a framework designed to guide banks through the AI adoption journey. This phased approach provides a structured roadmap, helping banks prioritize investments, align initiatives with business goals, and position themselves effectively in the age of AI in banking.

The Enable phase focuses on enabling people and building AI foundations. Organisations appoint a responsible executive, create an AI strategy, identify high-value use cases, boost AI literacy, align with regulations and establish ethical guardrails. AI pilots are launched across functions, while cloud platforms and pre-trained models are leveraged with minimal customisation.

The Embed phase integrates AI into workflows, products, services, value streams, robotics, and wearables, delivering greater value. A senior leader drives enterprise-wide workforce redesign, re-skilling and change, embedding AI into operating models with a focus on ethics, trust and security. AI agents and diverse models are deployed, supported by cloud and legacy tech modernisation, while enterprise-wide data enhances operations.

The Evolve phase evolves business models and ecosystems, using AI and frontier technologies like quantum computing and blockchain to solve large sector-wide challenges. AI orchestrates seamless value across enterprises and partners. Emphasizing ethics and trust with real-time security, this phase uplifts human potential with broad and deep workforce training, fostering a creative, innovative and value-driven future.