Reported by NVIDIA

(Summary shared below. To read full report, go to: https://resources.nvidia.com/en-us-2026-fsi-survey/finance-state-of-ai-report?mkt_tok=MTU2LU9GTi03NDIAAAGfkbLI9CunWi8aUHvIdIerIMHZj5K3s9PuNBVZOWZpyJVO7NU2bEMhbIgQ6-1555mXIhYM8E-0nTRKQ04ls-FztTSbaMSBde3oFrhYpCySQNto4NRI0YM-Rw)

The State of AI in Financial Services: 2026 Trends survey shows that adoption of artificial intelligence in financial services is accelerating rapidly, moving well beyond experimental pilots into production use. Based on responses from more than 800 financial services professionals, 65% of organizations reported active use of AI this year, up significantly from the previous survey, highlighting how AI is becoming core to modern financial operations. 

Financial institutions are seeing clear financial returns from AI deployment. About 89% of respondents say AI is helping increase revenue and reduce costs, with many firms reporting double-digit improvements in both areas. The most impactful use cases include fraud detection, risk management, customer service enhancements, and algorithmic trading—all areas where AI’s ability to analyze large datasets quickly delivers measurable business value. 

The survey found widespread strategic commitment to AI. Nearly 100% of executives expect their AI budgets to increase or remain stable, reflecting confidence in AI’s long-term importance. A substantial portion of investment is now focused on scaling existing solutions, expanding AI infrastructure, and identifying new opportunities for AI deployment, rather than just experimentation. 

Open-source models have emerged as a central pillar of AI strategy across the sector. 84% of respondents indicated that open-source models and software are important to their AI efforts, and many are exploring generative and agentic AI. About 61% said they are using or evaluating generative AI, and 42% are using or assessing agentic AI—autonomous systems capable of executing complex tasks. 

Overall, the report paints a picture of an industry where AI is no longer optional but essential, driving both operational efficiency and competitive differentiation. Firms that successfully integrate AI—including open-source frameworks and agentic applications—are likely to see continued gains in productivity, customer experience, and strategic agility in the years ahead.