Wipfli’s 2026 State of the Banking Industry Report

As community banks navigate shifting customer expectations, digital acceleration and mounting operational pressure, the latest State of the Banking Industry Report from Wipfli provides a timely snapshot of where the industry stands. Based on a survey of 345 financial institution executives, the report explores how banks are positioning themselves to grow, modernize operations and strengthen resilience in the year ahead.

• 67% expect asset growth of 5%+ in the next 12 months
• 81% experienced at least one unauthorized network access incident last year
• 66% plan to open new branches; 55% plan to repurpose existing locations
• 67% are implementing AI, but only 16% have an enterprise-wide roadmap
• 60% say talent shortages could impede strategic priorities

In this survey, Wipfli shared:

• Confidence is high: Two-thirds (67%) of the executives we surveyed expect asset growth of 5% or more in the next 12 months.
• Digital dominates priority lists: Respondents’ most important strategies for the year ahead include data analytics/AI and improving digital engagement, followed closely by talent management.
• Fraud and cyberthreats are intensifying: Cybersecurity (including fraud) was the top concern for the third consecutive year, surpassing the next-highest concern (employee recruitment and retention) by 19 percentage points.
• Branch strategies are evolving: Two-thirds of respondents plan to open new branches in the next year, and more than half (55%) plan to repurpose existing locations to support new banking experiences.
• Talent remains a strategic constraint: Employee recruitment and retention was the number two concern for the third consecutive year.

Download the report.