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Info-Tech’s Best Research for Financial Services 2026

IT leaders are looking to address the uncertainties facing their financial services organizations.

Financial institutions are balancing innovation with risk in an increasingly complex market. Amid economic pressure, regulatory scrutiny, and rising customer expectations, IT must modernize systems, unlock data value, and enable secure innovation. Explore this research-driven resource designed to help IT leaders respond to shifting demands across the Financial Services sector.

We’ve consolidated the most critical research for IT leaders in the Financial Services sector in 2026 to address these challenges:

  • The need to modernize legacy systems and drive digital innovation.
  • Pressure to monetize data and enable data-driven decision-making.
  • Increasing demands for stronger cybersecurity and risk management.
  • The need to optimize IT costs to support sustainable growth.
  • The push to integrate AI and machine learning into operations.

Info-Tech’s Best Research for Financial Services 2026 Research & Tools

1. Info-Tech’s Best Research for Financial Services 2026 Report – A curated selection of research designed to support Financial Services IT leaders in addressing critical priorities and regulatory considerations.

Info-Tech’s Best Research for Financial Services 2026 brings together key insights to help CIOs and IT leaders focus on the most important initiatives shaping Financial Services IT this year.


Info-Tech's Best Research for Financial Services 2026

IT leaders are looking to address the uncertainties facing their financial services organizations.

IT leaders are applying research-driven insights to tackle the unique challenges they face in Financial Services

Financial institutions are balancing innovation with risk in an increasingly complex market. Amid economic pressure, regulatory scrutiny, and rising customer expectations, IT must modernize systems, unlock data value, and enable secure innovation.

We've consolidated the most critical research for IT leaders in the financial services sector in 2026 to address these challenges:

  • The need to modernize legacy systems and drive digital innovation.
  • Pressure to monetize data and enable data-driven decision-making.
  • Increasing demands for stronger cybersecurity and risk management.
  • The need to optimize IT costs to support sustainable growth.
  • The push to integrate AI and machine learning into operations.

Top Trends and Priorities for Financial Services

"We make your IT department more professional, and we make your IT professionals the best."

Christine West

Christine West
Senior Managing Partner
Info-Tech Research Group

1
Overcome legacy challenges with digital innovation
Assess legacy systems and develop a strategic modernization roadmap.
Overcome legacy challenges with digital innovation

2
Monetize data to unlock valuable benefits
Leverage data analytics to improve decision-making.
Monetize data to unlock valuable benefits

3
Strengthen cybersecurity practices
Build a robust cybersecurity framework.
Strengthen cybersecurity practices

4
Strategically optimize costs for sustainable growth
Strategically allocate resources and build customer trust.
Strategically optimize costs for sustainable growth

5
Effectively integrate AI and ML
Drive product development and innovation.
Effectively integrate AI and ML

Overcome legacy challenges with digital innovation

Challenge:
Lighten the burden of legacy systems in financial services.

Why It Matters:
Unlock efficiency with advanced digital transformation.

Solution:
Assess legacy systems and develop a strategic modernization roadmap. Remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

1
Technology Research
Financial Services

Mitchell Fong

Mitchell Fong
Research Director

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Featured Research

Make the case for Legacy Application Modernization
Make the case for Legacy Application Modernization

Modernize Your Applications
Modernize Your Applications

Meet the Technology Demands of Modern Banking
Meet the Technology Demands of Modern Banking

Next-Generation Customer Experience in Retail Banking
Next-Generation Customer Experience in Retail Banking

Monetize data to unlock valuable benefits

Challenge:
Address the data management dilemma in a siloed ecosystem.

Why It Matters:
Unlock detailed customer profiles and profitability through data-driven processes.

Solution:
Invest in the right-sized data management infrastructure to optimize competitive advantages. Leverage data analytics to improve decision-making.

2
Technology Research
Financial Services

Mitchell Fong

Mitchell Fong
Research Director

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Featured Research

Data Research Center
Data Research Center

Third-Party Data in Retail Banking
Third-Party Data in Retail Banking

API Management in Retail Banking
API Management in Retail Banking

Strengthen cybersecurity practices

Challenge:
Navigate the complexities of cybersecurity.

Why It Matters:
Security breaches impact financial stability and brand reputation.

Solution:
Build robust cybersecurity framework. Mitigate risk and adhere to regulations.

3
Technology Research
Financial Services

Mitchell Fong

Mitchell Fong
Research Director

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Featured Research

Fight Financial Crime With Effective Customer Identity and Access Management
Fight Financial Crime With Effective Customer Identity and Access Management

Protecting PII When Using AI in Banks
Protecting PII When Using AI in Banks

Launch Cyber Insurance Support Services
Launch Cyber Insurance Support Services

Strategically optimize costs for sustainable growth

Challenge:
Address economic and market pressures.

Why It Matters:
Ensure competitiveness and profitability in a highly competitive market.

Solution:
Strategically allocate resources and build customer trust. Invest in innovation and compliance.

4
Technology Research
Financial Services

Mitchell Fong

Mitchell Fong
Research Director

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Download Research

Featured Research

IT Cost Optimization Research Center
IT Cost Optimization Research Center

Consider Agile for Banking
Consider Agile for Banking

Stop Wasting Time Evaluating Commoditized Products and Services
Stop Wasting Time Evaluating Commoditized Products and Services

Effectively integrate AI and ML

Challenge:
Overcome the complexities of AI and machine learning (ML).

Why It Matters:
AI plays an essential role in modernizing financial service operations.

Solution:
Drive product development and innovation. Enhance underwriting and claims processing.

5
Technology Research
Financial Services

Mitchell Fong

Mitchell Fong
Research Director

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Download Research

Featured Research

Artificial Intelligence Research Center
Artificial Intelligence Research Center

AI/ML for Small and Midsize Banks
AI/ML for Small and Midsize Banks

Generative AI Use Case Library for the Retail Banking Industry
Generative AI Use Case Library for the Retail Banking Industry

AI Impact on Customer-Facing Value Chains in Banks
AI Impact on Customer-Facing Value Chains in Banks

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IT leaders are looking to address the uncertainties facing their financial services organizations.

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Authors

Archana Singhania

Caroline Dias Alencar

Kennedy Confurius

Paulina Pryciak

Gord Harrison

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