This month kicks off our three-part CEO Insights series from Head Sherpa Joshua Talbert—an inside look at the trends, pressures, and opportunities shaping the future of fintech. In each installment, Josh unpacks how community institutions can lead with transparency, agility, and trust in today’s digital-first world.
In Part 1, we explore what’s fueling record-level tech investment across banks and credit unions.
According to Jack Henry’s 2024 Strategic Priorities Benchmark Study, 79% of banks and credit unions plan to increase their tech budgets through 2025 and 2026.
So, what’s driving this investment? Leaders are doubling down on:
- Growing low-cost deposits (54%)
- Boosting operational efficiency (43%)
- Growing loan portfolios (38%)
- Enhancing customer experience (30%)
The data paints a clear picture: the future of financial services is digital-first—and it’s happening fast.
But here’s where it gets especially interesting: banks and credit unions are eyeing small- and mid-sized business (SMB) clients like never before. In fact, 93% of banks and 70% of credit unions plan to actively pursue SMB relationships in the near term. Why? Because nearly 80% of this segment is currently held by the top 25 U.S. banks. That’s a massive opportunity for community institutions that can offer speed, personalization, and smarter digital experiences.
To compete, institutions are turning to platforms like mysherpas—a commercial lending solution built to help community banks and credit unions compete with agility and confidence. mysherpas gives teams the digital infrastructure to streamline processes, manage complexity, and offer the kind of seamless experience SMB borrowers expect.
The institutions that win will be those that invest in tools not just to catch up—but to stand out.
Joshua Talbert
CEO and Head Sherpa
Curious how your institution stacks up? Schedule a free discovery session to explore what’s possible.