Intelligent banking

A blueprint for creating value through AI-driven transformation

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 programme, 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:

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

Percentage allocation of global technology

budget to AI initiatives

Increase of global technology budget allocation of AI initiatives

(among those who say their AI budget will increase)

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

How to realise 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 prioritise investments, align initiatives with business goals, and position themselves effectively in the age of AI in banking.

Enable

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.

Embed

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.

Evolve

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. Emphasising 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.