North American banks accelerated growth by implementing AI and enhancing their client experience.
Across North America, the winners of our Best Banks awards continue to accelerate growth by embedding advanced technology and solutions driven by artificial intelligence throughout their organizations. With the rollout of new platforms and applications, these banks are enhancing the client experience, resulting in increasing levels of digital engagement. Also, partnerships with fintechs and targeted acquisitions are enabling more rapid innovation and expanded service offerings. These efforts are complemented by significant resources allocated to workforce development through enterprise-wide AI implementation, ensuring employees can leverage new technologies to increase innovation and efficiency.
Among the US regional bank winners, large-scale technology initiatives are driving enterprise-wide transformation toward the creation of financial-ecosystem models in which financial services are seamlessly connected across banking platforms. Institutions continue to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation to streamline operations and deliver more-personalized client experiences.
Open banking and connectivity enabled by application programming interfaces (APIs) are allowing integration with fintech partners and third-party platforms to expand banking services. With embedded finance, banks are integrating treasury services, payments, and cash management tools directly into client workflows, while partnerships with fintech firms are accelerating innovation.
North America
Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal (BMO), with its leading Canadian franchise and its expanding US operations, is a powerful North American universal bank with robust service offerings across its Canadian personal and commercial banking, US banking, wealth management, and capital markets business lines. Part of BMO’s growth strategy involves new behavioral-engagement tools in personal banking, with the introduction of the “My Financial Progress” platform, a digital planning tool to set financial goals with personalized guidance. Complementary services include apps to help build financial literacy, increase savings, manage spending, and monitor cash flow.
For commercial clients, the bank has launched new embedded finance offerings that are integrated into clients’ enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to operate seamlessly. The bank launched application programming interfaces (APIs) for payments, enabling businesses to integrate secure, real-time payment capabilities into their ERP systems, treasury platforms, and customer-facing applications.
Fintech partnerships have contributed to new products such as BMO Sync that integrates BMO’s business-banking services directly into client ERP systems. BMO also has introduced programs to empower its workforce, launching its “AI for All” initiative,which will train an all employees to have a working knowledge of AI. The bank also offers specialized learning paths in AI, cloud technology, and cybersecurity.
Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is driving growth through the development of advanced technologies, platform enhancements, and targeted acquisitions. The bank’s small- and midsize business clients benefit from RBC’s joining the Business Development Bank of Canada’s banking network for access to its 800 million Canadian dollar ($583 million) Business Accelerator Loan Program, which provides added liquidity to business owners via loan guarantees to banks in the program.
RBC is a leader in AI research and implementation across its franchise, through the RBC Borealis research lab.With the development of its NOMI digital platform, RBC provides a suite of retail banking solutions via its mobile app, designed to help retail clients more effectively manage their money through the app’s budgeting, spending analysis, and automation features. For institutional investors, the bank developed Aiden, an AI-powered electronic-trading platform that optimizes trade execution. In addition to these in-house initiatives, the bank supports the advancement of the sector via its RBC’s technology banking and innovation arm, RBCx, which provides startups and VC firms with advisory services and access to financing and capital.
United States
Bank Of America
Bank of America’s growth in recent years has been increasingly driven through its expansion of AI-enabled digital solutions. The bank has focused on continuously enhancing its core digital offerings, resulting in high levels of engagement and client satisfaction. In 2025, digital adoption by consumers and small businesses reached 81% and 86% among wealth and global-banking clients, respectively. Over 20 million clients use Erica, the bank’s AI-powered virtual financial assistant. To support greater scale, the bank upgraded the underlying infrastructure of this service, enabling the rollout of next-generation AI capabilities.
AI is also driving internal productivity and client-service improvements. More than 90% of employees now use the Erica for Employees virtual assistant, which has been enhanced with improved search capabilities and broader functionality. Additionally, AI is supporting workforce development through the Academy, the bank’s internal education and training organization, which utilizes interactive coaching tools to help employees deliver more effective and consistent client interactions.
Mid-Atlantic
Truist
Truist is accelerating its growth strategy with the launch of AI-driven solutions, a refocused branch model, and the creation of a role for a chief AI and data officer. To update its physical footprint with integrated technology and modern layouts, the bank will open 100 new insights-driven branches and renovate 300 more branches in high-growth locations across its markets in Mid-Atlantic states and the Southeast. For consumers and small businesses, a new API-based open-banking platform offers connectivity with Mastercard’s open-finance technology for secure and centralized access to the client’s financial data across a growing network of fintech apps.
The bank is introducing scalable solutions to modernize business banking and boost client engagement. In collaboration with global fintech firm Pollinate, Truist introduced Truist Merchant Engage, an integrated merchant-services platform that benefits small- and midsize-business clients through a unified platform combining core banking services with merchant solutions. The result is an improved digital payments experience that includes an intuitive dashboard and tools for data-driven insights to streamline clients’ operations. In payments services, the bank has developed multiple options for commercial and corporate clients. The bank introduced an AI-based receivables platform that uses machine learning for greater simplicity and efficiency through automated payment reconciliation. The resulting accelerated process eliminates invoice errors and improves client cash visibility and fraud protections.
Additionally, Truist partnered with fintech Koxa to introduce Truist One View Connect. Currently a pilot program with an official launch later in the year, this service is an embedded banking solution allowing seamless management of treasury workflows, payments, and cash positions through integration with a client’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) infrastructure. This new product is a new feature of Truist One View, the bank’s flagship digital platform for business clients.
Northeast
Citizens Bank
To improve client service and engagement, Citizens Bank, our winner for the Northeastern region, has launched a multiyear transformation through its “Reimagine the Bank” initiative aimed at implementing advanced technology to modernize its operating model toward a more digitally integrated bank. The program focuses on leveraging generative AI, data analytics, and automation, across the bank’s retail and commercial business lines, standardizing and streamlining internal operational processes and workflows to improve efficiency and drive growth.
As part of the bank’s progress toward open finance and embedded banking, Citizens now offers an open-banking API allowing businesses and third-party applications to connect directly into Citizens’ banking systems to access client data and initiate transactions. The bank has implemented upgrades to its core digital mobile and online banking platform with new direct deposit options. Its new features make it easier to manage and update client payment methods across a range of accounts, including subscription services and online merchant sites.
For commercial clients, accessOPTIMA is the bank’s flagship digital treasury management solution designed to provide a centralized, real-time view of liquidity, cash positions, and payments activity across the organization. New services for commercial clients include the Citizens Payee Select platform, which more efficiently and securely manages business transactions and payment disbursements by shifting payment control to the recipient. This capability was developed in partnership with Verituity, a fintech that creates leading cloud-based payment solutions, a company in which Citizens holds an equity investment
Midwest & Southwest
Fifth Third Bank
With the completed acquisition of Comerica Bank, Fifth Third Bank has solidified its leading franchise in the Midwest and expanded significantly in the Southwest. Fifth Third now ranks as the ninth-largest bank in the US, with $294 billion in assets. The merger combines Fifth Third’s leading retail and digital bank with Comerica’s strong middle-market commercial banking capabilities over a footprint that covers 17 of the 20 fastest-growing markets in the country.
Significant growth opportunities exist with the addition of Comerica’s Technology and Life Sciences business that involves deep relationships with venture-backed and startup companies providing specialized banking, treasury, advisory, and funding solutions through locations in all major technology hubs. Fifth Third Bank’s digital strategy is focused on the enhancement of its mobile platform, expansion of embedded finance capabilities, and the deeper integration of AI-based solutions in its consumer and commercial banking segments. Through Fifth Third’s Provide platform, the bank offers specialized services to health care practices and medical professionals, with valuation advisory services, acquisition loans, and equipment finance. The bank is expanding its services through a partnership with Brex, a fintech specializing in corporate cards and expense management. The solution gives commercial banking-card holders greater efficiency through automated expense management with secure, real-time payments, as well as improved visibility to company spending. The bank expects this initiative to generate upward of $5.6 billion in annual commercial card-payment volume.
Southeast
Regions
Regions, our Best Bank in the Southeast, is in the midst of a multiyear technology-transformation program that includes the expansion of embedded banking capabilities to improve the customer experience across the bank’s retail commercial and specialty-client segments. Enhancements to the bank’s mobile app incorporate client feedback and include a redesigned interface for easier navigation, with shortcuts to features like funds transfer and credit card locking to prevent fraud, as well as new financial planning and budgeting services. The bank offers new capabilities with open-banking services to allow client financial information to be shared securely with third-party service providers.
On the commercial side, Regions has ramped up its treasury management solutions through its Embedded ERP Finance platform that allows clients to access their financial data through their own ERP systems to better manage cash flow, optimize liquidity, and reduce risk. Specialty services to niche industries are a competitive advantage for Regions. Home improvement contractors can offer financing options to their homeowner clients to pay for projects. For health care clients, a new treasury management service is powered by MediStreams, a health care platform focusing on payment automation and reconciliation. Additional specialized services include a digital portal that allows real estate banking clients to more efficiently manage their construction projects. The portal is supported by Built, a real estate and construction-finance platform that streamlines project financing, development, and management, with client access through a centralized hub.
West
BMO Harris Bank
BMO’s growth strategy in the United States is fueled by the bank’s “One Client” coverage model to ensure customers experience BMO as one integrated bank. This involves technology alignment and use of shared data across business units to better identify client needs and deliver more-personalized service. With new digital services and AI-led advancements, the bank is positioned to build on its significant and growing US franchise that accounted for 42% of group revenue in fiscal year 2025. The franchise is bolstered by an expanding top-15 consumer bank with over 850 banking centers in the Midwest and Western US regions, as well as a top-5 commercial business.
As part of BMO’s branch rationalization to exit low-return markets in favor of higher growth areas, the bank sold 138 branches in the central US. The bank aims to foster closer client engagement through tailored financial solutions with access to in-person financial guidance. BMO is moving to capture more clients in fast-growing markets in the Western US with a multiyear strategy involving the modernization of existing locations and expansion of its footprint through the opening of 130 new community banking hubs in California and 15 in Arizona over the next five years.
On the commercial side, new product launches include BMO Sync, an embedded solution that integrates BMO’s full range of business-banking services directly into client ERP systems to streamline workflows. Payment APIs enable commercial clients across the US to add secure, real-time payment capabilities into their ERP systems, treasury platforms, and customer-facing applications for efficiency and transparency. A key driver of the bank’s progress is its commitment to a unified corporate culture. With the launch of its “AI for All” initiative, an enterprise-wide foundational training program, BMO ensures that all employees develop a working knowledge of AI. The bank also offers specialized learning paths in AI, cloud technology, and cybersecurity as well as the opportunity to develop technical skills through Pluralsight, a digital learning platform.
