Atlanta, GA (June 24, 2026) |
Finastra, a global leader in financial services software, hosted its Regional and Community Banking Forum in Atlanta, bringing together senior leaders from Finastra, its customers and industry experts. Sponsored by Microsoft, the event explored the key trends and technologies transforming regional and community banking, including artificial intelligence (AI), modernization, and cloud-enabled strategies, equipping leaders to navigate the rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Driving innovation and transformation in regional banking
Across keynote speeches and expert panels, AI and cloud technology were highlighted as powerful drivers of change across banking operations. AI is transforming payments and lending by automating routine tasks, enhancing decision-making and enabling real-time processing – fundamentally reshaping operational culture and creating new roles and workflows.
Attendees recognized that as AI becomes a digital colleague integrated into daily processes, it must be designed with safety, security, and governance from the outset. Balancing innovation with regulatory oversight is critical, with many banks relying on internal frameworks and proactive engagement with regulators to guide modernization efforts. To enable scalable growth, enhance operational efficiency and deliver innovative customer experiences, banks must view modernization as an ongoing journey – continuously aligning technological innovation, cloud scalability and organizational agility.
Need for agile, careful action
The sessions also emphasized that turning strategy into effective action remains a major challenge for banks. As market pressures increase, community and regional banks must adapt quickly, shifting from long-term plans to agile, 30-day reassessments. With digital currencies and stablecoins reshaping transactions, updates to existing applications are crucial, but true progress happens when banks make phased, incremental changes that lead to broader business transformation.
Additional key takeaways from the event:
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Transformation goes beyond technology: Lasting impact depends on smaller, careful changes to business and operating models. Leaders emphasized that continuous evaluation and incremental improvements, aligned with a clear North Star vision, are essential to staying successful as the banking world evolves.
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Customer relationships remain paramount: Despite fast advances in AI, customers still want human interaction, enhanced service, and personalized advice. To deliver compelling digital experiences, regional and community banks must adopt a relationship-driven approach, using technology to enhance personalization, build trust, and foster meaningful engagement.
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Cybersecurity as a foundational pillar: Keeping systems safe and secure remains a top priority this year. Banks that delayed modernizing lending and payment systems are now feeling the effects. Building a secure and resilient infrastructure is essential for unlocking ROI from innovation and supporting long-term, adaptable growth.
Chris Walters, Finastra’s CEO, who discussed the company’s strategic vision during the forum, said, “There’s a lot of pressure on banks right now to move faster, but what we’re seeing is that real progress comes from getting the basics right and building from there. The most successful institutions are taking a practical, step-by-step approach and modernizing in a way that improves how they operate every day, while keeping customer trust front and center.”