Key Issues Shaping Banking in 2026

On Demand Course

Instructor: Neil Stanley

Duration: 1.5 HR

What You'll Learn

As 2026 unfolds, banking leaders face a convergence of transformational forces that will define competitive advantage for years to come. From the mainstreaming of AI agents and stablecoins to evolving regulatory landscapes and the persistent challenges of commercial real estate and ag credit exposure, this webinar delivers actionable intelligence on the critical issues reshaping community and regional banking. This is not a theoretical discussion. Drawing from the latest industry research, regulatory developments, and real-world implementation strategies, you'll gain concrete insights to position your institution ahead of disruption rather than reacting to it. The banking industry stands at an inflection point. Economic headwinds are intensifying as unemployment edges higher and inflation proves stickier than hoped. Meanwhile, the convergence of AI, blockchain, and quantum technologies is fundamentally rewriting the rules of finance, and traditional challenges like CRE exposure and deposit competition show no signs of abating.

2026 appears to be shaping up as a defining year for U.S. banks, with multiple scenarios ranging from economic headwinds to unexpected growth. The Federal Reserve's more hawkish stance—versus market expectations—creates margin compression challenges just as unemployment climbs and inflation remains persistently above target.

Topics covered in this session

Economic Fundamentals: Navigating the New Normal
The Stablecoin Revolution: Opportunity or Existential Threat?
AI Beyond the Hype: From Pilots to Production
Commercial Real Estate and Agricultural Credit: Navigating the Credit Challenges
Regulatory Landscape: Complexity Amid Deregulation
The Deposit Wars Continue: Protecting Your Funding Base
Technology Investment Priorities That Actually Matter
Strategic Positioning for Long-Term Success Amid M&A All Around Us

Who Should Attend

CEOs and Presidents seeking strategic clarity on 2026's defining issues
CFOs and ALCOs managing balance sheet risk and capital allocation decisions
Chief Risk Officers and CCOs navigating evolving regulatory and operational risks
Chief Lending Officers addressing CRE and Ag concentration and competitive pressures
Retail Banking and Deposit Leaders defending and growing deposit franchises
Chief Technology and Innovation Officers prioritizing technology investments
Board Members providing oversight in a period of rapid transformation
Compliance Officers preparing for new regulatory requirements

Learning Objectives

After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify key ways generative AI is transforming banking operations and decision-making
Recognize major economic and financial trends shaping the banking environment
Recognize how changes in customer behavior, technology, and non-bank competitors are influencing deposit competition and liquidity strategies in modern banking
Distinguish strategic priorities banks must address to remain competitive

Accreditations

CPE/NASBA - QAS Self Study

Noggin Guru, Inc. dba Lorman Education Services and BankersHub is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact our offices at 866-352-9539.

Please note: You must attend at least 50 minutes to obtain credit. Final CPE approval belongs with each state's regulatory board. Credit is based on a 50-minute credit hour.

For more detailed information about the course, including the outline, content, and objectives, please refer to the 'Description' tab on this webpage.

Field Of Study: Finance
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of the banking industry, business, or law
Level of Knowledge: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: QAS Self Study

Requesting CE:
Upon completion of this course, please email creditrequest@nogginguru.com to obtain a CE certificate.

About the Author:

Neil Stanley

Neil Stanley is the Founder and CEO of The CorePoint. Neil founded The CorePoint in 2010 with a mission of revitalizing pricing strategies for retail deposits. The company provides clients across the country with enhanced ways of profiting through attracting and retaining properly priced retail deposits. He has been granted two U.S. Patents for business processes which unleash value in time deposits including the patent on Redeemable CD®. He has facilitated the High-Performance Idea Exchange for the Sheshunoff CEO Affiliation Peer Groups since 2021. Neil has taught at Graduate School of Banking in Colorado; Southwest Graduate School of Banking; and Graduate School of Banking - Madison. Neil has published numerous banking industry articles and participated in many banking podcasts and webinars. Neil is the Keynote speaker for the 2025 Retail Deposit Optimization and Strategic Management conference. With 30 years as a bank executive with three high-performance family-owned banking groups, Neil has held a spectrum of roles in banks including Holding Company VP, Chief Liquidity and Investment Officer, Chief Credit Officer, President of Community Banking, and CEO. Neil has served as a director for several banking and financial organizations. He also serves on the board of Pillar Seminary.

On-Demand Course