Banks prepare for AI-human workforce as adoption accelerates: nCino survey

Most bankers expect artificial intelligence (AI) agents to become part of the workforce within the next five years, according to the “AI in Banking Benchmark” report released by NASDAQ-listed nCino, a platform for agentic AI banking. The survey, conducted among 150 senior banking technology and business decision-makers in the United States in March-April 2026, found that 89 percent of respondents foresee a future in which AI agents and humans work alongside each other. The inaugural report was launched during nSight 2026, the company’s annual industry event held on May 12–14 in Charlotte, North Carolina. According to the findings, AI adoption in banking has expanded significantly, with 84 percent of institutions reporting enterprise-level use of AI technologies. As many as 91 percent of respondents said AI allows employees to spend more time on higher-value or customer-facing tasks. The report also indicated that agentic AI is already influencing banking operations. About 84 percent of respondents said the technology has significantly changed how banking roles operate. Despite growing adoption, the survey found that many institutions have yet to connect AI investments to measurable business outcomes. While 91 percent of banks reported having defined AI strategies, only 21 percent said they currently link AI investments to revenue growth. Additionally, 81 percent of executives said they prioritize adoption over return on investment, while 26 percent tied AI initiatives to cost reduction. Data management remains a challenge for many institutions. Although 87 percent of respondents expressed confidence in their ability to access quality data, 93 percent reported at least one data governance issue. Common concerns included siloed data across systems with 52 percent of respondents, compromised data integrity with 41 percent, inconsistent or incomplete data with 37 percent, and poor data quality with 34 percent. The survey also found that 94 percent of executives believe a fully integrated, end-to-end AI solution could provide greater value to their organizations. Sean Desmond, CEO of nCino, said the industry is increasingly shifting toward a workforce model that combines AI agents and human employees. The next stage for banks will involve ensuring AI investments produce measurable business outcomes, he added. MAS collaborates with banking industry to use AI in fighting against financial crime