Stablecoins are moving from crypto rails to mainstream payments infrastructure. Regulatory support and institutional investment are accelerating adoption, but consumer trust gaps, fragmentation, and liquidity risks pose near-term hurdles for digital payments.

Financial stress is turning everyday money management into a trust test for banks. As consumers expect real help in tough moments, fragmented tools and reactive alerts are no longer enough—forcing banks to rethink financial wellness.

The travel co-brand card market is splitting fast. Premium products are pushing upmarket as rewards debit cards pull in younger users, while AI-driven discovery is eroding loyalty—forcing issuers to rethink relevance and clarity to capture spend in 2026.

In 2026, economic uncertainty is quietly reshaping consumer payment behavior, driving shifts across cards, cash, BNPL, and emerging alternatives as households adapt how they manage spending and access liquidity.

Financial services ad spending will continue to grow in 2026, even as momentum cools from the 2024 high. Digital remains the center of gravity, intensifying competition and shaping how advertisers balance channels, formats, and budgets.

The first year of Trump’s second term has brought disruption and uncertainty, reshaping retail, media advertising, tech, health, and financial services.

Trust in consumer banking varies widely in 2026. Primary banks still anchor core products. But confidence differs by generation, product, and channel, with honesty, transparency, and security shaping how consumers evaluate financial providers.

Sluggish fixed point-of-sale (POS) terminal sales are forcing providers to rethink their strategies. From adding softPOS capabilities to adding AI tools and vertical-specific offerings, POS software is becoming the real competitive battleground.

Digital account openings are rebounding as faster onboarding reshapes expectations, even as tighter credit and entrenched incumbents temper how quickly digital challengers expand.

Generational splits shape how consumers find, research, and trust banks. Younger adults move through digital channels with ease, while older adults rely on branches, human support, and established institutions.

In 2026, personal lines insurers will face a market reshaped by changing demand, risk, and consumer expectations. Growth hinges on smarter digital engagement, genAI transformation, richer data, real-time risk insights, and emerging coverage areas.

In 2026, a new financial ecosystem will form around five trends—stablecoins, agentic AI, consolidation, financial media networks, and AI search—blurring boundaries between banking, technology, and commerce.

In 2026, stablecoins, agentic commerce, and AI-driven rewards will reshape the payments industry. Providers need to bet early or risk being sidelined by faster, cheaper, and more intuitive payment experiences.

Thanks to open banking and real-time payments, pay by bank has become a promising card alternative, offering speed, low costs, and security. But US adoption remains limited. This report dives into what’s holding it back and what can boost growth.

Banks are gradually improving speed, control, and transparency in mobile banking—but as expectations rise, incremental updates won’t cut it. Our ninth annual study reveals where real-time innovation can still set new leaders apart.

US proximity mobile payment spending is growing faster than its user base as tapping phones to pay becomes an ingrained habit. Leading wallets must now focus on maximizing usage.

Automation, new commerce models, and a fresh generation of consumers are transforming the rules of connection and creativity. Explore the 11 trends shaping the digital future.

This benchmark covers how ad buyers can calibrate their total media ad spending and budget allocations against the market, and how publishers and solution providers can assess whether their ad revenues align with industry trends.

This benchmark covers how ad buyers can calibrate their digital ad spending and budget allocations against the market, and how publishers and solution providers can assess whether their ad revenues align with industry trends.

AI is reshaping how payment providers attract, serve, and retain customers. Those who act now to integrate AI across the life cycle—from discovery to checkout to support—will gain an edge, while those who wait risk losing loyalty and control.

Fintechs, big tech, and payment players are using genAI to redefine finance. To compete, banks must pair strategic genAI investment with hyper-personalization and human support to earn customer trust and loyalty.

As credit card loyalty wanes, staying top-of-wallet is getting harder for issuers. Our fifth annual study dives into which emerging features will help cash-back credit card programs meet customers' growing expectations.

The digital ad market is splitting into a two-speed dynamic. Retail and a few fast-growing sectors are surging, while others are stalling slightly under regulation, weak demand, and economic strain.

B2B digital ad spending is rising as marketers lean into formats that build visibility and engagement. Video and display are growing faster than search, reshaping strategies to reach decision-makers.

Digital ad spending will continue growing strongly across all industries we track. Retail will remain the biggest, while auto will continue to struggle at the back of the pack.