Global Scans · Financial Services · Weekly Summary

• [New] The mobile wallet industry is projected to experience explosive growth through 2026 and beyond, driven by increasing smartphone adoption, digital payment penetration, and consumer demand for convenient financial services. NASSCOM | The Official Community of Indian IT Industry
• [New] By 2026, investment in AI by financial services companies is expected to reach record levels, moving from experimental use cases to mission-critical production implementations. Rootstack
• [New] AI Safety and Hallucinations: As Meta integrates AI agents into transactional services (like WhatsApp shopping), the legal liability of an AI agent making a mistake (e.g., booking the wrong flight or providing incorrect financial advice) remains an unresolved risk. FinancialContent
• [New] The biggest shift in 2026 will be a re-balancing of the financial services model away from growth at any cost and back towards trust, resilience and credibility. FinTech Profile
• [New] In 2026 is going to accelerate the usage of AI for nefarious purposes, and the financial services industry is going to have to ramp up its adoption and use cases at unprecedented levels to not fall further behind in the financial crime battle. FinTech Profile
• [New] By 2026, over half of under-50 consumers seeking financial advice will turn to Gen AI tools like ChatGPT, forcing banks to experiment with AI-driven advisory services within strict risk limits. Vega IT
• [New] The financial services sector in Asia is yielding promising opportunities, particularly in China where regulatory reforms and restructurings are spurring dealmaking. Ainvest
• [New] Growth is projected to accelerate to 5.0% in 2026, driven by stronger hydrocarbon output and continued expansion in key non-hydrocarbon sectors, including tourism, construction, and financial services, supported by large infrastructure investment. TRENDS Mena
• [New] AI will be embedded in nearly every stage of procurement by 2026, helping public sector leaders deliver reliable services, maintain compliance, and maximize social and financial value. JAGGAER
• [New] The New York State Department of Financial Services remains one of the most assertive cybersecurity regulators, and 2026 will continue its expansion of enforcement under the amended Cybersecurity Regulation. Morrison Foerster
• [New] In 2026, digital assets will become core to financial services. Baringa
• [New] In 2026, resilience in financial services will shift from reactive recovery to proactive anticipation. Baringa
• [New] As we approach 2026, financial services organizations must adapt to a dynamic environment where digital assets, advanced technology like artificial intelligence and global collaboration are reshaping the fight against financial crime. Baker Tilly
• [New] Facial recognition is set to capture a 38.5% share by 2035, impelled by advancements in deep learning and artificial intelligence that enhance accuracy and reliability across diverse applications such as e-governance and financial services. Research Nester
• [New] Payments will continue to be one of the most dynamic and competitive areas of financial services in 2026. FinExtra
• [New] Banks and diversified financial services firms benefited from expectations that net interest margins could remain resilient even if the Federal Reserve begins to ease policy in 2026. STL.News
• [New] Financial services firms will spend more than $67 billion on AI by 2028. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] Exchanges and custody providers will become regulated digital asset or tokenised custody platforms, required to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence and comply with strict custody, disclosure, and consumer-protection standards. Bitcoin declines to a seven-month low on persistent U.S
• [New] The surge in Millennials and Gen Zers taking out American Express cards is definitely down to the financial services provider going big on sponsorship, it says. City AM
• As 2026 quickly approaches, the question is not whether AI will transform financial services but whether it will do so in a way that builds trust, protects consumers and delivers tangible benefits. FinExtra

Last updated: 05 January 2026