IBM Study: Gen AI Will Elevate Financial Performance of Banks in 2025

Initiatives are maturing from pilots and proofs of concept to targeted, enterprise-wide strategies

ARMONK, N.Y., Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today released its annual expectations for technology and transformation in the global financial services industry in the year ahead in the IBM Institute for Business Value 2025 Outlook for Banking and Financial Markets.

Key Insights

• Gen AI adoption is set to soar. Only 8% of banks were developing generative AI systematically in 2024, and 78% had a tactical approach. As banks move from pilots to execution, more are redefining their strategic approach to service expansion, including agentic AI. 
• Steady banking convergence is giving way to contrasting financial performance. Re-imagining the business model/processes and, importantly, execution will separate the winners from the rest.
• 60% of banking CEOs surveyed acknowledge they must accept some level of risk to harness automation advantages and enhance competitiveness.¹
• While over 16% of clients worldwide are comfortable with a branchless, fully digital bank as their primary banking relationship, competition is shifting from mass market digital offers to higher-value services, including embedded finance and advisory services to affluent investors and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

"We are seeing a significant shift in how generative AI is being deployed across the banking industry as institutions shift from broad experimentation to a strategic enterprise approach that prioritizes targeted applications of this powerful technology," said Shanker Ramamurthy, IBM Consulting's Global Managing Director Banking & Financial Markets. "As banks and other financial institutions around the world gear up for a pivotal year of investing in transformation, technology, and talent, we anticipate their efforts coalescing around initiatives using generative AI to level up customer experience, boost operational efficiency, reduce risks and modernize IT infrastructure."

The report shares insights from analysis of industry C-suite leader sentiment, bank customer behavior and economic data from eight major markets—the United States, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, China, India, and Japan--and what financial institutions and their ecosystem partners can glean from the trends.

For additional perspective and to download the full report, visit https://ibm.co/2025-banking-financial-markets-outlook.

1.  6 Hard Truths CEOs Must Face: How to Leap Forward with Courage and Conviction in the Generative AI Era. IBM Institute for Business Value. May 2024. https://ibm.co/c-suite-study-ceo

1.  6 Hard Truths CEOs Must Face: How to Leap Forward with Courage and Conviction in the Generative AI Era. IBM Institute for Business Value. May 2024. https://ibm.co/c-suite-study-ceo

IBM is a leading provider of enterprise AI, hybrid cloud architecture, security and ESG insights to the global financial services sector. Its deep industry expertise, extensive portfolio of services and solutions, and its robust ecosystem of fintech partners, empower collaboration, innovation, and creation with clients. As a trusted partner to banks, insurers, capital markets and payments providers, IBM guides financial institutions on all stages of their digital transformation journeys through IBM Consulting and delivers the proven infrastructure, software, and services they need through IBM Technology. For more information, visit www.ibm.com/industries/banking-financial-markets.

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM's thought leadership think tank, combines global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit www.ibm.com/ibv.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact

Mary Ellen Higgins
IBM Global Financial Services Industry External Communications
maryellen.higgins@ibm.com
781.789.1911

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

IBM Study: Gen AI Will Elevate Financial Performance of Banks in 2025

IBM Study: Gen AI Will Elevate Financial Performance of Banks in 2025

Limited Edition Drop Features Iconic Jake Burton Quotes on Snowboards, Apparel & Accessories

BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Burton is proud to unveil 'From Burton to the World', a limited-edition collection of snowboards, apparel and accessories that feature iconic quotes by late Burton founder, Jake Burton Carpenter. Professional snowboarders sponsored by Burton will debut the collection as they compete in Aspen, Colorado and Laax, Switzerland this month, with global availability beginning February 3^rd on Burton.com and at select flagship stores and retail partners worldwide.

"Jake built Burton on a simple belief: snowboarding brings people together," said Donna Carpenter, Burton Owner & Chair of the Board. "While we watch individual athletes compete, what Jake understood and what our riders embody is that snowboarding has always been about community. 'From Burton to the World' celebrates this spirit. Each board carries Jake's words, but more importantly, 'From Burton to the World' represents the passion snowboarders share on and off the mountain. This collection is a tribute to Jake's vision, which is now carried forward by riders around the world who continue to push the sport while staying true to its soul."

Jake's Words, Riders' Choice

Burton Team riders worked directly with designers to select the Jake Burton quotes that resonated most with them. The result: six bold, graphic snowboards in a vibrant color palette, each featuring history-making quotes in block print.

The Collection

'HAVE AS MUCH FUN AS POSSIBLE'

Ridden by: Oliver Martin (USA), Gaon Choi (Korea), Hiroto Ogiwara (Japan), Yiming Su (China), Mitsuki Ono (Japan), Nicola Liviero (Italy), Shaotong Wu (China) and Clemens Millauer (Austria).

'RIDING IS WHERE THE ENERGY COMES FROM & IT'S ALSO WHERE IT GOES'

Ridden by: Anna Gasser (Austria), Ayumu Hirano (Japan), Hanna Karrer (Austria), Reira Iwabuchi (Japan), Romain Allemand (France), Taiga Hasegawa (Japan) and Jakub Hrones (Czech Republic).

'HERE AT BURTON WE TAKE OUR FUN SERIOUSLY'

Ridden by: Brock Crouch (USA), Jiayu Liu (China), Jonas Hasler (Switzerland), Leon Vockensperger (Germany), Øyvind Kirkhus (Norway), Telma Sarkipajou (Finland), Dane Menzies (New Zealand), Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (New Zealand).

'THE BEST THING ABOUT SNOWBOARDING – IT'S NOT HOW YOU LOOK BUT HOW YOU FEEL'

Ridden by: Shuichiro Shigeno (Japan).

'BELIEVE IN SNOWBOARDING'

Ridden by: Kaishu Hirano (Japan).

'QUESTION: IS SNOWBOARDING A FAD? ANSWER: GET SERIOUS'

Ridden by: Cam Melville Ives (New Zealand), Clemens Millauer (Austria), Lu Yang (China), Mark McMorris (Canada) and Mari Fukada (Japan).

Supporting the Riders, Celebrating the Community

Burton is proud to support this incredible global community of riders who carry forward Jake's vision every time they drop in. Fans can celebrate alongside Burton riders and own a piece of snowboarding history with the 'From Burton to the World' collection of snowboards, apparel, and accessories—available in limited quantities worldwide beginning February 3^rd on Burton.com and at select Burton flagship stores and retail partners.

Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2857988/Burton_Riders_Debut.jpg?p=medium600

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Burton Riders Debut 'From Burton to the World' Collection in Aspen & Laax