By Roy Urrico
Modernizing processes, leveraging data, reducing risk, building profitable relationships, and unifying liquidity management are among the key business banking trends for 2025, according to Plano, Texas-based digital banking solutions provider Alkami Technology.
These Alkami insights suggest opportunities for credit unions and banks to adapt to evolving business client expectations, strengthen operational resilience, and deliver innovative business banking solutions that drive efficiency, enhance decision-making, and foster sustainable growth.
"Building sustainable revenue streams in business banking isn’t just about offering more products; it’s about delivering tailored, innovative solutions that align with client needs, fostering growth for both the financial institution and its clients," Taylor Adkins, vice president of Digital Servicing Solutions, at Alkami told Finopotamus.
Business Banking Trends
Alkami identified five trends that emphasize the importance of leveraging digital innovation, data-driven strategies, and proactive relationship building.
Modernizing processes through digital innovation. Automating manual processes with tools like robotic process automation (RPA) to enhance efficiency and compliance.
Leveraging data analytics. Using predictive modeling and real-time insights to deliver hyper-personalized services and anticipate business needs.
Reducing risk and preventing fraud. Strengthening cybersecurity and implementing real-time fraud detection and automated compliance solutions.
Building profitable relationships. Empowering relationship managers with data to provide tailored solutions and act as strategic advisors.
Centralizing cash and liquidity management. Offering businesses real-time visibility into financial positions while improving treasury services and risk management.
Data Analytics, Cash Management and Artificial Intelligence
As in previous years, data analytics continues to be a powerful driver for smarter decision-making and fraud prevention. "We use data analytics to understand our members' needs and offer targeted solutions in addition to behavioral analytics tools to monitor how users interact with online banking," said Jeffrey Luczak, vice president, cash management at the $6.7 billion Brookfield, Wis.-based Landmark Credit Union "If something seems out of pattern, it can alert us or block access to prevent fraud."
Similarly, enhancing treasury and cash management products remains a top priority for financial institutions seeking to meet client demands. Kyle Guest, vice president of business banking at the $20.3 billion Sandy, Utah-based Mountain America Credit Union said, "We invest heavily in treasury and cash management products, continually enhancing them to meet our members' needs. When evaluating products to offer to our business clients, we ask if they save time, improve efficiency, or reduce costs."
Another area of focus for financial institutions is how tools like artificial intelligence and automation can drive transformation. "We've taken steps towards adopting tools like artificial intelligence and automation," said Samantha Pause, SVP/CIO at Lebanon, N.H.-based Mascoma Bank. "We're starting to implement many of these tools and we're being very intentional about how we approach it. It's about laying the groundwork to ensure we're doing it responsibly and effectively."
On January 29, 2025, Alkami Technology will host a webinar, 2025's Top 5 Trends in Business Banking, in conjunction with bank and credit union experts, including Luczak, Guest and Pause. Alkami Product Leader Mandy Lopez will serve as moderator.