Commercial Banking & Payments
Strategic planning for Commercial Banking starts with knowing where you stand
Commercial banking leaders are heading into this planning cycle with more to navigate than usual. Real-time payments adoption, rising business client expectations, and a vendor landscape that AI is reshaping are all demanding answers at once. We give commercial banking leaders the research, benchmarks, and tools to go into planning season prepared.
The topics that matter most going into planning season
Here are the areas where commercial banking leaders are making their biggest investment decisions this planning cycle.
Payments modernization
Banks are navigating real-time payments, ISO 20022, and infrastructure upgrades while keeping existing operations running. We track where peer investment is going and what's delivering results.
Treasury and cash management
Business client expectations for cash management, account structures, and digital access continue to shift. Client demand for flexibility and real-time visibility is reshaping what a competitive treasury offering looks like.
AI and automation in banking operations
From commercial banking portals to back-office processing, AI is reshaping how banks operate. Peer benchmarks are what separate credible investment cases from the noise. That's where our data makes the difference.
Bank-fintech partnerships and vendor strategy
Build-versus-buy decisions made during planning set the direction for years. The wrong vendor now means re-platforming in three years.
Commercial onboarding and client experience
Onboarding friction remains one of the biggest gaps between commercial banking ambition and execution. Our data shows where the gaps are widest and where peer investment is going to close them.
What's on your agenda
The topics that matter most going into planning season
Here are the areas where commercial banking leaders are making their biggest investment decisions this planning cycle.
Payments modernization
Banks are navigating real-time payments, ISO 20022, and infrastructure upgrades while keeping existing operations running. We track where peer investment is going and what's delivering results.
Treasury and cash management
Business client expectations for cash management, account structures, and digital access continue to shift. Client demand for flexibility and real-time visibility is reshaping what a competitive treasury offering looks like.
AI and automation in banking operations
From commercial banking portals to back-office processing, AI is reshaping how banks operate. Peer benchmarks are what separate credible investment cases from the noise. That's where our data makes the difference.
Bank-fintech partnerships and vendor strategy
Build-versus-buy decisions made during planning set the direction for years. The wrong vendor now means re-platforming in three years.
Commercial onboarding and client experience
Onboarding friction remains one of the biggest gaps between commercial banking ambition and execution. Our data shows where the gaps are widest and where peer investment is going to close them.
Treasury management Strategic Planning for 2027
Datos Insights resources map to every phase of strategic planning.
Current State Assessment
- Where do I stand relative to peers?
Payment Maturity Model
A short self-assessment that benchmarks your payments offering against peers and surfaces where your gaps are relative to the market.
Strategy
- Where is the market heading and what should I be tracking?
Payments Modernization: Research & Insights
Everything we publish on payments modernization in one place. Research and data on where the market is moving.
The Real Cost of AI Deployments: A Framework for Banking Leaders
Join our advisors to hear about the true cost of AI in banking: what programs cost in production, how to measure returns, and how to build a case that holds up to leadership scrutiny.
Commercial Banking & Payments Fintech Spotlight, Q1 2026
An independent read on where fintech partners and solution providers are heading. Useful when pressure-testing your strategy against where the market is moving.
AI Use Case Compendium
A practical library of how banks are putting AI to work across banking and payments. Useful when pressure-testing your strategy and understanding where peers are investing.
Goals & Priorities
- How do I prioritize across competing investment decisions?
- How do I make the case for AI investment to leadership?
- How do I right-size and structure my team for the year ahead?
Strategic Priority Blueprint
Most institutions go into planning season with a strong point of view on where they need to go. What’s harder to know is how that stacks up against peers: where the gaps are, where priorities are misaligned with execution, and where to focus first.
The Strategic Priority Blueprint is a 10-minute diagnostic that answers those questions. Complete the survey and you’ll receive a capability prioritization matrix showing where to focus your resources, a peer comparison chart mapping your priorities against the market, and curated Datos Insights research for your highest-priority areas.
Strategic Priorities – Alignment to Market
Asset Library
Org Chart Library: Treasury Management
Anonymized treasury management organizational structures across institution sizes. Useful for benchmarking team design and building the case for internal investment.
Execution
- How do I evaluate and select vendors and technology partners?
- How do I build a credible budget for AI initiatives?
AI Cost Calculator
Model the true all-in cost of AI deployments, from token fees to the hidden costs like human-in-the-loop labor, compliance reviews, and engineering overhead.
Commercial & Small Business Banking Forum
October 20, 2026. New York, NY. Datos Insights’ annual forum for commercial and small business banking leaders, covering the topics shaping the industry’s planning priorities.
RFP Library: Commercial Banking & Payments
Advisor-built RFP templates for treasury management and payments vendor selection. A structured starting point that covers the right questions from the outset.
The Planning Journey
Treasury management Strategic Planning for 2027
Datos Insights resources map to every phase of strategic planning.
Current State Assessment
Scan what's changed in the market, competition, and regulation
Strategy
Assess current capabilities and where you stand against peers
Goals & Priorities
Set objectives and decide where to invest for 2027
Execution
Turn goals into roadmaps, budgets, and accountability
Current State Assessment
- Where do I stand relative to peers?
Assessment
Payment Maturity Model
A short self-assessment that benchmarks your payments offering against peers and surfaces where your gaps are relative to the market.
Strategy
- Where is the market heading and what should I be tracking?
Topic Hub
Payments Modernization: Research & Insights
Everything we publish on payments modernization in one place. Research, and data on where the market is moving.
Webinar
The Real Cost of AI Deployments: A Framework for Banking Leaders
Join us to hear about the true cost of AI in banking: what programs cost in production, how to measure returns, and how to build a case that holds up to leadership scrutiny.
Report
Commercial Banking & Payments Fintech Spotlight, Q1 2026
An independent read on where fintech partners and solution providers are heading. Useful when pressure-testing your strategy against where the market is moving.
Asset Library
AI use case compendium
A practical library of how banks are putting AI to work across banking and payments. Useful when pressure-testing your strategy and understanding where peers are investing.
Goals & Priorities
- How do I prioritize across competing investment decisions?
- How do I make the case for AI investment to leadership?
- How do I right-size and structure my team for the year ahead?
Diagnostic
Strategic Priority Blueprint
Most institutions go into planning season with a strong point of view on where they need to go. What’s harder to know is how that stacks up against peers: where the gaps are, where priorities are misaligned with execution, and where to focus first.
The Strategic Priority Blueprint is a 10-minute diagnostic that answers those questions. Complete the survey and you’ll receive a capability prioritization matrix showing where to focus your resources, a peer comparison chart mapping your priorities against the market, and curated Datos Insights research for your highest-priority areas.
Strategic Priorities – Alignment to Market
Asset Library
Org Chart Library: Treasury Management
Anonymized treasury management organizational structures across institution sizes. Useful for benchmarking team design and building the case for internal investment.
Execution
- How do I evaluate and select vendors and technology partners?
- How do I build a credible budget for AI initiatives?
Tool
AI Cost Calculator
Model the true all-in cost of AI deployments, from token fees to the hidden costs like human-in-the-loop labor, compliance reviews, and engineering overhead.
Event
Commercial & Small Business Banking Forum
October 20, 2026. New York, NY. Datos Insights’ annual forum for commercial and small business banking leaders, covering the topics shaping the industry’s planning priorities.
Asset Library
RFP Library: Commercial Banking & Payments
Advisor-built RFP templates for treasury management and payments vendor selection. A structured starting point that covers the right questions from the outset.
Talk to our advisors about your planning priorities
Planning season raises questions that data alone cannot answer. If you want an independent perspective on your priorities or a deeper look at any of the topics on this page, our advisors are here.
Talk to our advisors about your planning priorities
Planning season raises questions that data alone cannot answer. If you want an independent perspective on your priorities or a deeper look at any of the topics on this page, our advisors are here.