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On 2 June, Moody’s hosts a webinar exploring findings from its research on how banks are adapting their decision‑making capabilities in an increasingly complex operating environment.

Drawing on insights from 348 senior banking leaders across the US, Europe, and Asia‑Pacific, which show increased competition is raising the bar for speed and precision, while risk, fraud, and regulatory complexity continue to intensify. Banks are under pressure to act faster using a more complete view of customers, balance sheets, and markets, while ensuring decisions remain transparent, traceable, and defensible.

Key tensions shaping bank decision‑making

Speed is now a competitive advantage
Faster, more agile competitors are reshaping expectations. Ninety‑two per cent of respondents cite pressure on decision speed, and 75 per cent expect that pressure to continue. Customers also expect quicker responses, more relevant offers, and more proactive service.

Fragmented data continues to slow progress
More than 80 per cent of respondents identify fragmented data and legacy systems as a major constraint. Disconnected systems limit visibility and slow execution when speed matters most. At the same time, 68 per cent see data interoperability as a clear opportunity to improve performance and customer outcomes.

Risk and compliance are introduced too late
Nearly half of respondents cite emerging and non‑financial risks as a major challenge, while 53 per cent highlight rising fraud pressures. Yet 17 per cent say risk intelligence is only applied at final credit approval, limiting both speed and flexibility.

AI is advancing faster than governance
AI is becoming central to banking strategies, but governance has not kept pace. Only 35 per cent of banks report having a comprehensive AI governance framework, and just 33 per cent are actively addressing transparency and explainability.

From ambition to execution
While 69 per cent of banks have ambitious data and technology transformation plans, only 12 per cent say they can act quickly because their data and controls are fully trusted. Banks making progress are connecting data, embedding risk earlier in decisions, and improving how decisions are executed across the organisation.

The challenge is no longer simply making better decisions. It is building the capability to make faster, more consistent, and more accountable decisions at scale.

In this webinar, Andrew Bockelman, Head of Banking at Moody’s, and James Partridge, Head of Industry Practice Leads, Americas, will discuss the findings in detail and discuss how leading institutions are addressing fragmentation, integrating risk earlier, and approaching AI governance in practice.

Register for the 2 June webinar: https://events.moodys.com/the-new-rules-of-banking-a-strategic-framework-for-leaders