2026 MDI Bank Leader Priorities: Growth, Technology & Impact in Focus
- Molly Moran
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
Our recently published 2026 MDI Bank Leader Priorities Report reveals a sector that is confident, strategic, and doubling down on sustainable growth — even as technology and talent pressures persist.
Here are the key takeaways:
Confident — Especially Locally
Mission-driven bank leaders enter 2026 with cautious optimism:
77% are confident in the national economy
Confidence in local economies increased 9% year-over-year
50% are very confident in revenue growth
While national policy uncertainty has tempered some outlooks, local markets remain strong — supported by steady demand and solid balance sheets.
Growth Is Still the Priority
Banks are focused on disciplined expansion:
69% aim to move into the next asset band
54% are actively considering M&A
85% are interested in loan participations
Growth strategies emphasize low-cost deposit gathering, targeted acquisitions, and marketplace lending activity to strengthen liquidity and expand originations.
Digitally enabled growth is also accelerating. In 2026, banks plan to expand:
Real-time payments (65%)
Digital account opening (62%)
Small business digital lending (42%)
Technology: Top Investment and Top Challenge
Customer-facing technology remains the dominant investment priority:
92% are investing in customer service technologies
At the same time, technology is the sector’s biggest pain point:
High implementation costs (62%)
Lack of technical expertise (50%)
Integration with legacy systems (46%)
Banks are increasingly turning to AI to improve efficiency and customer experience, with top planned use cases including marketing, customer service, risk & compliance, and fraud detection.
What do they need most? Education and readiness support.
Talent Remains a Critical Constraint
96% say recruiting talent is difficult
Entry-level and middle management roles are hardest to fill
Banks are responding with stronger internship pipelines, partnerships with minority-serving institutions, and expanded training and development programs.
Impact Is Core to the Business Model
Mission-driven banks continue to embed impact directly into their operations:
92% partner with local nonprofits
81% offer financial literacy programs
54% provide affordable housing financing
38% offer microloans for small businesses
From housing and entrepreneurship to workforce development, these institutions remain economic anchors in the communities they serve.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 survey highlights a sector that is:
Growth-oriented
Digitally accelerating
Navigating talent and cost pressures
Deepening its community impact
Mission-driven banks are not standing still. They are adapting by leveraging partnerships, technology, and marketplace tools to scale both performance and impact.
Want to learn more about the National Bankers Association? Read our 2025 Impact Report.
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Great insights from the 2026 report. It’s encouraging to see mission-driven institutions staying focused on sustainable growth while continuing to prioritize community impact.
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