Unlocking Growth and Resilience

Temenos and Azienda Banca – Italy, conducted a research in collaboration with 11 leading Italian banks. The research reveals a sector facing multifaceted and mounting challenges. From external market forces redefining the financial services ecosystem to legacy systems’ limitations, banks must adapt to new realities with greater agility and flexibility than ever before. That’s not easy. In 2026, the Italian banking sector will continue to serve as a pillar of the national economy, supported by Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and other large banks. A vast network of small and medium-sized financial institutions along with regional, cooperative and savings banks will also contribute to productivity. This sound structural mix has historically supported financial inclusion across the country, but operational and technological challenges will continue to arrive in growing numbers for those who do not modernise. Factor in the rise of agentic AI and other emerging technologies, hesitation to innovate can lead to lost customers to traditional competitors and native challengers.