Softcat report reveals financial services’ biggest tech priorities for 2026

Softcat, a leading IT infrastructure solutions provider, has released its annual Business Tech Report 2025/26, drawing on insights from nearly 4,000 public sector and corporate organisations.

The report includes feedback from senior executives across the financial services industry on how they’re navigating technological transformation, seizing opportunities for digital innovation, and managing the challenges of cost pressures and regulatory requirements.

Technology priorities: AI adoption, data security and the end-user experience 

Softcat’s findings show that financial services leaders are all-in on technological innovation, with nearly half (48%) citing AI as a top priority for the year ahead. This is up from 46% in 2024/25.

Key areas of AI adoption include fraud and cyber threat detection, risk management and credit scoring, optimising back-office tasks, as well as personalising the customer experience, advice and product recommendations.

Regulatory compliance remains critical to successful AI integration and innovation. Regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England are actively monitoring the use of AI to make sure it is deployed safely and responsibly, focusing on issues like algorithmic bias, model explainability and potential systemic risks.

Cybersecurity remains a key technology priority, too. Respondents cited data security and cloud security as an important focus for 2026, at 43% and 41% respectively. 

Data is the backbone of every financial organisation, with companies handling vast amounts of sensitive and personally identifiable information.Safeguarding this data from unauthorised access or theft is paramount to prevent identity theft, fraud, and financial loss for both the customer and the institution. A robust security posture is also the foundation for AI, automation, cloud adoption and more, as well as regulatory compliance and reputation management.

At 35%, end-user devices and software are still a huge focus for many financial services executives too. The end of Windows 10 support and the era of Windows 11 means organisations are taking advantage of these new opportunities to improve their approach to workspace and find cost efficiencies.

Strategic priorities: Cost control, IT standardisation and regulatory compliance 

Softcat also asked C-level leaders in the financial services sector to rank their top strategic priorities for the year ahead. Almost half (49%) cited cost control and budgeting as important.

Financial firms across the board are seeing a rise in fixed costs that cannot be avoided, as well as facing rising geopolitical uncertainty and economic unpredictability. To offset this as far as possible, organisations are focusing on cutting non-essential expenditure, streamlining and optimising operations to find cost savings, and protecting high-value activities that drive long-term growth, such as investment in AI and talent development.

IT standardisation and rationalisation was the second most-cited strategic priority, ranked by 40% of executives. This shows organisations are focused on improving the reliability, quality and interoperability of its technology. All the while simplifying and consolidating their IT portfolio to reduce costs and eliminate waste.

Governance, risk and compliance is ranked the third most important strategic priority in 2026 (37%). For UK financial services organisations in 2026, compliance is focused on solidifying existing major reforms, reducing financial crime and integrating new areas like AI into the regulatory perimeter while strengthening their security defences.

The FCA’s flagship initiative, the Consumer Duty, will move from implementation to active supervision and enforcement in 2026. Firms must be able to evidence how they are consistently delivering good outcomes for retail customers across product design, fair value, customer journeys, and communications, especially for vulnerable individuals.

Graham Charlton, Softcat’s CEO shared the impact of the report:

“Everyone at Softcat is committed to helping our customers, navigate change with confidence, so I’m delighted to share this year’s Business Tech Report. It’s an essential overview of the trends and technologies shaping digital transformation today, and I hope it can help you plot a smooth course into the future.”