SET Training - Banking and Fintech

By Stanley Epstein -  The banking landscape of 2026 feels remarkably like the spooky woods encountered by Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. Executives are walking arm-in-arm through a thicket of generative AI, emerging crypto protocols, and escalating fraud risks. It is a landscape that demands more than just corporate bravery; it requires a cold, clear-eyed understanding of what is a tangible opportunity and what is merely a shadow in the mist. Despite the "scary" environment, the view from the executive suite is surprisingly sunny. More than 80% of bank and credit union leaders are optimistic about 2026, fueled by the intoxicating promise of regulatory easing and AI-driven efficiency gains. They are looking at the horizon with "future's so bright" energy, but the data suggests they might want to keep their goggles on for protection rather than style. As a senior strategist, my "BS-detector" is redlining. While executive optimism has reached a...