Digital banking continued growing at credit unions and banks in 2025, with more consumers using mobile channels, more loans being submitted online and financial institutions expanding products through digital channels, according to a new report commissioned by Alkami and conducted by Cornerstone Advisors.
The 2026 Digital Banking Performance Metrics Report found that 87% of checking accounts are associated with active digital banking users, while 82% of mobile banking users are considered actively engaged. The report also found that digital loan applications surpassed the halfway mark for the first time, accounting for 51% of all loan applications.
The annual report, now in its seventh year, expanded beyond retail banking for the first time to include benchmarks tied to business digital banking adoption and capabilities.
"Financial institutions need a digital banking metrics framework that does three things: Focuses measurement on outcomes, not just activity; connects digital performance data to business goals; and distinguishes between metrics worth tracking and metrics worth managing to," Ron Shevlin, chief research officer at Cornerstone Advisors, said.
The report found that financial institutions averaged 1.56 new products per digital banking user, as institutions expanded product relationships through digital channels. At the same time, researchers said account opening abandonment rates remain high and person-to-person payment activity continues shifting toward third-party applications.
On the business banking side, the report found strong enrollment and mobile usage rates, with 78% of business accounts active in digital banking and 75% actively using mobile banking applications. However, researchers said significant gaps remain in digital account opening, digital loan origination and other capabilities businesses increasingly expect from financial institutions, including real-time payments, integrated payables and receivables tools, and cash flow forecasting.
The report also highlighted a gap between digital investment plans and implementation at some financial institutions. According to the study, 13% of credit unions planned to replace consumer digital platforms in 2025, but only 8% ultimately completed those conversions. Another 15% of credit unions said they are planning platform changes in 2026.
The report said the findings point to the importance of measuring how consumers and businesses actually use digital tools rather than simply tracking feature availability.
"Digital banking has become a primary driver of engagement and growth for financial institutions, and having clear performance benchmarks is critical to making informed decisions," Marla Pieton, vice president of brand, public relations and influencer marketing at Alkami, said.
The full report can be found here.
Joyce Moed can be reached at joyce.moed@arc-network.com.
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