Major banks in the United States are significantly expanding their use of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to boost operational efficiency and enhance customer engagement. About 51% of banks currently pilot AI agents that can independently perform tasks and collaborate with human employees across functions such as wealth management, client onboarding, treasury, and trading.
These AI agents are engineered not only to automate routine work but also to provide actionable insights. For example, Morgan Stanley plans to launch digital assistants this summer that will interact with clients around the clock. These tools aim to assist financial advisors by pushing timely reminders and tailored investment recommendations based on client portfolios.
Other notable AI initiatives include Goldman Sachs’ collaboration with Anthropic to develop agents that handle trading, transaction accounting, and client vetting, while Citi is advancing an AI-driven virtual wealth management team member to support its services. Industry experts highlight that banks continue to explore AI’s potential because it offers more than mere cost savings—it dramatically shortens decision-making times and improves customer experience.
Beyond banking, AI’s influence is rapidly transforming financial services as a whole. AI-powered underwriting now enables small business loans, traditionally requiring weeks of manual review, to be approved within minutes. Similarly, insurance claims assessments that took months are compressed into hours through AI analysis combined with drone imagery.
These developments underscore a shift in competitive advantage toward speed and automation. AI not only reduces operational bottlenecks but also augments human capabilities, redefining the financial sector’s approach to client service and risk management.