Financial stress is turning everyday money management into a trust test for banks. As consumers expect real help in tough moments, fragmented tools and reactive alerts are no longer enough—forcing banks to rethink financial wellness.

Canada’s big banks exceeded expectations for the 2025 fiscal year as capital markets and wealth management carried results. But economic uncertainty loomed over results. Adverse trade policy and a cooling labor market were hot topics, and there are risks of consumer credit stress. Threats to Canada’s economic wellbeing abound, which will trickle down to banks’ businesses. In the meantime, restructuring will likely distract management teams, slowing response to changing business conditions.

BMO announced that it would sell 138 branches—nearly all in the Mountain West and Midwest—to First Citizens Bank. The sales includes about $5.7 billion in deposits and about $1.1 billion in loans. Customers still value branches: 55% of respondents to EMARKETER’s US Banking Consumer Habits survey said “branches near me” ultimately led them to purchase banking products or services. While digital services enable national reach with little additional cost, physical connection with consumers and small-business customers is crucial. And for banks scaling to the degree that they offer commercial banking services to corporate customers, an in-person presence is mandatory.

The news: Despite lingering uncertainty from tariff wars, five of Canada’s Big Six Banks beat analyst expectations in Q3 2025, per Bloomberg. Our take: Strong Q3 results provide a critical opportunity for Canadian banks to proactively fortify their balance sheets against known future risks. While lower loan loss provisions signal a better credit environment, the lingering threat of rising unemployment means this may not last. Banks should use this period of outperformance to conservatively build reserves, tighten lending standards for higher-risk clients, and prioritize stability and risk management over short-term loan growth.

The news: BMO launched the BMO Escape Credit Card, a Mastercard credit card geared for travelers, per a press release. The Escape Credit Card will pack a $150 annual fee. New signees are eligible to earn up to 45,000 points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of their account opening.

We examine which improvements could help banks boost loyalty.

Our fifth annual study ranks Canada’s top seven banks on mobile app innovation, based on an exclusive survey about what features consumers value most.

As their clients await the impacts of tariffs, banks set aside money for losses.

EWA gives consumers more financial flexibility, especially for gig workers and lower earners

Our third annual study reveals which account opening features US consumers value most, based on our exclusive survey.​

In the fourth of five reports in our “Payments Ecosystem” collection, we look at what’s influencing growth across P2P, remittance, bill pay, payroll, and B2B transactions—and what it means for payment providers.

Our fourth annual study reveals which of the seven largest Canadian banks lead in mobile app innovation, based on an exclusive survey around which features consumers value most.​

Consumers’ adoption of AI banking chatbots varies by country. Though the US and UK promote their tech-friendly banking environments, the geographically concentrated, Big-Six-focused Canadian market has taken the lead in embracing this much-hyped tech.

Mobile P2P payments are struggling to capture users in Canada. But banks and digital wallet providers can lean into their respective strengths to create a rosier outlook for growth.

This third annual study ranks the seven largest Canadian banks (by domestic asset size) based on their support for 42 emerging mobile banking features, weighted by consumer demand for each feature.

We break down consumer demand for emerging mobile banking features and bank performance by category to identify the most important tools Canadian banks should prioritize.

They launched BMO Bill Connect, which helps SMBs automate bill pay, digitize invoicing, and monitor cash flow.

Canada is behind other Western economies in digital payments adoption, but new technologies are finding footing against cards. Diving into usage among different demographic groups foretells how adoption will progress.

Technology decision-makers within the banking industry will need to balance high tech spending with the potential for competitive disruptors.