Hong Kong financial institutions accelerate AI deployment and digital maturity, Finastra survey shows

Hong Kong, Hong Kong – February 10, 2026 - Financial institutions in Hong Kong are accelerating their shift from AI experimentation to execution, supported by solid technology foundations and sustained modernization investment, according to new research from Finastra, a global leader in financial services software.

Finding from the Financial Services State of the Nation 2026 survey show Hong Kong ranks among the most AI-read markets globally, with institutions embedding AI securely and at scale across operations.

Hong Kong leads in AI adoption and readiness

Hong Kong reports some of the highest AI adoption levels across all surveyed markets:

• Nine in 10 institutions are actively deploying or piloting AI technologies.
• AI deployment is already at scale across major use cases including:
  • Customer service and support automation
  • Risk management and fraud detection
  • Agentic AI for workflow automation
  • Credit underwriting and decisioning
  • Marketing, data analysis, and document intelligence
• Institutions cite their top AI objectives as:
  • Increasing accuracy and reducing errors
  • Reducing operational costs and improving compliance and regulatory processes (35%)
  • Enhancing risk management frameworks

These results position Hong Kong among the most AI‑confident and execution-focused markets globally.

High Preparedness for Technological Change

Hong Kong institutions stand out for their forward‑looking readiness:

• 80% report being “prepared” or “fully prepared” for technological transformation.
• Financial institutions report clear strategies for adopting emerging technologies and managing cultural change.
• Barriers to transformation are comparatively low across the region, with modernization and continuous learning prioritized.

Strong Cloud Adoption and Modernization Momentum

Cloud usage is highly advanced in Hong Kong:

• 86 % use cloud solutions, and 50% run the majority of their software stack in the cloud.
• Many institutions have modernized significant portions of legacy infrastructure.
• Cloud-first strategies are enabling faster innovation, scalability, and resilience.

Security and Reliability: A Recognized Strength

Security is another area where Hong Kong excels:

• 72% rate their organization’s security and reliability posture as ahead or significantly ahead of competitors.
• Over the last 12 months, institutions have invested heavily in:
  • SIEM/SOAR enhancements
  • Advanced fraud detection and transaction monitoring
  • Multi‑factor authentication and biometrics
  • Disaster recovery and resilience upgrades
• Security investment is expected to increase further in 2026.

Customer Experience and Personalization Excellence

Hong Kong ranks among the strongest markets globally for customer experience (CX):

• 65% say their CX and personalization capabilities are ahead of peers.
• Institutions continue to prioritize:
  • Real‑time payments
  • Personalized product recommendations
  • 24/7 virtual assistants
  • ESG/sustainable investing personalization
• Most institutions plan to increase CX investment this year.

Industry Outlook: Optimism and Acceleration

• 90% of Hong Kong respondents say they are personally excited about the pace of technological and cultural change in financial services, one of the highest optimism levels recorded.

“Hong Kong institutions are demonstrating what disciplined AI execution looks like at scale,” said Chris Walters, CEO of Finastra. “With modern infrastructure and a clear commitment to responsible innovation, they are turning AI from pilot projects into measurable business impact, which maintaining the highest standards of security, trust and customer experience.”

The Financial Services State of the Nation 2026 research surveyed senior leaders at financial institutions across 11 global markets, including Hong Kong. Access the full report here.

Notes to editors

Survey methodology

• A total of 1,509 managers and executives from banks and financial institutions across 11 regions participated in the survey (including France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE, UK, the U.S. and Vietnam). Collectively, the organizations represented manage over $100 trillion in assets, equivalent to approximately a quarter of global financial assets based on public estimates. These organizations employ around 5 million staff and serve approximately 400 million client, customer, or member relationships.
• Figures are based on respondent-reported data; percentages may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding and multiple-choice questions.
• The research was conducted by Savanta via an online panel (November 2025).

For further information please contact:

Jackie Kumar
APAC and MEA PR Specialist
T +63 998 5461716
E jacqueline.kumar@finastra.com
finastra.com

About Finastra

Finastra is a global leader in financial services software, trusted by 7,000+ customers - including 40 of the world’s top 50 banks - in over 110 countries. With expertise in Lending, Payments and Universal Banking, we deliver reliable, scalable, mission-critical solutions such as Loan IQ, LaserPro, Trade Innovation, Essence, Global PAYplus, Payments To Go, and Financial Messaging. Backed by Vista Equity Partners, we co-innovate with customers to build modern technology that helps financial institutions grow with confidence. Visit www.finastra.com or follow Finastra on LinkedIn.