New Report: Financial Crime Compliance Enters New Era — Banks Scale AI for Results in Accuracy and Operational Efficiency

Banks are accelerating investment in artificial intelligence (AI) across financial crime and compliance (FCC) programs, driven by clear evidence of improvements in detection accuracy and efficiency, according to new research from Hawk and Chartis Research. 

Hawk, the leading provider of AI-powered fraud prevention, anti-money laundering (AML), and screening technology, partnered with Chartis to examine how banks are progressing from early pilots to scaled, AI-enabled compliance. The findings confirm that the sector is entering a new phase as regulatory support, cost savings, and operational benefits have been concretely demonstrated by AI adoption.

[Read the full report and learn how banks are moving from pilot projects to large-scale AI adoption.]

Banks Optimistic on GenAI and Agentic AI for Next Stage of FCC Evolution 

The research shows 82% of respondents expect their institution's AI investment to increase by more than 25% over the next two to three years, with additional impact expected across machine learning (86%), Generative AI (83%) and Agentic AI (76%).  

Banks are optimistic about the potential of emerging AI. One in three banks (33%) believe Agentic AI will transform FCC work, while 45% expect it to enhance existing processes. Agentic AI is seen as most valuable for case investigations and SAR drafting, while Generative AI delivers the greatest gains in data processing, investigative efficiency, and analyst guidance. 

Tobias Schweiger, CEO of Hawk, said: “This research confirms that the banking sector is at a pivotal moment with AI. The realized value is proving to be significant, and now the challenge is scaling that value with a holistic application of different AI technologies. Balancing the strengths of machine learning, GenAI, and Agentic AI for different uses — from high-volume data processing to complex investigations — is key to sustaining momentum and keeping AI costs under control.” 

AI Delivers Tangible ROI: Driving Accuracy, Efficiency, and Cost Reduction 

The momentum in AI adoption is being driven by demonstrable gains across FCC programs. The top three benefits of AI reported in the research are improved detection accuracy, ranked number one by over half of respondents, followed by faster alert triage and investigation processing, with reduced compliance and operational costs in third place. 

Meanwhile, cost reduction has been an unexpected early benefit for many, with 71% already seeing cost savings in AML and a whopping 94% saying they expect further savings in the next 12 months. More than half anticipate saving more than $5 million in the next two to three years.  

Regulatory Confidence in AI Strengthens Across Global Markets 

Optimism toward regulatory support for AI continues to strengthen, with 60% of respondents noting they expect regulators to become more supportive of AI, with positivity peaking in the US (66%) and LATAM (80%), suggesting a global shift toward regulatory acceptance that will unlock full-scale adoption. 

Sean O’Malley, Research Director at Chartis Research, added: “Banks aren’t asking if AI works anymore. Instead, they’re focusing on how to scale it. With regulators becoming more open and the benefits increasingly tangible, we predict that 2026 will mark a decisive acceleration in AI maturity across financial crime and compliance.” 

AI Adoption Matures: Banks Transition from Testing to Execution 

Momentum is building toward full-scale adoption. Eighty-nine percent of respondents say their institution actively encourages AI use, and while 22% have already deployed it operationally within FCC, another 70% are advancing through testing, piloting, and exploratory phases. 

AI use is most widespread in fraud prevention, with all surveyed banks applying it to some extent, though only 10% have achieved scale. At the other end of the spectrum, regulatory reporting remains the least mature function, with just 2% using AI at scale and 17% not using it at all. 

The Road Ahead: Turning AI Momentum into Long-Term Value 

As AI moves from pilots to production, banks are focusing on strengthening the foundations for scale. Key priorities include developing internal expertise, enhancing integration with existing systems, and ensuring models remain explainable, governed, and cost-efficient post deployment. 

Download the full report here.

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