TL;DR: 

• AI will move from insight to execution, making spend management a real-time, touchless experience
• U.S. neo-issuers will scale fast while global players will raise expectations across the market
• Banks will modernize card programs without replacing core infrastructure by building abstraction layers
• Agentic payments will move from theory to reality, with AI initiating and managing routine spend

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The past decade of fintech was all about speed. New tools, new platforms, new ways to move money faster than ever before. That wave of disruption unlocked real progress, but it also introduced complexity for the finance teams expected to manage it.

As we continue into 2026, the conversation has shifted. Finance leaders aren’t looking for more software. They’re looking for fewer steps, fewer manual fixes, and fewer surprises at month-end. They want systems that quietly enforce policy, reduce risk as spend happens, and provide clarity in real time, without adding work.

That shift is already underway. And it’s reshaping how businesses manage spend, how banks modernize their card programs, and how AI moves from insight to action.

Here are four predictions that put a sharper lens on where fintech is heading in the year ahead. 

1. AI will invade the finance back office, and spend management will become a real-time, all-in-one, touchless experience 

Fully manual expense management will feel as outdated as paper receipts. CFOs now expect policies to be enforced at the moment of spend, not after reconciliation. Expenses should be categorized automatically, receipts captured instantly, and exceptions flagged in real time. These are structured, rule-based workflows—and they’re exactly where AI performs best.

As a result, spend management is consolidating. A combination of smart corporate cards, software, and virtual cards will become the preferred option for businesses, while spend, travel, procurement, and AP will further converge towards an integrated intelligent platform that helps finance teams manage every dollar in real time. 

Finance teams don’t want more dashboards. They want fewer steps and decisions. And in 2026, the most effective platforms will handle the routine quietly in the background, freeing teams to focus on work that requires judgment.

2. U.S. neo-issuers will scale aggressively as global players bring added pressure

The competitive landscape for business cards and spend platforms is tightening quickly - especially in light of the announced Brex acquisition by Capital One. U.S. neo-issuers like Ramp, Bill, and Navan continue pushing upmarket with AI-led, software-first card programs. While their momentum often gets attributed to capital, the real driver is expectations. Businesses now assume modern controls, instant visibility, and automation by default.

At the same time, global players like Revolut are targeting U.S. business customers with sleek, tech-forward offerings. That added pressure forces everyone to move faster, including traditional banks.

The takeaway is simple: standing still is no longer an option. The definition of a “competitive” commercial card program is being rewritten in real time, and expectations will only continue to rise. 

3. Card infrastructure will enter a shake-up, and banks will turn to abstraction layers to avoid impossible processor migrations

Commercial card infrastructure is entering a period of recalibration.

The FIS–TSYS merger highlights a long-standing reality for banks: card processors are deeply embedded in product structure, compliance flows, and settlement systems, so switching them is not only expensive but often unrealistic.  

Neo-processors like Marqeta struggle to win established issuers for that reason alone. The cost, risk, and disruption of ripping out core systems simply outweigh the upside for banks - especially in the short term.

In 2026, banks will respond with a software-first playbook. Instead of replacing processors, they’ll deploy abstraction layers on top of them. This will allow them to modernize card controls, virtual card issuance, and expense experiences without touching the core. 

The industry will move away from “rip and replace” toward a “deploy on top” approach, leaning on fintech partners to deliver innovation while preserving stability.

4. Agentic payments will move from concept to reality

Over the past year, AI in finance has largely focused on explanation: categorizing spend, summarizing reports, and flagging anomalies after the fact. That changes in 2026.

Agentic payments will begin to take shape as AI moves from passive analysis to active execution. Systems will start issuing virtual cards automatically, scheduling routine vendor payments, and handling repeatable decisions without human intervention.

Crucially, this won’t be autonomy without oversight. Agentic systems will operate within tightly defined guardrails—clear policies, delegated authority, and human override–so finance teams stay in control while offloading only the work that no longer requires judgment.

This is the first real step toward hands-off finance. Not autonomous in the abstract, but practical automation applied where rules are clear, and risk is low.

This will result in less friction, faster cycles, and finance teams that spend less time pushing payments and more time guiding strategy.

The future of finance is built on what already works

The most important shift ahead is no longer about disruption but evolution.

The winners in 2026 will be platforms that respect existing infrastructure while quietly transforming how spend is controlled, tracked, and managed. AI will start doing the heavy lifting. Real-time systems will replace after-the-fact processes. And finance teams will finally get out of the business of chasing transactions and dealing with manual processes.

At Extend, that belief has shaped our approach from the beginning. Our focus has always been on building on top of what already exists, works, and is trusted. Because it’s not about replacing banks or cards—it’s about making them smarter.

If you want to stay close to how these shifts are unfolding—and where fintech is headed next—I share more perspectives on LinkedIn.