What FIs Don’t Understand About AI And ML

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) aren’t part of a far-off future. They are here, and they are at the bank. In fact, 100 percent of modern financial institutions (FIs) use some type of AI, ML or other learning system in varying forms and capacities.

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    Today, nearly 70.5 percent use data mining, and nearly 60 percent use business rules management systems (BRMS), making them the most commonly used learning systems. On the other hand, use of technologies like fuzzy logic and advanced AI are still relatively rare. Just 14.5 percent of FIs have fuzzy logic technology, and 5.5 percent use AI systems.

    As use of learning technologies like these grows more ubiquitous, FIs are continuing to learn the business areas in which they can add the most value. This brings up a crucial question, though. Modern FIs are investing big in AI and ML, but for what exactly are they using them?

    In the latest edition of the AI Innovation Playbook: Perception Versus Reality in Payments and Banking Services, in collaboration with Brighterion, PYMNTS examines survey response data from more than 200 financial executives to learn how they are leveraging AI and ML to enhance their business operations.

    According to PYMNTS research, FIs don’t always use learning technologies optimally. They tend to throw everything into fighting fraud, while putting significantly less effort into enhancing customer-facing operations, like payment services.

    In fact, all the FIs in the study used every technology they had to fight fraud. At the same time, only 26 percent used BRMS to enhance their payment services, and 7.5 percent used it to optimize their merchant services.

    How can decision-makers be sure they are getting the greatest possible bang for their buck when it comes to investing in the latest AI and ML innovations? To learn more about how modern FIs are using advanced learning systems, click here to download the report.


    Household Debt Rises to $18.39 Trillion as Auto, Mortgage Originations Tick Up

    household debt, economy, consumer finances, credit, loans

    U.S. household debt increased by $185 billion in Q2 2025, reaching a record $18.39 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York

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      Mortgage balances led the rise, growing by $131 billion to $12.94 trillion as housing activity remained stable despite affordability concerns. Auto loan originations also climbed, totaling $188 billion — up from $166 billion in Q1. Credit card balances rose by $27 billion, while lenders expanded aggregate credit limits by $78 billion, pointing to continued lender optimism in extending consumer credit. 

      But that expansion came alongside rising signs of financial pressure. Student loan delinquencies surged as paused missed payments resumed reporting. The share of seriously delinquent student debt jumped to 12.9% — up from just 0.8% a year ago. More than 2.2 million borrowers saw their credit scores fall by over 100 points, and 1 million lost at least 150. Bloomberg Economics estimates these credit shocks could pull $63 billion in consumer spending out of the economy on an annualized basis.

      Delinquency rates for mortgages and home equity lines of credit also ticked up, though performance remains strong relative to historical benchmarks. Still, rising mortgage costs have pushed 70% of households earning more than $100,000 into living paycheck to paycheck — a sharp shift in financial stability among higher-income consumers. 

      As traditional credit becomes harder to manage, younger consumers are turning to alternatives. Buy now, pay later (BNPL) usage continues to rise, especially among Generation Z and younger millennials — 58% of whom now prefer BNPL over credit cards. That shift is also shaping commerce habits: 43% of shoppers now choose merchants based on whether installment plans are available.

      At the same time, 69% of Gen Z consumers report living paycheck to paycheck. One in three U.S. adults also said they experience surprise expenses of several hundred dollars each year — making short-term financing tools more of a necessity than a convenience. 

      Together, these trends reveal a consumer credit landscape in flux. Borrowing continues to rise, but so do the risks tied to repayment, especially for younger and mid-income households navigating higher costs and shrinking buffers.