Banking on Digital Growth 473) Can credit unions and banks leapfrog fintech? AI-first is their best shot.
Dec 4, 2025
Ryan Harmon, Co-founder of Metrify and Paralim, shares his insights on how AI can empower banks and credit unions to leapfrog fintech competitors. He discusses the potential of AI to reshape banking experiences and drive innovation through autonomous spinoffs. The conversation dives into the Innovator's Dilemma, highlighting why traditional banks struggle to embrace disruptive technologies. Harmon emphasizes the need for banks to evolve beyond legacy systems and make AI a strategic priority to remain competitive in a rapidly changing financial landscape.
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AI Replaces The App As The Interface
- AI can turn fixed UI-first banking experiences into a new AI-first interaction layer.
- Agents that use websites like humans will make apps and web UI less central to users' workflows.
Personal Shift To Branchless Banking
- Derek switched to Ally Bank to avoid branches and keep all banking digital.
- He completed loans and mortgages entirely online or via phone/Zoom without visiting branches.
AI Creates Functions, Not Fixed Features
- Building fixed UI features is costly and rigid compared with giving AI access to data and agents.
- An AI-first app can generate functions on demand instead of hard-coding every feature.
