The big picture: Economic, regulatory and innovation trends shaping financial institutions in 2026

Looking back on 2025 

As financial institutions navigate a rapidly changing landscape shaped by regulatory shifts, emerging risks and evolving market dynamics, the importance of staying informed and adaptable has never been greater. The year 2025 marked a turning point for the financial services industry, introducing sweeping legislative and regulatory reforms that have reshaped operational and compliance frameworks. Among the most impactful were the passage of the GENIUS Act, the enactment of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and the implementation of the FDICIA Final Rule.  

At the same time, the risk landscape grew increasingly sophisticated. Financial crimes – including fraud, money laundering and cyber threats – became more complex, leveraging new technologies and exploiting gaps in digital infrastructure. Financial institutions faced heightened scrutiny from regulators and stakeholders, necessitating robust internal controls, advanced analytics and a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating emerging threats. The convergence of these factors underscored the need for agility, collaboration and continuous learning within the financial services industry, as organizations work to safeguard their operations, maintain customer trust and uphold the integrity of the broader financial system. 

During a recent webinar, Baker Tilly and Moss Adams financial institution specialists, along with two industry experts, recapped 2025 and provided an outlook for the year ahead. They covered the hottest topics shaping the industry, including key emerging risks and practical risk management tips, must-know accounting and tax updates and digital, economic, cryptocurrency and financial technology (fintech) trends. To help you face the year ahead, below you will find that we compiled the key takeaways from each section of the webinar. At the bottom of this page, you will find a recording of the webinar in case you are interested in watching it on-demand. If you have any questions or are interested in further guidance from our specialists on these topics, please feel free to reach out by following the link below.