A new report from Alkami Technology and Cornerstone Advisors shows that digital banking performance among U.S. financial institutions is becoming more uniform, signaling a shift in how banks and credit unions compete in the digital space.

The 2025 Digital Banking Performance Metrics Report, released Tuesday, is based on self-reported 2024 data from banks and credit unions averaging $4.7 billion in assets. Now in its sixth year, the report replaces earlier performance tier rankings with a percentile-based system that reflects a narrowing gap in digital capabilities across institutions.

“Digital is impacting bottom-line results beyond the surface metrics,” said Ron Shevlin, chief research officer at Cornerstone Advisors. “This data gives leadership a foundation for shaping strategy across departments.”

Key findings highlight increased adoption and usage of digital tools:

• Institutions reporting live chat activity grew 61% since 2022.
• Bill pay adoption reached 35%, up from 29% over the previous two years.
• Person-to-person payment users rose to 34%, an 8-point increase.
• Digital checking account openings grew to 21% of all openings, up from 16%.
• Mobile payment transactions per user jumped nearly 23% from 2023.

The report aims to help institutions benchmark performance and guide digital strategy.