JPMorgan Leads AI Banking Index for Fifth Straight Year

JPMorgan Chase retained the top position in Evident’s 2026 AI Index for banks, extending its run to five consecutive years as the report found that AI capabilities advanced faster across the 50 institutions assessed. Capital One ranked second and Royal Bank of Canada third, while UBS, in sixth place, was the only European bank in the top 10. The index, published on October 6, evaluates major banks using publicly available information. Evident assesses institutions across four areas: AI talent, innovation, leadership and transparency. The ranking places particular weight on talent. Its findings describe adoption and disclosed activity, rather than a direct measurement of the financial returns banks have achieved. North American lenders made up eight of the top 10, with six US banks and two Canadian banks. Australia’s Commonwealth Bank of Australia ranked fourth. Wells Fargo placed fifth, according to the index. UBS rose one position from the previous year; HSBC fell from eighth in 2025 to 11th. Lloyds Banking Group ranked 15th, NatWest 17th and Barclays 19th.