Driving growth through small businesses: what financial institutions must get right in 2026

In 2026 small and medium businesses (SMBs) will be the most important growth opportunity for financial institutions. As competition intensifies from FinTechs and digital-first providers, small business owners are raising the bar on what they expect from their financial partners. 

SMBs now expect smarter banking tools, better insights, and solutions that help them grow efficiently and confidently. Small business owners are asking for simpler, more integrated tools that give them time back and clearer visibility into their cash flow.

That’s why I’m excited to co-present during a FinXTech session on Monday, February 2, from 9:40–10:15 AM, titled “Driving Growth Through Small Businesses.” 

The Acquire or Be Acquired 2026 conference (AOBA) will take place from February 1 to 3, 2026, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, offering promising leads in innovation for financial institutions to consider in 2026. 

Together with Abrigo and Autobooks, we will explore how financial institutions can move beyond traditional SMB offerings and become true growth partners.

We will be discussing how payments, automation, and data-driven insights strengthen relationships and unlock long-term value for financial institutions.

3 obstacles holding SMB growth back today

Most institutions focus on SMB account opening and onboarding rather than helping them grow. Small businesses don’t just need capital but payment efficiency, cash flow clarity and time-saving tools

1. Fragmentation of banking services

Most small business owners rely on separate platforms for banking, payments, invoicing, accounting, and reporting. This fragmentation slows decision-making, increases the risk of errors, and pulls focus away from activities that actually drive growth.

2. Lack of Cash flow visibility

Cash flow remains one of the most common and most critical challenges for small businesses. Many owners lack a clear, forward-looking view of incoming and outgoing funds. Without predictable cash flow and timely insights, even profitable small businesses struggle to scale.

3. Manual processes

Manual processes around invoicing, reconciliation, reporting, and compliance take valuable time away from serving customers, expanding offerings, or hiring talent. Over time, this operational drag becomes a hidden tax on growth, one that many businesses accept as unavoidable.

Addressing these obstacles requires a more integrated, data-driven approach that helps small businesses operate smarter and scale faster.

What small businesses actually want from financial partners

Small businesses value financial partners who help them make faster, more confident decisions.

Simplicity over complexity

SMB owners want fewer platforms and fewer logins. They want everything they need in one single place.

They don’t have time to navigate complex systems or juggle multiple financial tools. They value solutions that are intuitive, integrated, and easy to use from day one.

Simplicity isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s a competitive advantage. Reducing complexity lowers friction and directly helps prevent churn.

Actionable insights

Access to data alone is not enough unless it delivers forward-looking cash flow projections, flags potential risks, and uncovers actionable opportunities.

Small businesses need insights that are timely, relevant, and easy to understand.  When financial information is translated into actionable guidance, SMB owners can move from reacting to problems to planning for growth with confidence.

Tools that scale with them

Small businesses evolve quickly, and the tools they rely on must evolve with them. What works for a Startup may fall short as transaction volumes increase, teams grow, or operations become more complex.

Financial partners that offer scalable, flexible solutions help ensure SMBs don’t outgrow their systems or feel forced to look elsewhere as they expand.

Also read: How community banks can better serve & support small businesses

The future of small business banking belongs to institutions that embed growth into everyday financial workflows.

Let’s talk about your SMB growth strategy!

With ebankIT, financial institutions can move from being just a “money holder” to being a true financial partner, guiding SMBs, anticipating their needs, and delivering flexible, digital-first solutions.

If you are interested in learning more about our solution or see the ebankIT omnichannel digital banking platform in action, request a demo.