February 11, 2026— Regional and community banks have a chance to regain ground lost to larger providers by distinguishing themselves as trusted advisors, providing crucial support to help clients navigate today’s uncertain environment.
The results of the Coalition Greenwich 2026 Awards in Small Business and Middle Market Banking suggest at least some of these smaller banks are already capitalizing on this lucrative opportunity.
In uncertain times, small businesses and midsize companies turn to their banks for guidance, but banks struggle to deliver on expectations- at least from the perspective of business owners and executives. Consequently, commercial banking client satisfaction levels traditionally have been correlated closely with economic sentiment: When the outlook dims, client ratings of their banks decline.
That pattern is playing out again today. The Greenwich Optimism Index, which measures the economic outlook of commercial executives, spent the bulk of 2025 in negative territory. As the Index dropped, commercial banking satisfaction metrics fell with it. Although that metric has gradually climbed back to neutral, the outlook remains highly uncertain.
“Economic downturns often amplify existing pain points for businesses, decreasing clients’ overall satisfaction and loyalty,” says Chris McDonnell, Head of Commercial and Digital Banking Analytics at Crisil Coalition Greenwich.
An Opportunity for Smaller Banks
Despite falling client satisfaction scores in commercial banking, uncertain conditions present opportunity for community and regional banks.
“Smaller providers that have traditionally built their business models around high-quality, hands-on service can prove their value to small businesses and midsize companies,” says Kevin Seiler, Senior Relationship Manager for Commercial and Community Banking at Crisil Coalition Greenwich. “They can differentiate themselves from larger competitors by proactively offering advice and guidance to help local business executives navigate these challenging conditions.”
Some regional and community banks are already seizing this chance, as executives facing headwinds turn to local providers that understand their markets and industries.
Larger national banks, on the other hand, leverage their scale to deliver superior digital experiences and advanced analytics- offering robust online platforms, streamlined digital workflows and data-driven insights to help clients. While smaller banks’ high-touch service is appealing in uncertain times, the long-term efficiency and powerful tools of national players may become increasingly valuable to businesses and yield significant future benefits.
2026 Best Bank and Share Leader Awards
The success of this high-touch approach is reflected in the 2026 Coalition Greenwich Best Bank and Share Leader Awards. From 2025 to 2026, the number of community and regional banks winning the Best Bank designation increased from 32 to 38.
However, it is proving more difficult for banks to differentiate in the middle market, where the number of providers winning Best Bank awards was roughly stable from 2025 to 2026 across banks of all sizes.
Review the complete list of 2026 Best Bank and Share Leader Award winners in U.S. Small Business Banking and U.S. Middle Market Banking.