February 25, 2026-- A potential surge of mergers and acquisitions in 2026 could create growth opportunities for commercial banks- including both banks that engage in mergers and acquisitions, and rivals that swoop in to capitalize on disruptions clients experience as a result of these complex transactions.
Today’s growing wave of bank M&A is being driven by several factors. Banks need to scale effectively to support and manage rising technology costs while remaining competitive. The regulatory environment is generally viewed as more supportive of consolidation, a factor that is providing additional momentum for merger activity. And, as always, banks are pursuing growth opportunities- acquiring deposits, expanding, and diversifying revenue streams, and building the scale needed to compete at both a national and global level.
However, Crisil Coalition Greenwich research demonstrates that bank mergers and acquisitions have often led to significant challenges for commercial bank clients.
“Although banks in 2026 are looking at M&A as an attractive opportunity to broaden their footprint and enhance their offering, commercial banks’ clients often view M&A through a different, more skeptical lens,” says Kevin Seiler, Senior Relationship Manager for Commercial and Community Banking at Crisil Coalition Greenwich, and coauthor of Commercial banks in 2026: A playbook for growth.
M&A Disruptions
On average, banks participating in an M&A deal experience a 15-20 point drop in Net Promotor Score, a key indicator of customer loyalty. That decline typically lasts between 12 and 24 months.
Clients frustrated with a decline in service quality during a bank integration are prime targets for competitors. As M&A activity increases, the pool of these “at risk” clients will continue to grow.
“With such significant revenue at stake, it’s clear that bank mergers and acquisitions will be a major driver of bank growth in 2026, both for banks engaging in M&A transactions and those looking to capitalize on client turnover,” says Chris McDonnell, Head of Commercial and Digital Banking Analytics at Crisil Coalition Greenwich.
Wooing Dissatisfied Prospects
When approaching dissatisfied clients to attempt to win over their business from other providers, commercial banks in 2026 should emphasize financial stability and their commitment to a best-in-class client service.
Although the 2023 banking crisis might seem like distant history to the general public, it remains top-of-mind for many business owners and executives. For these professionals, the series of bank failures and the risks created still loom large. According to Crisil Coalition Greenwich Voice of Client data, financial stability stands out as the most important attribute of a bank’s brand, with client experience and relationship manager quality ranking as secondary considerations.
Commercial banks in 2026: A playbook for growth analyzes commercial bank growth strategies for 2026, including inorganic growth from M&A and organic growth achieved both by winning new clients and expanding wallet share among existing clients.