From Core to Connected: Why Banking in 2025 is All About Experience Integration

For decades, banks have built their technology around core systems—stable, reliable, but rigid. Meanwhile, digital-first companies have flipped the script, designing seamless, intuitive experiences that put customer needs ahead of infrastructure. The result? Customer expectations have changed dramatically.

In 2025, the most successful banks won’t just upgrade their core systems—they’ll rethink how these systems work together to create frictionless, real-time experiences. Because in a world where a customer can get a ride, order food, or book a flight in seconds, why should banking feel any different?

The Evolution of Banking Technology: Beyond the Core

Imagine this: A customer applies for a credit card on their morning commute, receives instant approval with a personalized rewards structure, and starts using their digital card before their coffee gets cold. This isn’t the future—it’s an expectation customers already have.

But while customers demand instant, effortless banking, legacy systems weren’t built for this level of agility. Banks have focused on integrating systems, but disconnected data and rigid workflows often leave experiences feeling fragmented.

According to McKinsey’s Global Banking Annual Review 2023, nearly 60% of traditional banking functions could be enhanced by generative AI and automation. Yet, even with APIs and microservices, if the underlying approach to customer journeys remains disjointed, the experience will still feel cumbersome.

The Hidden Complexity of Modern Banking

Delivering truly seamless banking isn’t just about upgrading technology—it’s about orchestrating a complex web of systems to work together in real time. Every customer interaction triggers multiple systems simultaneously:

• Risk assessment algorithms evaluate transactions in milliseconds
• Reward systems calculate points and cashback dynamically
• Customer communication platforms send real-time notifications
• Marketing engines update customer profiles for future personalization

Banks recognize this challenge—70% of executives cite improving customer experience as their top strategic priority, according to Deloitte’s 2024 Banking and Capital Markets Outlook. Yet, the same report highlights technology fragmentation as a major barrier.

The Experience Integration Imperative

The challenge isn’t about having the most advanced individual systems—it’s about making them work together to serve the customer journey, not just internal efficiency goals.

A Boston Consulting Group report found that banks leveraging integrated, API-first architectures achieve three times faster product launches and 25% lower technology costs. But the real competitive edge comes when these architectures enable effortless, invisible banking experiences.

What This Means for Customers

Banks that successfully shift their mindset to experience integration can deliver:

• Instant credit decisions based on real-time data
• Personalized reward programs that dynamically adapt to spending patterns
• Real-time customer service with full context of past interactions
• Proactive financial advice powered by behavioral insights
• Seamless cross-product experiences that feel natural, not forced

Building the Future of Banking

A recent EY Global FinTech Adoption Index shows that 76% of consumers now prioritize seamless digital experiences in their banking relationships. The future of banking technology centers on three key principles:

• Customer journeys should be invisible and effortless
• Systems should communicate in real-time, not overnight
• Personalization should be built into every interaction

Moving from Systems to Experiences

As Accenture’s Banking Technology Vision 2024 notes, “The winners in banking will not be those with the most advanced individual systems, but those who create the most seamless, integrated experiences for their customers.” This is especially critical in credit card programs, where personalization and instant gratification drive customer loyalty.

Instead of asking, ‘How do we integrate our systems better?’ a more effective question might be, ‘How do we create a frictionless customer journey?’

Enabling the Future of Experience-First Banking

At Hyperface, we’re enabling this transformation through our integrated platform approach. By connecting all aspects of card management—from instant digital issuance and customisable credit cards to dynamic, layered reward programs and laser-focused campaign management and nudging tools —we help banks move beyond fragmented systems and deliver experiences that feel effortless to the customer.

Banks that rethink integration today will define the future of customer-centric banking. 

If your bank is looking to deliver truly connected customer experiences, let’s talk.