AI Adoption Accelerates in Bank Wealth Management: Cerulli 

Advisors and home-office executives at banks are rapidly increasing their use of artificial intelligence, both to streamline data review and to directly support portfolio construction and asset allocation, according to The Cerulli Report—U.S. Private Banks & Trust Companies 2025. While adoption is not yet universal, leading institutions are already deploying AI tools to deliver more customized and differentiated client experiences. 

Currently, 42% of bank advisors report using AI in their practice, a figure projected to climb to 77% within two years. Among private banks, adoption is even more advanced, with 56% already integrating AI into workflows and 80% expecting usage by 2027. Applications range from large language models and real-time investment data analysis to AI-driven portfolio optimization, risk management, and tax-efficient customization. 

“Advisors may be able to leverage AI-enabled tools to further customize client accounts—meeting needs and goals, risk tolerances, and liquidity requirements, as well as optimizing tax outcomes,” said Cerulli research analyst Matt Zampariolo. 

Despite the momentum, challenges remain. High costs are the biggest barrier, cited by 55% of bank executives, followed by advisor inexperience and data security concerns. Smaller community and regional banks, in particular, struggle to fund enterprise-level technology adoption at scale. Still, Zampariolo emphasized that “early adopters of AI will be at the forefront of growth in the years to come.”