Banks Are Missing Six Major Revenue Opportunities in Open Finance, New Report Finds

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9:00 AM on Thursday, April 9

The Associated Press

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 9, 2026--

A new research report from Cornerstone Advisors, commissioned by Ninth Wave, identifies six monetization opportunities that banks can leverage to drive growth, deepen relationships, and unlock new revenue streams. As Open Finance shifts from regulatory requirement to competitive necessity, institutions that fail to act risk falling behind.

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Cornerstone Advisors report on Monetizing Open Banking, sponsored by Ninth Wave

“Open Finance isn’t just about data access—it’s about revenue creation,” said Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors and co-author of the report. “Banks that treat open banking as infrastructure alone are missing the bigger opportunity. The real value lies in using that connectivity to deliver new products, faster decisions, and better customer outcomes.”

“Open Finance is no longer optional, it’s the foundation for how banks compete in a connected economy,” said George Anderson, CEO of Ninth Wave. “The real challenge isn’t connectivity, it’s execution. Banks that can operationalize data into products, decisions, and revenue will separate themselves from the rest of the market.”

The Six Ways to Make Money with Open Finance
The report, Monetizing Open Banking: Commercial Banking Opportunities, identifies six primary revenue opportunities:

Cash Flow–Based Lending
Use real-time transaction data to underwrite loans more accurately, expand credit access, and speed up approvals. The most immediate opportunity is that the Small Business Administration has replaced its Small Business Scoring Service with a direct cash flow requirement. Banks without real-time data access will face longer timelines and higher compliance costs under this new DSCR mandate.
Multi-Bank Cash Visibility Platforms
Consolidating account data from multiple institutions into a single platform, delivered as a subscription service, provides businesses with a real-time view of their finances across multiple institutions.
Faster Credit Decisions Through Real-Time Data
Cut loan decision times from weeks to days, or even hours, by replacing manual document collection with permissioned data access.
Payment Initiation Services
Transaction-based revenue generated from enabling businesses to initiate payments between accounts and institutions using a bank-hosted interface.
Multi-Bank Data Aggregation
Deliver advanced financial insights and analytics by aggregating data from multiple institutions, establishing the bank as the primary financial hub.
Fee Income from APIs and Data Access
Monetize API infrastructure directly by charging fintechs and partners for access to customer-permissioned data – a model validated by JPMorgan Chase, which announced plans to charge for API access in October 2025.

Together, these six areas represent a fundamental shift in how banks can compete, transforming Open Finance from a cost center into a scalable revenue platform.

The report emphasizes that demand for integrated financial experiences is accelerating, driven by businesses that expect their banks to seamlessly connect with ERP systems, accounting platforms, and payment workflows. Banks that meet these expectations are seeing measurable results while those that don’t risk disintermediation as customers turn to fintech platforms for integrated financial experiences.

About the Report
Monetizing Open Banking: Commercial Banking Opportunities was developed by Cornerstone Advisors and commissioned by Ninth Wave. The report provides strategic insights and practical guidance for financial institutions seeking to unlock the full commercial potential of Open Finance. Download the full report to see how banks can turn Open Finance into a scalable revenue engine.

About Ninth Wave
Ninth Wave is the leading provider of secure data connectivity between financial institutions and third-party applications, including aggregators, fintechs, accounting solutions, ERP systems, and other business tools. Ninth Wave is the most comprehensive provider of Open Finance connectivity, delivering a single, unified platform that connects financial institutions to the entire open banking ecosystem with white-glove service and operational simplicity. Founded in 2018, Ninth Wave is privately owned and based in New York City. For more information, visit ninth-wave.com

About Cornerstone Advisors
For over 20 years, Cornerstone Advisors has delivered gritty insights, bold strategies, and data-driven solutions to build smarter banks, credit unions, and fintechs. From technology systems selection and implementation to contract negotiations, performance improvement, vendor management, strategic planning, and merger and acquisition services, Cornerstone combines expertise with research and proprietary data to help financial institutions thrive in today’s challenging environment. For more information, visit crnrstone.com.

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KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DATA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY FINANCE FINTECH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BANKING