Banks double down on nCino AI agents after burning through initial credits

Banks are getting “hooked” on AI agents

As banks begin deploying AI agents into their business processes, a notable trend is emerging: they’re not stopping at trial packages — they’re coming back for more at a rapid pace. nCino, the leading cloud banking platform, just reported that many customers have exhausted their initial “Intelligence Units” and are requesting additional ones.

CEO Sean Desmond shared during the Q2 fiscal year 2027 earnings call: “I mentioned during our first quarter earnings call that some customers were beginning to reach the limits of their initial Intelligence Unit bundles. We have recently begun monetizing the sale of additional Intelligence Units as clients come back for more, which is really exciting to see and a strong signal of engagement with our Banking Advisor capabilities.”

From trials to large-scale deployment

The numbers tell the story: over 230 customers have purchased Intelligence Units, up from 110 customers by late 2025. This is no longer a “try it out” phase — this is genuine adoption.

nCino introduced AI agents called “Digital Partners” last November, including Executive, Analyst, Service, and Processing Digital Partners. These agents are integrated into the Banking Advisor platform, automating tasks from data analysis to loan document processing.

One U.S. enterprise customer reported that the “locate and file” functionality of Banking Advisor saves 160,000 hours per year. Based on median loan officer compensation, that translates to annual savings of over $5.5 million.

Why major banks choose to buy rather than build

Desmond emphasized that nCino’s top 20 enterprise customers (representing over $900 billion in assets) signed multi-year contract renewals, all ahead of schedule with an average ACV increase of more than 10%.

“All four renewed ahead of schedule with an average ACV increase of more than 10% because they wanted access to nCino’s rapidly expanding suite of AI tools and functionality,” Desmond said. “These customers are some of the largest financial institutions in the country and have the financial and technical resources to build internally if they choose. They’re proactively doubling down on nCino because we’ve spent nearly 15 years building the trusted global system of record for critical banking processes.”

Lessons for Vietnam and Japan markets

For Vietnamese banks undergoing digital transformation, nCino’s story offers three lessons:

First, start small but think big. Banks don’t need to deploy AI agents across all operations immediately. Start with a specific use case (like loan processing or risk analysis), measure ROI, then scale.

Second, measure by time saved. The 160,000 hours/year figure isn’t theoretical — it comes from a specific use case. Vietnamese banks need to identify clear metrics before deploying AI.

Third, build vs. buy isn’t the right question. The right question is: “Can we build faster and better than a specialized provider?” With nCino’s 15 years of experience in banking processes, the answer is usually no.

For the Japanese market, where megabanks like MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho are investing heavily in AI, nCino’s “Intelligence Units” model could be an attractive approach — paying based on actual usage rather than fixed licenses.

The future of agentic AI in banking

This trend isn’t limited to nCino. Intuit reports that 75% of enterprise customers are deploying AI agents monthly. Banks are realizing that AI agents are no longer “nice-to-have” — they’re a competitive necessity.

The question is no longer “should we deploy AI agents?” but “how fast can we deploy, and with which provider?” Banks that are slow to act will face an increasingly large competitive disadvantage as rivals optimize operations with AI.

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Source: Banks Double Down on nCino AI Agents After Using Initial Credits — PYMNTS, August 26, 2026