Bankers, fintech leaders, regulators and technology experts gathered at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Sept. 29 for the third annual AI-Native Banking & Fintech Conference, hosted by the Utah Bankers Association and Spring Labs.

Focused on the rapidly evolving role of agentic AI in financial services, the conference moved beyond the hype to explore how banks and fintechs are employing AI today. Sessions covered practical applications across small-business lending, customer experience, compliance, cybersecurity, risk management and governance, as well as strategies for moving AI projects from experimentation to production.

The program opened with a keynote conversation on AI oversight featuring former Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu and American Fintech Council CEO Phil Goldfeder. Throughout the day, speakers from banks, fintech companies, technology providers and advisory firms shared real-world experiences with AI, including what is working, where challenges remain and how institutions are managing emerging risks.

In addition to main-stage discussions, attendees participated in hands-on workshops focused on deploying AI, financial crime and compliance, cybersecurity, and controls, while a demo stage showcased emerging AI tools.

In its third year, the conference once again brought together banking, technology and regulatory leaders for practical conversations about how AI is reshaping financial services and how institutions can prepare for what comes next.