The Business Conduct Risk Intelligence Report 2026, published by RepRisk, extracts the views of global executives from banks, asset managers, asset owners, and other financial institutions to examine how companies are implementing and permeating it. Conduct of Business Risk Data Across Workflows Amid changing and increasingly complex risks landscape.
- 81% of executives agree that conduct of business risk data will become more valuable to companies over the next three years as more complex risks are on the horizon.
- Most companies report increased investment in conduct of business risk data in the last year, with 58% reporting an increase in spending after a major incident.
- Only 16% of executives are aware of AI‑For the past three years, related conduct risk has been the most significant risk, but this number will jump to 56% over the next three years. This change is reflected in data provider preferences. Executives have almost twice as much confidence in hybrid human-AI approaches as they do in AI‑Provider only (67% vs. 35%).
zurich, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A new report published by RepRisk, the world’s most rated DaaS provider for conduct of business risk, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, reveals that key conduct of business risks are rapidly increasing across the financial sector, driven by emerging risks such as AI and issues related to climate change and the energy transition. Based on a survey of more than 500 executives across Europe, America and Asia. Business Behavioral Risk Intelligence Report 2026 Banks, asset managers, and other financial institutions are experiencing more frequent, complex, and costly incidents that are costing their bottom line millions of dollars.
Only 16% of executives identified AI-related conduct risks as their top material risk over the past three years, but this number will jump to 56% over the next three years. This change is also reflected in data provider preferences. Executives have nearly twice as much confidence in hybrid human-AI approaches as AI-only providers (67% vs. 35%).
81% of executives agree that conduct of business risk data will become more valuable to companies over the next three years as more complex risks are on the horizon.
Management reports that from 2023 to 2025, the average number of major conduct of business risk incidents increased by 55%. In addition to direct financial costs, the loss of key investors or customers, regulatory sanctions, and brand reputation damage emerged as the most common consequences, highlighting the high commercial stakes that banks and asset managers must contend with. As a result, conduct of business incidents are no longer viewed as a compliance-only issue, but as a direct threat to commercial performance.
“Trust is becoming a rare asset as geopolitical and economic uncertainty increases and AI risks rise.” Philip Avey, CEO and Co-Founder At RepRisk. “In this fragile and dynamic environment, banks and asset managers must be able to trust their data. That means relevant, accurate, and timely data that is traceable, auditable, and built on consistent and transparent methods. This is why leaders rely on humans and AI, rather than black-box automation. That’s why financial companies that rely on hybrid risk intelligence to explain, defend, and support board-level decisions will become companies that treat business conduct risk data as a strategic capability rather than a compliance afterthought. ”
Significant changes at the top of important conduct of business risks led by AI-related conduct issues
Executives reported that key material risks have changed significantly over the next three years, with new issues expected to increase in importance. AI-related conduct issues have been identified as the least important risk over the past three years, but are expected to become the most important risk over the next three years. Conduct issues related to climate change and the energy transition are also rapidly increasing, becoming the second most important anticipated issue. However, the issue of corruption and bribery, previously reported as one of the top two important risks, has fallen significantly, and the issue of human rights and modern slavery has also fallen from third place in the past three years to being ranked as the most important risk over the next three years. Data privacy and cybersecurity breaches remain prominent risks, along with misleading communications and greenwashing.
Accurate business execution risk detection is essential to navigating complex risk landscapes
Approximately three in four executives say operational risk data is essential to effectively managing risk. Prevention and early detection are now business necessities, and leaders are treating business conduct risk data as a strategic asset. Investing before a crisis occurs is believed to be the key to increasing resilience and improving the quality of decision-making.
Business conduct risk data is already delivering business value, and its yield is likely to increase as new risks intensify. Executives recognize that delaying investment in behavioral data increases long-term costs and increases the need for sustained strategic funding. Approximately 25% of institutions increased their conduct risk data investments by 20% or more last year. However, the majority (58%) did so after the fact, in the aftermath of a critical incident.
The majority of leaders trust business behavioral data based on a hybrid human-AI approach
This study examined executives’ attitudes toward the different technological approaches providers use to generate operational data, specifically AI-only, human-only, and human-AI hybrid. 73% of executives report using a hybrid approach, and 67% say they trust hybrid data for key investment and risk decisions, compared to 35% for AI-only approaches. Hybrid models also received the highest ratings across the quality dimensions most important to decision-making, including relevance (65%), overall quality (63%), accuracy (60%), and methodological traceability and transparency (57%).
In contrast, AI-only approaches garner the highest levels of concern, particularly regarding false positives and negatives (65%), lack of transparency, explainability, or auditability (62%), and inconsistent or opaque sources (60%). As AI-related conduct risks grow in importance, the findings highlight that financial institutions continue to favor decision-grade data that combines advanced AI with expert human oversight, especially where accountability and accountability are important.
Concerns about inconsistent or opaque sources or methodological changes that can break the comparability of time series reinforce the importance of defensible and stable methods when using data for long-term monitoring and reporting. A human-only approach raises a number of concerns. The speed and cost of analysis are far more pronounced, along with concerns about limited scope and scale.
Note to editor
- This study examines how financial institutions are adopting and incorporating operational risk data throughout their workflows in a changing and increasingly complex risk environment. We highlight business leaders’ unique perspectives on the benefits of conduct of business risk data and the challenges of integrating with external conduct of business risk data providers.
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The study surveyed 513 executives from banks, asset managers, asset owners and other financial institutions in Europe, the US and Asia, all of whom closely monitor their companies’ conduct of business risk strategies. The study was commissioned by RepRisk in collaboration with Oxford Economics and was conducted in January 2026. Only companies that used external data to monitor operational risks were included in the sample. Findings are reported at a 95% confidence level. Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to exactly 100%. See the chart below for more information on the demographic breakdown.
About RepRisk
RepRisk is the world’s most rated Data as a Service (DaaS) company for reputational risk and responsible business operations. Since 2007, RepRisk’s data has been trusted by the world’s largest banks, investment managers, Fortune 500 companies, sovereign wealth funds, and organizations such as the OECD and the United Nations. Combining advanced AI, deep human expertise, and proven methodologies at their core, RepRisk’s solutions give customers peace of mind and enable them to “Know more, act faster, with more confidence.” Our pioneering solutions help strengthen due diligence processes across business conduct themes such as biodiversity, deforestation, human rights and corruption, enabling clients to identify, monitor and mitigate reputational, compliance and financial risks. Headquartered in Zurich with offices in Toronto, New York, London, Berlin, Manila and Tokyo, we are always close to our clients and bring a unique perspective to the industry. United by a shared belief in the power of data, our 400 employees are proud to set the global standard for business behavioral data and drive positive change through transparency. Visit reprisk.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
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Source RepRisk
