Emprise Bank taps AI-native start

Emprise Bank in Kansas, US, has partnered with Maximum, a new banking infrastructure company launched by experienced fintech founder Randy Fernando, to adopt the start-up's AI-native core banking tech.

Emprise says the partnership will "enable it to scale its customer count by 10 times in the next 24 months while improving efficiency margins".

"AI agents will operate within clearly defined permissions and governance frameworks, enabling the bank to move faster, operate more efficiently and introduce new capabilities without compromising security, control or accountability," Emprise explains.

Emprise adds that the bank will move its first traffic onto the platform "by the end of 2026". The transition is due to commence in phases, "with existing systems continuing to run alongside the new platform throughout the transition" to "protect operational continuity and minimise customer disruption", the bank says.

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Emprise has for the last decade used a core banking system developed by technology giant FIS, first moving onto the system in 2016 to unify account opening, card production, and transaction processing.

The bank later partnered with MX Technologies and nFinia developer Tyfone to embed money management tools into its digital channels. This move recorded a five-fold increase in customers, according to an MX case study.

With around $2.8 billion in total assets, Emprise currently serves more than 20 communities in the Midwest with business and retail banking services. The bank also offers a Banking-as-a-Service business called Emprise Embedded.

The family-owned bank marks the first major banking client win for Maximum, which recently launched with $30 million in seed funding from investors including CRV, Pear VC, Restive, Plug and Play Ventures, and Anthemis, among others.

Founder Fernando had previously created wealthtech platform Vault Investing, which was sold to micro-investing app Acorns in 2017, and credit card platform Power Finance, which Marqeta bought in 2023 for $275 million.