Customers Bank, a subsidiary of Customers Bancorp, announced a strategic collaboration with OpenAI to embed artificial intelligence throughout its commercial banking operations. The partnership will integrate OpenAI’s advanced language models into core processes such as customer service, risk management, and product development, positioning the bank as one of the first AI‑enabled regional banks in the United States.
The collaboration builds on a relationship that began in 2023 when Customers Bank adopted ChatGPT Enterprise. Since then, 75% of the bank’s employees have used tools powered by OpenAI, and the bank has invested heavily in AI training and a corporate AI charter. The new partnership will focus on custom AI development, with OpenAI’s technical teams working onsite to tailor solutions to the bank’s lending, deposits, and payments workflows.
Management highlighted the expected operational impact of the deal. President and CEO Sam Sidhu said, "We expect a fundamental re‑engineering of how Customers Bank operates." The bank aims to improve its efficiency ratio from roughly 49% to the low 40s by 2027, freeing bankers to focus on value‑creating activities for clients and shareholders.
The partnership also opens a potential revenue stream beyond the bank’s own operations. Customers Bank and OpenAI plan to co‑create enterprise solutions that could be sold to other banks in the future, positioning the bank as a technology partner in the regional banking sector. "We are proud to help Customers Bank as they build a more intelligent operating model that empowers employees, strengthens client service, and sets a new standard for regional banking," said Denise Dresser, Chief Revenue Officer at OpenAI.
The announcement followed a strong Q1 2026 earnings report in which Customers Bancorp reported net income of $69.7 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, beating analyst expectations of $1.88. The earnings beat, combined with the AI partnership, contributed to a positive market reaction, as investors noted the bank’s strong financial foundation and forward‑looking technology strategy.
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