Fintech 2026

FRANCE Trends and Developments Contributed by: Marie Frisch and Estelle Rigal-Alexandre, Soulier Bunch

The Rise of Agentic Commerce and Agentic AI: A Paradigm Shift for the Financial and Banking Sectors The emergence of agentic AI – artificial intelligence systems capable of acting autonomously to perform complex tasks – marks a turning point in the economic and financial landscape and stands as a critical focus area for 2026. Among its most disruptive applica - tions is agentic commerce, whereby AI agents engage directly in purchasing, sales, negotiation and financial management processes, without human intervention. This evolution, powered by breakthroughs in machine learning, natural language processing (NLP) and auto - mated decision-making, is set to radically transform traditional business models. Agentic AI refers to systems capable of making auton - omous decisions (spanning purchases, investments and negotiations), interacting with other agents or humans (through advanced chatbots, voice assistants or dedicated interfaces), and learning and adapting in real time. In agentic commerce, these AI systems act as intel - ligent intermediaries between consumers, businesses and financial institutions. For example, an AI agent can negotiate product pricing, compare credit offers, or even take out insurance policies without human intervention. Similarly, a virtual financial adviser can manage investment portfolios, adjust investments in response to market shifts, or optimise a client’s tax situation in real time. Finally, autonomous agents can also execute complex transactions (such as currency arbitrage or risk hedging) around-the-clock, free from fatigue or emotional bias. This autonomy opens up vast prospects, particu - larly within the banking and financial sectors, where the impact will be profound. As tech giants (such as Google, Microsoft and Meta) and fintech companies invest heavily in these technologies, banks and finan - cial institutions must prepare for an agentic revolution that is poised to redefine their role, processes and client relationships. By way of illustration, robo-advisers are set to transi - tion into comprehensive AI agents capable of provid - ing holistic management of a client’s entire personal

The aforementioned requirements will have significant consequences for the BNPL market. On the one hand, BNPL providers will face rising operational costs, as implementing robust creditworthiness assessment processes requires substantial investment in technol - ogy (such as verification APIs and partnerships with credit reference agencies) and human resources – particularly compliance teams. Consequently, smaller players unable to absorb these costs may exit the market or be acquired by larger groups, leading to further market consolidation. On the other hand, some applicants – in particular high-risk profiles – may see their applications rejected, which could lead to a contraction in the overall vol - ume of credit granted. At the same time, those whose applications are approved will benefit from enhanced transparency regarding costs and risks, likely enabling them to make more informed decisions. Finally, merchants are likely to experience a reduction in sales – particularly impulse purchases – as it bears reminding that BNPL solutions are designed to drive online conversion rates. The application of stricter creditworthiness requirements will compel merchants to review their payment strategies. Similarly, e-com - merce platforms offering BNPL solutions will need to ensure that their partners comply with CCD II, as they may be held liable or subject to sanctions in the event of non-compliance. Within the EU, several member states have anticipat - ed CCD II by adopting specific measures to regulate BNPL. Sweden has already implemented require - ments for BNPL lenders to verify borrowers’ income and to limit the number of concurrent credit agree - ments. Germany has strengthened pre-contractual information requirements, with stringent penalties for non-compliance. The United Kingdom (post-Brexit) moved to bring BNPL services under full consumer credit regulation as early as 2023, subjecting providers to strict cred - itworthiness and transparency standards. This shift has already resulted in a reported 20% decrease in approval rates for some players, while reducing cases of BNPL-related over-indebtedness.

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