Bank of Ireland: How Data Is Shaping Smarter Banking

For banks, data has always been an asset. What is changing is how that data is being used — and who within the organisation is driving that change.

In this conversation, Jamie Renehan, Head of Behavioural Insights at Bank of Ireland, highlights how behavioural data, combined with growing AI capability, is reshaping decision-making across the bank.

One of the most notable shifts is internal. Like many large financial institutions, Bank of Ireland has invested heavily in AI upskilling, including the launch of an AI academy. The impact is already visible. Senior leaders are not only engaging with AI, but actively pushing for its application across business use cases. That changes the dynamic for technical teams. Questions are no longer theoretical — they are increasingly specific, practical, and grounded in real business challenges.

At the same time, the bank’s data position provides a unique advantage. With a high share of card spend in Ireland, Bank of Ireland has visibility into national spending patterns at scale. This enables insights that extend beyond internal operations, feeding into broader analysis of consumer behaviour and economic trends.

These insights often follow seasonal cycles. Periods such as November and December — driven by online shopping and holiday spending — provide a rich view of customer behaviour under pressure. Through initiatives like the Financial Wellbeing Index, the bank can assess how prepared customers are for these periods, particularly in the context of rising living costs and increased financial strain.

The value of this data lies not just in observation, but in understanding behaviour more deeply. Patterns in spending, shifts in priorities, and responses to economic pressures all provide signals that can inform better products, services, and support for customers.

However, the pace of technological change introduces new challenges. The ecosystem of partners and vendors is evolving rapidly, particularly in areas such as payments, fraud prevention, and financial crime. New tools and capabilities are emerging constantly — and critically, they are being adopted by both financial institutions and bad actors.

This creates a continuous arms race. As AI and data-driven tools become more sophisticated, banks must remain equally agile in adopting new technologies and forming partnerships that strengthen their defences. The ability to integrate innovative solutions into existing systems becomes essential.

What emerges is a picture of modern banking that is increasingly dynamic. Data is no longer static. AI is no longer experimental. And partnerships are no longer fixed.

Instead, banks are operating within an evolving ecosystem — one where insight, adaptability, and collaboration are key to both growth and protection.

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