# ConnectOne Bancorp: AI strategy

Source: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/banks/connectone
Last updated: Oct 5, 2026

*A New Jersey commercial bank that runs its lending on nCino and is building custom AI agents there, with the stated aim of making every frontline commercial banker 50% more productive rather than cutting staff.*

## How is ConnectOne Bank using AI?

ConnectOne Bancorp, the Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey parent of ConnectOne Bank (about $14.4 billion in lead-bank assets at June 30, 2026), is putting agentic AI into commercial lending on the nCino platform it has used since 2017. In July 2026 it reported nCino's Banking Advisor live in production and two custom AI agents with 16 skills built on nCino's Agentic Operating System: document search that took bankers 20 minutes now takes as little as 30 seconds, active users rose 41% in ten weeks, and a relationship-update agent cut task time by 60%, with a goal of making every frontline commercial banker 50% more productive. CEO Frank Sorrentino III told American Banker the tools are an investment in growth, not a cost cut, and that the bank will likely need more people as business grows. Its 2025 10-K says the bank has begun to selectively use AI, including to draft standardized documents and communications and to search the internet, and that policies prohibit staff from using non-approved generative AI applications on bank networks or devices. Management described a 'tech-forward' model integrating AI across the organization on its first-quarter 2026 call, and its chief brand and innovation officer has spoken publicly about how generative AI shapes what customers learn about banks.

## At a glance

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Lead bank | ConnectOne Bank |
| Ticker | CNOB |
| Headquarters | Englewood Cliffs, NJ |
| Consolidated assets | $14,402 million (Jun 30, 2026) |
| Federal Reserve rank | 117 |
| Charter | New Jersey state nonmember bank (FDIC) |

## Flagship platform: nCino Banking Advisor and custom agents on nCino's Agentic Operating System

ConnectOne, an nCino customer since 2017, announced in July 2026 that nCino's Banking Advisor is live in production in its commercial lending operations and that it has built two custom AI agents, comprising 16 skills, on nCino's Agentic Operating System (AOS), working with nCino's forward-deployed engineers inside the bank's environment. Banking Advisor's Knowledge Base cut the time bankers spend searching credit policy and job-aid documents from about 20 minutes to as little as 30 seconds, and active users grew 41% in ten weeks; one agent that uses Document Intelligence to update individual and business relationships reduced task time by 60%. The bank's goal is to make every frontline commercial banker 50% more productive. ([nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work))

## Key points

- nCino Banking Advisor live in production; two custom agents (16 skills) built on nCino's Agentic Operating System with nCino's forward-deployed engineers (July 2026).
- Results reported: document search from about 20 minutes to as little as 30 seconds; active users up 41% in ten weeks; a Document Intelligence agent cut relationship-update task time by 60%.
- Stated goal: every frontline commercial banker 50% more productive; the CEO frames AI as growth investment and expects to need more back-office staff, not fewer.
- 10-K (February 2026): AI already used to draft standardized documents and communications and to search the internet; non-approved generative AI apps are prohibited on bank networks and devices.
- Q1 2026 call: a 'tech-forward' model with the thoughtful integration of AI across the organization to restore best-in-class efficiency after the First of Long Island merger.
- Leaders with public AI roles: CEO Frank Sorrentino III, Chief Digital Officer Ali Mattera and Chief Brand and Innovation Officer Siya Vansia, who tracks what generative AI says about the bank.

## Timeline

- Jul 23, 2026 — **Second-quarter 2026 results** Net interest margin expands for a seventh straight quarter, past 3.40%, with improved operating efficiency. ([ConnectOne Bancorp (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/23/3331988/25238/en/ConnectOne-Bancorp-Inc-Reports-Second-Quarter-2026-Results.html))
- Jul 14, 2026 — **nCino agents live in commercial lending** Banking Advisor in production and two custom agents on nCino's Agentic Operating System; 97.5% less time on document search. ([nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work))
- Apr 23, 2026 — **Q1 2026 call: 'tech-forward' model** Efficiency discipline enhanced by optimizing systems, products and services and the thoughtful integration of AI across the organization. ([Motley Fool via Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/connectone-cnob-q1-2026-earnings-151311164.html), [Moby via Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/connectone-bancorp-inc-q1-2026-164849964.html))
- Feb 24, 2026 — **Brand chief on generative AI and reputation** Siya Vansia says customers now 'Google or ChatGPT it' and that content strategy will have to evolve for AI answers. ([American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/do-you-know-what-gen-ai-is-saying-about-your-bank))
- Feb 24, 2026 — **10-K describes AI already in use and a ban on non-approved tools** AI drafts standardized documents and communications and searches the internet; employees are prohibited from using non-approved generative AI applications on bank networks or devices. ([ConnectOne Bancorp (SEC filing)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712771/000143774926005320/cnob20251231c_10k.htm))
- Jan 29, 2026 — **Q4 2025 call: full systems conversion in two weeks** The merger's systems conversion completed within two weeks; assets ended 2025 at about $14 billion. ([GuruFocus via Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/connectone-bancorp-inc-cnob-q4-210611121.html))
- Jun 2, 2025 — **First of Long Island merger completed** The largest transaction in ConnectOne's history, led on the integration side by Chief Digital Officer Ali Mattera's project teams. ([ConnectOne Bancorp (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/02/3091713/25238/en/connectone-bancorp-inc-completes-merger-with-the-first-of-long-island-corporation.html), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/2025-next-no-14-ali-mattera-connectone-bank))

## Where AI runs

| Use case | What | Status | Detail | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Generative & agentic AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#generative-agentic-ai) | nCino Banking Advisor Knowledge Base | In production | Generative AI search over credit policy and job-aid documentation for commercial bankers. | [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work) |
| [Credit scoring & underwriting](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#credit-underwriting) | Custom commercial-lending agents (16 skills) | Rolling out | Two agents built on nCino's Agentic Operating System for high-friction lending tasks; one uses Document Intelligence to update individual and business relationships. | [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html) |
| [Generative & agentic AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#generative-agentic-ai) | Document drafting and internet search | In production | AI used to assist in drafting standardized documents and communications and to search information on the internet. | [ConnectOne Bancorp (SEC filing)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712771/000143774926005320/cnob20251231c_10k.htm) |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | Ban on non-approved generative AI | In production | Policies and governance structures prohibit employees from using non-approved generative AI applications or websites on the bank's network or devices. | [ConnectOne Bancorp (SEC filing)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712771/000143774926005320/cnob20251231c_10k.htm) |
| [Third-party & vendor AI](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#third-party-vendors) | Reliance on nCino and third-party models | In production | The 10-K notes dependence on how third parties develop and train the AI models the bank relies on. | [ConnectOne Bancorp (SEC filing)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712771/000143774926005320/cnob20251231c_10k.htm), [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html) |

## Disclosed numbers

| Measure | Value | As of | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Document search time | From about 20 minutes to as little as 30 seconds (97.5% reduction) | Jul 14, 2026 | [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work) |
| Banking Advisor active users | Up 41% in 10 weeks | Jul 14, 2026 | [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html) |
| Relationship-update agent | 60% less task time | Jul 14, 2026 | [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html) |
| Productivity goal | Every frontline commercial banker 50% more productive | Jul 14, 2026 | [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html) |
| Custom agents and skills | 2 agents, 16 skills | Jul 14, 2026 | [nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html) |
| Lead-bank assets (Fed release) | $14,402 million | Jun 30, 2026 | [Federal Reserve Board](https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/lbr/current/) |

## Quotes

> "By leveraging nCino's investments in AI, we can remove friction & administrative burden from our workflows, and double down on ConnectOne's competitive advantage - our ability to serve our clients at the pace of their business." — Frank Sorrentino III, Chairman and CEO, Jul 14, 2026 ([nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html))

> "If we give them 1,000 hours back, does that mean we're going to fire 50% of our producers, or do you think we're going to allow them to go out and be 100% more productive?" — Frank Sorrentino III, Chairman and CEO, Jul 14, 2026 ([American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work))

> "As we continue to scale, the next opportunity is not only to digitize workflows, but to make them smarter, faster and more intuitive" — Ali Mattera, Chief Digital Officer, Jul 14, 2026 ([American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work))

## Who runs AI

- **Frank Sorrentino III** — Chairman and CEO ([nCino (GlobeNewswire)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work))
- **Ali Mattera** — Chief Digital Officer (since 2023) ([American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/2025-next-no-14-ali-mattera-connectone-bank), [American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work))
- **Siya Vansia** — Chief Brand and Innovation Officer ([American Banker](https://www.americanbanker.com/news/do-you-know-what-gen-ai-is-saying-about-your-bank))

## Regulators it answers to

- [FDIC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/fdic) — ConnectOne Bank is a New Jersey state nonmember bank; the FDIC supervises its use of nCino's agents and third-party models. See [FDIC FIL-29-2023](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fdic-fil-29-2023), [FDIC FIL-15-2026](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fdic-fil-15-2026).
- [Federal Reserve](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/federal-reserve) — ConnectOne Bancorp is a bank holding company above $10 billion; model-risk and third-party guidance frame agent deployment in credit workflows. See [SR 11-7](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fed-sr-11-7), [SR 23-4](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fed-sr-23-4).
- [CFPB](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/cfpb) — AI used in small-business and consumer credit workflows keeps ECOA adverse-action and fair-lending duties with the bank, as its 10-K's discussion of discriminatory AI output acknowledges. See [ECOA / Regulation B adverse action (15 U.S.C. 1691(d); 12 CFR 1002.9)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/cfpb-ecoa-regulation-b-adverse-action).

## What the record suggests

### Agents through the core lending vendor

Rather than build its own platform, ConnectOne is customising agents inside nCino, the system its bankers already use; that shortens deployment to weeks but ties its AI roadmap to one vendor's agent framework.

### Productivity framed as capacity, not headcount

The CEO's '1,000 hours back' argument and the 50%-more-productive target put the business case on revenue per banker, a claim that can be checked against efficiency ratios and staffing in later quarters.

### Governance stated plainly

Few banks of its size say in a 10-K that they prohibit non-approved generative AI tools on their network; the statement pairs a permissive stance on approved tools with a hard line on shadow AI.

## FAQ

### How is ConnectOne Bank using AI?

Mainly in commercial lending: nCino's Banking Advisor is live in production and the bank has built two custom AI agents with 16 skills on nCino's Agentic Operating System. Document search fell from about 20 minutes to as little as 30 seconds and a relationship-update agent cut task time by 60%. The 10-K also says AI helps draft standardized documents and search the internet.

### Will AI reduce jobs at ConnectOne?

Its CEO told American Banker in July 2026 that agentic AI is an investment in growth rather than a cost-saving measure, that freed-up time lets bankers be more productive, and that the bank will likely need more people in the back office to handle the increase in business.

## Sources (11)

1. ConnectOne Bank is Building the Future of Commercial Lending on nCino’s Agentic Operating System — nCino (GlobeNewswire), Jul 14, 2026. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/14/3326739/0/en/connectone-bank-is-building-the-future-of-commercial-lending-on-ncino-s-agentic-operating-system.html
2. How ConnectOne Bank uses AI to save time on admin work — American Banker, Jul 14, 2026. https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-connectone-bank-uses-ai-to-save-time-on-admin-work
3. The Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT No.14, Ali Mattera, ConnectOne Bank — American Banker, Sep 10, 2025. https://www.americanbanker.com/news/2025-next-no-14-ali-mattera-connectone-bank
4. Do you know what Gen AI is saying about your bank? — American Banker, Feb 24, 2026. https://www.americanbanker.com/news/do-you-know-what-gen-ai-is-saying-about-your-bank
5. ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 — ConnectOne Bancorp (SEC filing), Feb 24, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712771/000143774926005320/cnob20251231c_10k.htm
6. ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. Completes Merger With the First of Long Island Corporation — ConnectOne Bancorp (GlobeNewswire), Jun 2, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/02/3091713/25238/en/connectone-bancorp-inc-completes-merger-with-the-first-of-long-island-corporation.html
7. ConnectOne Bancorp Inc (CNOB) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Asset Growth and ... — GuruFocus via Yahoo Finance, Jan 29, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/connectone-bancorp-inc-cnob-q4-210611121.html
8. ConnectOne (CNOB) Q1 2026 Earnings Transcript — Motley Fool via Yahoo Finance, Apr 23, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/connectone-cnob-q1-2026-earnings-151311164.html
9. ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary — Moby via Yahoo Finance, Apr 23, 2026. https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/connectone-bancorp-inc-q1-2026-164849964.html
10. ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results — ConnectOne Bancorp (GlobeNewswire), Jul 23, 2026. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/23/3331988/25238/en/ConnectOne-Bancorp-Inc-Reports-Second-Quarter-2026-Results.html
11. Large Commercial Banks (data as of June 30, 2026) — Federal Reserve Board, Oct 2, 2026. https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/lbr/current/

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