Emprise Bank names AI-native core vendor Maximum as design partner

Emprise Bank, more than 100 years old, has signed a design partnership with Maximum, a startup building a core banking system with AI built in. The model is simple. The core keeps core banking functions, deterministic and fully auditable. AI agents run the work around it inside set permissions. First traffic moves by the end of 2026, then migration in phases, with old systems running alongside. The target is ten times the customers in 24 months. The weak point is the vendor. Maximum raised a $30 million seed round late last year. Its founder sold Vault to Acorns and Power to Marqeta. That is a good record for selling companies. For a core vendor, it is also the first question to ask.