Can a premium MSP dedicated to banking IT boost the bottom line?

Are IT MSPs worth the price for banks? Yes—especially when compared with working with local MSPs or going it alone. Here’s why the investment in banking IT solutions is worth it.

I fully admit—as director of sales at Integris, I may be a little biased about the importance of investing in a quality IT partner. There’s a big difference between working with an MSP with premium, banking IT services versus the break/fix MSP down the street. Many banking clients simply don’t know the transformative business gains the right IT partner can offer. 

But after 20 years of seeing the surprise among our clients when we help them make big business improvements while reducing overall IT spend, I can’t pass up the opportunity to evangelize. If you’re wondering whether your bank can tangibly benefit from working with outsourced banking IT solutions, the answer is yes. In fact, a good managed IT partner should be able to ensure your IT spend is appropriate for your bank’s size, improve overall employee productivity, and significantly reduce your regulatory burden. 

What, precisely, can a banking-dedicated IT partner do for your bank?  We dive into that in detail in our newest report “Outsourcing your IT: Why banks need MSPs.” But I’ll touch on some of the main points here. 

Banking IT solutions: The stakes have never been higher

Community banks are under pressure to provide localized, personalized services to your customers, while also operating with the efficiency, product range, and data safety of the biggest national institutions. Customers and regulators aren’t going to give the technology infrastructure at your regional bank the benefit of the doubt, just because you’re right down the block. A banking-dedicated MSP can truly level the playing field, allowing community banks to afford a tech ecosystem that’s at the top of banking industry best practices. 

IT outsourcing is about more than competitiveness. The choice to work with an MSP for your IT could be one of the most important decisions your bank makes. Let’s look at the numbers. 

Sources: Research & Markets, Deloitte Global Outsourcing Survey 2024, Forrester Global Tech Market Forecast

Banking IT solutions: The top business benefits of working with a premium MSP

Statistics show that banks can make big gains when they outsource their IT, so it’s no mystery why so many institutions are hopping on board. But what is it, exactly, that an MSP does to help achieve these business gains? From our perspective, this is what we are working toward with each of our banking clients. 

Benefit no. 1: Stabilize IT spending

A premium MSP can provide a stable, predictable monthly budget for your IT support and network infrastructure—making your IT spend impervious to surprise invoices for unexpected upgrades or mitigations. But they can do much more than that. MSPs can help you look strategically at your IT budget, so you avoid waste that comes from poor coordination and incompatibilities. MSPs also have existing relationships with vendors, which ensures that you’re getting the best possible price for your equipment and software licenses. 

Benefit no. 2: Improve uptime and user experience

Downtime isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a reputational risk. For most banks, it’s nearly impossible to run an internally sourced, round-the-clock end user help desk. However, a premium MSP will have service packages that include 24/7 care for end users, and continuous system monitoring that finds and addresses problems, even when they occur in the middle of the night. With robust help desk support and escalation paths to senior engineers, bank employees get the support they need if serious problems arise. More important: cybersecurity solutions for banks ensure that your data is secure, and your network is operational no matter the time of day. That translates to faster resolutions, satisfied staff, and uninterrupted service for customers. 

Benefit no. 3: Simplify cybersecurity reviews

When it comes to cybersecurity solutions for banks, it can be tricky to find a partner that can help with the added cybersecurity documentation you need to complete your annual FFIEC audit. A premium MSP that understands community banking should be well versed in bank audits and exams. They will be able to take the paperwork and pain out of preparing for your annual review. Fractional CISOs can prepare your audit responses, set up IT KPIs for your senior leadership, and handle all your regulatory meetings on your behalf. Additionally, they’ll write all your cybersecurity documentation and ensure your cybersecurity program is well-resourced, up to current banking industry standards, and prepared for what’s coming down the road. 

Benefit no 4: Access a deep bench of IT experts

Hiring and retaining top-tier IT talent is harder than ever. With a premium MSP, you get access to a full team of certified engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and compliance experts—without the overhead of full-time salaries. Access to best-in-class talent is the key to leveling the playing field with your larger counterparts in the industry. Whether you need day-to-day support or help with a major project, the resources are there. 

Benefit no. 5: Build a strategic IT roadmap

Do you feel like your IT planning is always a step behind, and you’re always struggling to stay up to date with industry and customer expectations? Or maybe you feel like you don’t even know the right questions to ask when it comes to IT. A premium MSP will assign you a fractional CIO that can help you sort through your IT priorities and create an action plan. They start by understanding your bank and your overall business objectives. From there, they review your tools and platforms and develop an IT strategic roadmap that aligns with the bank’s strategy to please your board and regulators alike.  

Benefit no. 6: Prepare for the AI-enabled future

AI is transforming financial services—but only if your data is secure, well-governed, and accessible. A premium MSP can help you lay the groundwork for AI adoption, ensuring your infrastructure is ready for intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and next-gen customer experiences.  

Don’t settle for an MSP that doesn’t have this consulting capacity. According to The Deloitte Global Outsourcing Survey, 96% of leaders in financial services expect to invest in AI in the coming months, whether that’s Copilot for M365 or using more advanced AI applications for customer service. You deserve a partner that can help you build your IT with an eye on digital maturity. They’ll show you how to use your data to harness business intelligence opportunities, automate processes, and stay competitive with elevated customer service experiences using new tools such as AI. 

You deserve an IT partner that understands cybersecurity solutions for banks in the AI era. You need an MSP with a mastery of data governance, so your bank—and its customers—can use that data effectively to truly harness the business intelligence opportunities artificial intelligence brings.  

Banking IT Solutions: Are you ready to make the shift?

If your bank is still relying on a local break/fix provider, now is the time to explore what a premium MSP can offer. The difference isn’t just in the technology—it’s in the outcomes. 

Our new special report, “Outsourcing Your IT: Why Banking Needs MSPs,” walks you through: 

• How to transition your bank’s IT to an MSP partner 

• What to look for in a provider 

• Key questions to ask during the selection process 

• A checklist of what your bank needs to get started 

Download the report now and take the first step toward a more secure, efficient, and future-ready IT strategy.