A recent report from eMarketer, “Banking Trends to Watch in 2026,” cited Avenue Z’s AI Visibility Index (AIVx) for digital banks. The report highlighted data from the AIVx that shows how digital banks are winning the AI search race, with 10 banks controlling more than 83% of search results across platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.
As generative AI platforms replace traditional search engines, AI visibility is now a defining factor in brand discovery, particularly in financial services. eMarketer spotlights how the top-performing banks are not just the largest, they’re the most visible, most cited, and most optimized for AI-driven platforms.
What Is the AI Visibility Index (AIVx)?
The AI Visibility Index (AIVx) is Avenue Z’s proprietary research framework designed to measure how brands appear across AI-powered search environments. It evaluates visibility across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, tracking daily performance on 100+ prompts over a 90-day period.
The index produces a proprietary Z-Score, which quantifies a brand’s AI visibility based on five key factors:
The Power Signals Behind AI Visibility
Trusted Media Coverage: High-authority, evergreen PR in outlets like NerdWallet, Business Insider, and Forbes significantly boosts citation rates.
Technical Optimization: Fast-loading, mobile-friendly websites with clean architecture are more easily crawled by LLMs.
Citation Sources: AI models prioritize structured content ecosystems with a blend of owned and earned media.
Natural Language Content: Brands that write like humans ask questions, clear, useful, and structured, get quoted more.
Brand Sentiment: AI search engines now weigh public perception and reviews when surfacing brands.
Why It Matters for Financial Brands
The AIVx Fintech 100 sector report shows that visibility in AI search is now a competitive advantage. Top players like Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Adyen dominate AI Share of Voice because they’ve architected their content, PR, and technical infrastructure for LLM discoverability.
- 93% of AI search visibility in payments is controlled by the top 30 brands
- Over 75% of all AI citations are dominated by just 10 companies
- Growth-stage fintechs with strong sentiment and optimized content are emerging as breakout performers
What This Means for Marketers
If your brand isn’t visible in AI search, you’re invisible to tomorrow’s customer.
As traditional SEO declines and AI engines take center stage, marketers must prioritize AI-first visibility strategies:
- Target citation-worthy media
- Optimize technical infrastructure
- Publish natural language content
- Monitor AI Share of Voice metrics
Avenue Z’s AIVx is the new playbook for competing in an AI-dominated economy.
Want to know how your brand ranks in AI search? Contact our experts.
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