How M&T Bank Built A Technology Powerhouse In Buffalo
Article excerpt
By Peter High, Contributor. M&T Bank, under Michael Wisler, transformed its technology from a supporting function into a strategic asset over eight years. Initially plagued by over 100 annual outages and contractor dependence, the bank invested over $1 billion annually, hired 1,000 technologists, and reduced outages by 90%. This involved focusing on talent, agility, and engineering practices, shifting to 84% in-house engineers. The transformation prioritized changing beliefs about competition and fostering continuous learning. Wisler's mandate expanded to include operations, recognizing their increasing interdependence. M&T also built a strong data foundation, enabling dozens of generative AI use cases across enterprise fluency, existing applications, and proprietary development, adopting a "slow to go fast" approach to ensure readiness in a regulated environment. This positions M&T for future innovation. When Michael Wisler joined M&T Bank in 2018, technology was not central to the bank’s competitive strategy. The institution had grown into one of the nation’s largest regional banks by emphasizing disciplined execution, customer relationships and a deep understanding of its communities. Wisler, now Senior Executive Vice President of Technology and Operations, believed preserving those strengths would require a different approach to technology and data. Working with...
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It has hired 1,000 technologists, established three technology hubs and sharply improved the reliability and productivity of its technology estate.
