AI Agents Threaten Stability via Agentic Bank Runs

Financial analysts are warning of a new systemic risk termed agentic bank runs, driven by the proliferation of AI agents. Traditional banking models currently rely on depositor inattention, which allows institutions to pay below-market interest rates because customers typically find the process of moving funds cumbersome.

AI agents possess the capacity for unlimited attention and energy, enabling them to tirelessly shift capital to extract maximum returns. This capability removes the friction that historically protected banks from rapid capital flight. Analysts suggest that this shift threatens the pricing and stability of various financial products, including mortgages, annuities, and life insurance.

These products are currently structured on the assumption that customers will not actively optimize their holdings. The rise of autonomous agents capable of constant optimization could destabilize these models by triggering sudden, large-scale movements of capital across the financial system.