New UBS history exhibition explores 80 years of technological innovation in banking, from punch cards to AI

Zurich, 26 August 2026 – UBS is opening the second edition of its “Key Moments” exhibition series. Focusing on around 80 years of technological transformation, it highlights the role of technology in banking and its significance for the economy and society.

Sergio P. Ermotti, UBS Group CEO, said: “Technological progress and innovation have been transforming banking since its inception. This exhibition illustrates how new technologies have shaped the development of the financial system and how banks have implemented them for the benefit of their clients. The exhibition also demonstrates that technological innovation is no longer simply a matter of growth and efficiency. It is increasingly a determining factor in whether companies can remain competitive over the long term.”

Interactive journey through technological development

Using nine key moments, the exhibition shows how technological innovations have had a lasting impact on banking, the economy and society. They illustrate how successive waves of innovation and the interaction of different stakeholders have paved the way for today’s AI-enabled banking services.

Through short films, interactive features and original artifacts, visitors are invited to explore major milestones in banking innovation, from the first automation solutions based on punch cards and mainframe computers to personal computers, the internet, artificial intelligence and data-driven financial applications.

Shaping the banking of the future with technology

UBS continually invests in technology and AI to improve client service and enhance operational efficiency. The bank is driving nine AI initiatives across the firm while developing new use cases. Currently, 560 AI applications are in production, with more than 900 others in development. To strengthen the use of AI across the firm, UBS provides employees with AI tools, targeted training, and opportunities to develop practical AI capabilities and create their own AI agents. Through partnerships with technology companies, fintechs, and academic institutions, including the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA) and the Oxford-UBS Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence, UBS is accelerating the development of new AI applications while promoting the responsible use of AI.

UBS also sees significant potential in digital assets and tokenization. Since 2019, UBS has been developing solutions for the tokenization of financial instruments and has launched tokenized structured products, funds, as well as pioneering blockchain-based transactions. Building on these developments, UBS introduced UBS Tokenize in 2023 and launched the tokenized money market fund uMINT in 2024. These initiatives are unlocking new opportunities in digital assets while reinforcing UBS’s role as a trusted and regulated gateway to the financial markets of the future.

UBS Switzerland AG