Small business banking is becoming less relevant at a time when these businesses need more support to make confident decisions in a volatile economy. The problem isn’t demand — it’s the growing gap between when banks show up and when businesses actually make decisions, a delay that weakens the bank’s role long before customers leave. Three major forces are pushing banks out of the decision-making center. In 2026, banks must focus on relationship sovereignty: being present inside the everyday workflows where decisions happen. This report describes the structural changes banks must make to regain a central role in how small businesses operate and make decisions.