In an interview with ROI-NJ, Shannon Lazare, business banking market manager for New Jersey, New York City and Long Island at M&T Bank, discusses how shifting economic conditions, investment trends and community engagement shaped business banking in 2025 and are influencing the outlook for 2026.Â
Lazare shares insights on the rebound in commercial real estate, continued growth among small businesses and expanding activity across industries such as logistics, health care, manufacturing and film production. She also addresses how emerging technologies, automation and fraud prevention are changing the banking landscape, along with the role financial institutions play in supporting communities beyond access to capital.Â
View the full interview to hear Lazare’s perspective on the forces driving business growth across New Jersey and the region, and what businesses can expect in the year ahead.Â
