Jack Henry expands Google Cloud AI security tie-up

Jack Henry has expanded its collaboration with Google Cloud to develop AI-driven security tools for banks and credit unions, building on a relationship that began in 2022.

Under the arrangement, Jack Henry will use Google Cloud's agentic defence products to build a proprietary AI security platform for financial services. The system is designed to meet the compliance, regulatory and security demands of community financial institutions.

Jack Henry provides banking, payments, lending and operational software to about 7,400 community banks and credit unions in the United States. The new platform will be used across its broader technology environment, including systems running on Google Cloud, other cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure.

The expansion comes as financial institutions face growing concern over cyber attacks using AI techniques. Jack Henry said the platform is intended to identify and mitigate threats earlier by analysing large volumes of telemetry data and enabling faster responses.

Greg Adelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jack Henry, outlined the company's position on the project.

"Combining our financial services expertise with Google Cloud's agentic defense capabilities enables us to help financial institutions proactively strengthen their defense against increasingly sophisticated threats," said Adelson.

"Security has always been foundational to our platform, and this collaboration extends those capabilities further. By automating the analysis of large volumes of telemetry data, we can identify potential threats earlier and enable faster, coordinated responses before vulnerabilities are exploited," he added.

AI focus

The agreement also goes beyond cybersecurity. Jack Henry is using Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform to develop operational AI applications for its own staff and for the banks and credit unions that use its systems.

These applications include tools for customer service teams, analytics and reporting functions, and back-office administration. Early users of some automated administrative processes have reported time savings of up to 70%, according to Jack Henry.

The company linked the initiative to a broader shift in spending priorities across the sector. According to its Strategy Benchmark survey of bank and credit union Chief Executives, AI is now the top investment priority for financial institutions.

The finding reflects a wider push by banks and credit unions to use AI for efficiency, risk-based decision-making and customer service, while operating under strict governance and security rules. For suppliers, the challenge is to offer systems that fit those controls and can be trusted in regulated environments.

Google Cloud said trust will be central to broader adoption of agentic AI workflows in financial services. Its role in the expanded partnership includes agentic defence products, Mandiant Consulting expertise and the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Francis deSouza, Chief Operating Officer of Google Cloud and President of Security Products, described the technology's significance for the sector.

"Agentic AI workflows represent a transformative capability for financial services, but widespread adoption depends on trust," said deSouza.

"Jack Henry is combining Google Cloud's agentic defense, Mandiant Consulting's deep cybersecurity expertise, and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform to deliver secure-by-design AI. This empowers financial institutions to unlock measurable efficiency while strengthening resilience," he added.

Operational uses

For Jack Henry, the project reflects a broader effort to apply AI in areas where it sees direct operational returns as well as defensive benefits. It is targeting customer support, data analysis and routine workflows rather than presenting AI solely as a front-end product feature.

Shanon McLachlan, Chief Operating Officer of Jack Henry, said the company was taking a cautious approach to adoption in a sector where oversight requirements remain high.

"We are utilizing AI in a bold and balanced way, unlocking its potential while maintaining the strong security, governance, and human oversight required in financial services," said McLachlan.

"We are prioritizing practical, high-impact use cases - from strengthening cyber resilience to automating back-office processes - to enable institutions to operate more efficiently, scale their teams, and continue delivering the high-touch service that sets them apart," she added.

Jack Henry is part of the infrastructure used by thousands of smaller US financial institutions, where technology investment decisions often centre on compliance, cost control and service continuity as much as product innovation. The expanded work with Google Cloud places cyber security and operational automation at the centre of that offering.