Banks grapple with rising AI tool costs, risking dependence on increasingly expensive external providers due to high demand and supply constraints. This strains profitability and fosters fears of being "handcuffed" to foreign tech. While some explore in-house models or industry collaboration to mitigate expenses, competitive pressures still drive significant AI spending. Yet, a shift towards more thoughtful cost management and European self-help is emerging. Not all tasks require costly frontier models, encouraging internal solutions and potentially revolutionizing capital allocation and consolidation within the finance industry.