Purpose: The study investigates the combined influence of Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the performance of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in North-Central Nigeria given the competitive landscape of the financial subsector of the economy. Thus, the study based on resource view theory explain BOS and AI as strategic resources that Banks can leverage on to render competition irrelevant through value innovation and cost cutting resulting from using the cutting-edge Artificial intelligence tools. The study put forward that these two critical resources at the disposal of Banks can help them make competition irrelevant thus lead to increase in market share, profitability and customer retention.

Research Methods: The study adopted a descriptive research design. Data were gathered from the population of 110 Bank executives of selected DMBs in North-Central Nigeria States out of which 102 completed and returned their questionnaire. Primary data was used for the study, and it was gathered through questionnaire designed in five points Likert Scale of strongly agree to strongly disagree. Factor analysis was conducted to ascertain the content validity and reliability of the research instruments. All the factors were significant. Data gathered through questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and parametric statistical instruments. Tables, percentages, and mean scores were the descriptive statistical tools used while multiple regression was the parametric statistical tool used to test the hypotheses.

Results: The hypotheses tested revealed a significant positive influence of the independent variables BOS and AI on the performance of Deposit Money Banks in North-Central Nigeria States.  Based on the findings, the study recommends the adoption of BOS and AI by Managers of DMBs in North-Central Nigeria in particular so as to navigate away from competition through creating value innovative and cost-effective operations.

Limitations: The study focused on Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in North-Central Nigeria only whereas there are other geographical zones of Nigeria that was not reached by the study. This limits the generalization of the findings of this study. Equally, been a relatively new area of study, there is scarcity of literatures on AI that would have enriched the study more. However, the researcher engaged all available and relevant search Goggles to look for available literature.

Novelty: Although there are studies in the area of BOS and AI technology and its application in the world of business, little have been done to study the nexus between BOS and AI and how the duo can have combined together to improve the performance of DMBs in a competitive laden financial market in Nigeria and North-Central States in particular. To the best of our knowledge, no work has been undertaken to examine the combined influence of BOS and AI on the performance of Banks in North-Central Nigeria. Thus, the study has enriched the body of knowledge in this area.