Category: Banking & Consumer Trends

  • Do Older Generations Actually Prefer to Bank in Person?

    Handshake

    Consumers have long been enjoying digital banking. According to data compiled by Comscore and reported in Business of Apps, personal finance and banking are the No. 1 and No. 3 fastest-growing categories, respectively, of mobile app usage. Users of banks and credit unions clearly understand the value in managing their finances on the go. But we’ve also…

  • Gen Z vs. Millennials and Baby Boomers When it Comes to How They Bank

    Two people laughing at computer screen

    How do financial institutions meet the needs of Gen Z, millennials and baby boomers when each is apparently so far apart? One solution is not to believe the hype. Although each of these three sizable generations brings a different backstory to banks and credit unions, they are all looking for much of the same thing —…

  • 5 Stats That Highlight the Importance of a Reliable Online Banking User Experience

    Woman looking at her phone in the city

    Your users’ expectations of your digital capabilities are growing bigger, faster and stronger every day. According to consumer research by Salesforce.com, 80% of consumers say the digital experience your institution provides is just as important as its products or services. It’s also multi-generational — demand is not exclusive to the younger generations. A Zelle study showed that…

  • Banking the Unbanked Population: Building Financial Inclusion Through Fintech

    Icon shield

    As COVID swept across the globe in the past year, decimating world economies, economic inequality issues came to the forefront of social and political discussion. While most of the focus was on racial and gender-based wealth gaps and income inequality, financial inclusion is an equally important issue.  Financial inclusion is the equitable access for individuals…

  • Gen Z: Everything They Need Your Banking Platform to Deliver On

    Man on his phone with cityscape in background

    They’ve just voted in their first election and now Generation Z is assessing the candidates for their bank or credit union. Securing their business will take more than repackaging the products financial institutions offered to baby boomers and millennials before them. Characteristics of Gen Z include a heavy use of digital platforms, and they define…

  • What Your App Ratings are Telling You About Member Happiness

    Star icon

    Ratings are among the most significant factors customers weigh when deciding whether to download a bank or credit union’s mobile app. Still, app ratings play an equally significant role in ongoing member happiness. With banking app technology on the rise, reviews and ratings matter more than ever. All financial institutions should view their app ratings as a…

  • 4 Questions Financial Institutions Should Ask When Shifting To a Digital-First Approach

    Meeting in progress

    The availability of digital and mobile experiences in financial services is nothing new, as the use of a smartphone for mobile banking continues to rise. According to Statista, there are 57 million mobile banking users in the US, representing just over 20% of all smartphone users in the US. While banks have already been shifting away from providing services…

  • Why Data Is Your Best Asset When It Comes To Smart Digital Banking Solutions

    Team discussing work together

    Your financial institution’s plans, and your ability to deliver on them, are only as good as the data you’re using to make decisions. Banks and credit unions are no strangers to using “big data” to forecast revenues and operational needs. However, many are missing out on one of the most valuable uses for the millions…

  • Member-First: The Importance of the Customer Journey and Personalization

    Whiteboard

    The “member experience” is central to credit unions, and in theory, it’s a key differentiator between CUs and their rivals: banks and (increasingly) digital-only fintech platforms. In practice, it’s ever-more-difficult to provide a genuinely superior experience for your members. Increasingly they’ll choose to bank digitally, so getting to know them face-to-face is not the option…

  • Remaining Agile and Innovative During Slow-Growth Periods

    Shuffle icon

    Even the best-run institutions seldom enjoy an indefinite run of steady, gratifying growth. Banking trends run in cycles and slowdowns and reversals will happen, sometimes with little warning. Some institutions will hunker down defensively, conserve their resources, and wait for the situation to improve. Others will leap to the opposite extreme, reacting with alarm and…