21m UK consumers say they’ll switch banks to access mobile payments

Recent research conducted by Atomik Research found that enthusiasm for mobile payments has skyrocketed over the last 15 months. 28% of consumers have already used their phone to make a payment (up 64% from September 2013²) and 59% say they would use their phones to pay if a simple system existed that didn’t require extra set up (an increase of 48%²). Demand is particularly high among the 35-44 year old age demographic, where 46% already make payments on their phone and 71% say they would if a simple system existed that didn’t require extra set up.

• 21 million British consumers say they will switch banks to access mobile payments, 33% of these within a year
• Consumers already making mobile payments skyrockets by 64% in 15 months and the number planning to do so increases by 48%
• 47% of consumers say they will actively choose to shop online or in-store with a retailer becauseit accepts mobile payments
• One in five (20%) say they would buy a house using a mobile payment within five years
• 21 million British consumers¹say they will switch banks to access mobile payments, as anticipation for new ways to pay builds, according to new research from Zapp.

44% of consumers plan to switch accounts if their current bank was unable to offer mobile payments and had no plans to do so. Of these, a third (33%) say they would do so within a year.

Consumers say their mobile will become their preferred method of payment before the end of the decade³ for all kinds of purchases, including: sandwiches (51%); car fuel (52%); and travel tickets (57%). Almost half plan to use their mobile to pay for electronic products and one in five (20%) even say they would buy a house using a mobile payment.

Within just five years, 47% of consumers say they will actively choose to shop online or in-store with a retailerbecause it accepts mobile payments, with almost a quarter (24%) of these saying they would do so within a year. Amongst the high earning 35-44 year old age group, which includes most people at peak earning potential, the number saying they would choose a retailer because it accepts mobile payments was even higher at 60%.

The research also revealed that 62% of consumers have their mobile within ‘arms reach’ for at least 18 hours of every day, compared to just 55% of consumers when it comes to cash.

Commenting on the research findings, Peter Keenan, CEO of Zapp said

“The success of early forms of mobile payment and the buzz around forthcoming launches of mass market initiatives has whetted consumers’ appetites. Anticipation levels are running high and our research suggests banks and retailers stand to gain significant competitive advantage from offering and accepting mobile payments early. I’m confident 2015 will prove a tipping point, as simple, secure mobile payments like Zapp become a reality for millions of British consumers.” 

Zapp is the UK’s leading mobile payment innovation, enabling real-time payments on people’s mobile phones through their existing mobile banking application to allow secure payments to happen between consumers and retailers. Banks that have already announced their support for Zapp ahead of its 2015 launch include HSBC, first direct, Nationwide, Santander and Metro Bank. Sainsbury’s, Asda, House of Fraser, Thomas Cook and Shop Direct are among the major British retail brands that have announced  their support for Zapp mobile payments as a way to deliver secure, convenient mobile payments to their customers.