Millennial and Gen Z consumers turn from banks to brands for financial products

New research from Vodeno/Aion Bank has revealed that Gen Z and millennial consumers are turning to brands for their banking needs, with the availability of BNPL and embedded banking products significantly boosting brand loyalty.

The European Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) provider commissioned an independent survey of 3,007 European consumers from the UK, Belgium and Germany. It found that 52% of 25-34-year-olds believe using financial products from their favourite brands is more convenient than banking with a traditional retail bank.

The same number (52%) feel brands offer financial products better tailored to their specific needs when compared to traditional institutions, Meanwhile, 51% of respondents in the 25-34 demographic said they believe brands are making banking more accessible.

Vodeno/Aion Bank’s study showed that a quarter (25%) of those aged 25-34 said convenience is the main reason for banking with their favourite brands, rising to 45% amongst those 35-44. Over a third (35%) in the 25-34 group said they had used an embedded banking product because the brand offered them a good rate.

In the current economic climate, 37% of all European consumers said they are more likely to seek out brands offering BNPL and flexible payment options due to the high cost of living, with this figure highest among those 25-34 (54%) and 16-24 (44%), respectively.

A further 50% in the 25-34 group said they will only stay loyal to brands offering financial benefits and incentives like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and cashback. The youngest consumers surveyed were also mostly likely to use a brand’s loyalty card to make purchases if it included BNPL, with 65% of those 25-34 and 53% in the 16-24 group

When asked how often they shop with their favourite brands, 19% of respondents said ‘monthly’ and a further 16% said ‘once every two or three weeks’. However, among those who have used a brand’s embedded banking product, 36% said they return to that brand’s app or website between three and five times a month, with this figure rising to 43% among the 25-34 age group.

Kim Van Esbroeck, Chief Revenue Officer at Vodeno, said: “Millennials and Gen Z are charting a new financial course, and increasingly relying on embedded finance products from their favoured brands for their banking needs. Our survey paints a clear picture as to why: convenience, tailored solutions and accessibility are the cornerstones driving this transformation.

“For brands, the case for embedded finance is clear. Not only can they offer their customer greater choice with different banking products, but in doing so they create a better customer experience with new revenue streams.”