Do Americans think traditional banks have kept up with digital innovations that are used by fintech services?

Respondents were asked to select whether they thought traditional American banks have kept up with the digital innovations being used in the consumer fintech space, such as money transfer platforms, lending platforms, virtual credit cards with spending trackers and crypto-trading platforms.

One in five (19 per cent) of Americans believe that banks have not kept up with digital innovation.

Do you think traditional banks have kept up with digital innovations that are used by fintech services?

Generation Z is most likely to believe that banks have kept up with digital innovation: 11 per cent say they haven’t, compared with 15 per cent of Baby Boomers, 21 per cent of the Silent Generation ¹ and an equal 22 per cent of Millennials and Generation X.

As the youngest generation surveyed, Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, are typically exposed to the latest digital innovations. However, being aged up to 25, it is unlikely this age group has been exposed to the full services offered by banks and financial institutions, as first-time home buyers are, on average, 33 years old in the US².

What percentage of Americans think their bank charges unreasonably high fees?

Money Transfer Comparison USA also sought to determine whether Americans believe their bank charges unreasonably high fees. Respondents were asked to select from three options - missed credit card and loan payments, overdrawn account fees, and bank account fees – for which their bank might charge unreasonably high fees.

More than half (57 per cent) of respondents believe their bank charges unreasonably high fees for these 'penalties' and services.

Nearly one in four (23 per cent) believe banks charge most for overdrawn accounts, 19 per cent believe bank account fees are the highest and 14 per cent believe banks charge most for missed credit card and loan payments.

More respondents from Western states believe banks charge unreasonably high fees: 63 per cent chose ‘yes’, followed by 59 per cent of Southerners, 57 per cent of Northeast respondents and 53 per cent of Midwest respondents.

In particular, overdrawn account fees were specified as the highest fees by 26 per cent of Southerners, 25 per cent of West Americans, 20 per cent of Northeast residents and Midwest Americans.

Americans earning under $50,000 are most likely to specify that their banks were charging unreasonably high fees, chosen by 61 per cent. However, surprisingly, respondents making over $100,000 are more likely to think their bank charges unreasonably high fees than those making between $50,000 and $100,000, chosen by 58 and 55 per cent respectively.

Unexpectedly, the more money respondents make, the more likely they are to think fees for missed credit card payments are the most unreasonable fee charged by banks, chosen by 23 per cent of $100,000+ income earners, followed by only 13 per cent of $50,000-$100,000 income earners and 12 per cent of under $50,000 income earners.

Do you think your bank charges you unreasonably high fees for some services? (By income.)

Respondents living in Western states are most likely to outsource their financial services to better fintechs: 77 per cent of this region said yes, followed by 75 per cent of Southerners, 74 per cent of Midwest residents and 67 per cent of Northeast residents.

More specifically, 33 per cent of Western residents would switch to a fintech for a lower interest home loan, followed by 29 per cent of Southerners, 27 per cent of Midwest residents and 26 per cent of Northeast residents.

Western residents are also most likely to switch for better savings accounts; 32 per cent, followed by 27 per cent of Northeast residents, 25 per cent of Southerners and only 21 per cent of Midwest residents.

Across the States specifically, California residents are much more likely to outsource their financial services to a fintech, with 44 per cent willing to switch to innovative savings accounts and credit cards, 40 per cent for personal or car loans and 32 per cent for home loans.