A new study by consulting firm Accenture reveals that a large number of Americans would be willing to do their banking with non-financial technology institutions if the companies offered such services.
If given the opportunity, about 40 percent of consumers aged 18 to 34 say they’d consider banking with Google; 37 percent would consider Amazon; and 34 percent would consider Apple.
Could it happen?
"Already, the industry is seeing convergence from established players outside the financial sector," according to the Accenture study. "Costco Wholesale, for example, offers financial services products including mortgages, investments, and business banking in the U.S. through a third-party lender. Similarly, The Home Depot offers home-improvement financing up to $40,000, also through a third-party lender.”
Competition from non-banks in the mortgage origination business could help hold mortgage rates down, too, according to a RealtyTrac article on the emergence of non-banks in the sector.
Americans' confidence in banks has been slipping over the years. In 1980, about 60 percent said they had great confidence in their banks; that percentage slipped to 21 percent in 2012, according to Gallup.
"Customers want a bank that's nimble and proactive, one that can be a part of their daily lives," according to Accenture's report. "The idea of 'convenience' in banking is undergoing a shift away from branch locations and toward digital products and services that mesh with consumers' 'smart' mobile-empowered lives. Also, banks that cling to the status quo risk being viewed over time more like utilities that conduct financial transactions." Source: “Would You Bank With Google or Amazon?” RealtyTrac (June 10, 2014)
