Intent to switch in 2022 notably higher than last year, especially for the mass affluent
BANGKOK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FICO (NYSE: FICO)
Highlights
RFI Globals 2022 Post-Pandemic Consumer Banking Expectations Report, prepared for FICO, confirmed that the pandemic has aggravated financial hardship for retail banking consumers in Thailand, with nearly 3 in 4 experiencing a drop in income. It has also revealed that many are motivated to search for better banking offers, and that the inclination to switch lenders has increased year over year.
More information: https://www.fico.com/en/how-banking-expectations-asia-pacific-are-changing-post-pandemic
Disruptive impacts from the pandemic differed across the region.
While a considerable 23-30 percent of New Zealand and Australian respondents experienced a negative impact on income due to the pandemic, this number rose to 40 percent in Singapore and India, 50 percent in Malaysia and 63 percent in Indonesia. Respondents in Thailand suffered the biggest blow, with 70 percent saying their income had been reduced.
The report uncovered that more than 1 out of 4 consumers across the APAC region (27 percent) have deferred loan repayments, with consumers in some countries more likely to do so than others. While nearly half of retail banking customers in Thailand (47 percent) and nearly 1 in 3 (31 percent) in India deferred loan repayments as a result of COVID-19, this was much less common in Singapore (12 percent), Australia (9 percent) and New Zealand (7 percent).
Despite the uncertain financial climate, the majority of Thailands retail banking customers plan to maintain or boost their investments (66 percent). Most are looking to maintain or increase savings (73 percent), and many will consider changing banking providers this year.
Increase in customers intention to switch banking providers
Surprisingly, while the report indicates that most customers were highly satisfied with their main banking providers, up to 20 percent of APAC banking customers who responded said they plan to change banks in 2022. In contrast, only 10 percent said they changed banks in 2021.
This increased propensity to switch lenders is highest among the mass affluent (defined as the high end of the mass market or those with at least THB3,000,000 total investable asset holdings).
In Thailand, 13 percent of retail banking customers and 8 percent of mass affluent customers switched in 2021. That is set to more than double this year for the mass affluent, with 20 percent saying they are very likely to switch. The propensity of retail banking consumers fell slightly to 10 percent, which is still a considerable 1 in 10 banking customers.
Top reasons cited by Thai respondents include a change in personal circumstances (28 percent), a wish to consolidate all accounts with another institution (22 percent), a desire for access to better investment and wealth management products and services (20 percent) and incentive from another institution (20 percent).
Financial impacts felt by even the wealthiest of Thais
Amongst mass affluent banking customers in Thailand, 63 percent experienced a decrease in income due to the pandemic, 7 percent less than the wider retail banking market in Thailand. Many (41 percent) of the countrys mass affluent deferred loan repayments as a result, 6 percent lower than Thailands retail banking customers, overall.
This disruption to income has left 37 percent of affluent Thais saying they intend to reduce spending, just as half of Thailands retail banking customers plan to do.
Across APAC, the mass affluent are more likely to step up their borrowing compared to the wider market (16 percent vs 8 percent). In Thailand, the mass affluent are just about as likely to increase their borrowing as retail banking customers (11 and 12 percent respectively).
The report further revealed that a significant 78 percent of Thailands mass affluent are opting to maintain or boost their investment levels with banks, which is higher than the countrys overall retail banking market (66 percent).
Impacts of the Pandemic on banking intentions
Consumers are changing their banking behaviors, in response to the financial impact of the pandemic.
Just about 3 in 4 of Thailands retail banking customers will either increase or maintain their savings (73 percent). Across the region, the sentiment to maintain or increase savings was highest in New Zealand (94 percent) and in Indonesia (87 percent).
Despite a dip in borrowing plans year over year, the level of borrowing for APAC retail banking customers still remains higher than pre-pandemic times as consumers deal with the lasting effects of the disruption.
The pandemic has clearly exacerbated financial hardship for customers regardless of income class, said Aashish Sharma, Senior Director of Decision Management Solutions for FICO in Asia Pacific. As borrowing and spending habits contract, customers will be on the lookout for avenues to grow their wealth and boost their savings. Banks must be able to proactively identify customers needs, and pivot their approach to alleviate financial anxieties while ensuring their products suit customers affordability and funding requirements.
Gravitating towards Digital
Close to half of Thailands respondents (44 percent) still consider the proximity of branches and ATMs as a top determinant for a main banking provider; however, the report highlighted the importance of providing digital services. As many as 72 percent of APAC retail banking customers chose a fintech product over the option to use their banks main services. This was highest in Malaysia (94 percent) and lowest in Australia (39 percent). Respondents did so as they wanted time and cost savings, ease-of-use, and easier application processes.
Comparing 2021 to 2019, APAC consumers are increasingly gravitating towards digital channels at every stage of their application journey: initial enquiries and research (up 14 percent), follow-up enquiries (up 15 percent), and banking applications (up 15 percent).
How Banks can Ensure the Customer is at the Center of Actions and Decisions
Banks must understand their customers needs on a deeper and more granular level, or risk losing them to competitors and alternative providers, said Sharma. Maintaining customer satisfaction alone will no longer suffice; customer experiences must be radically enhanced. Customer-centricity will be key to consistently delivering hyper-personalized experiences and retaining customers.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted in 2021 by an independent research company adhering to research industry standards. 1012 adults in Thailand were surveyed, along with 12,885 consumers in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia and India.
Learn more here and www.fico.com.
About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 120 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time.
Learn more at www.fico.com.
FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries.
Contacts
Neil Mirano
RICE for FICO
+65 3157 5680
neil.mirano@ricecomms.com
Saxon Shirley
FICO
+65 9171 0965
saxonshirley@fico.com
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