Fintech has developed and expanded increasingly over the last decade, with firms leveraging technology, innovations, big data, and analytics. These developments are far from the last we’ll see in the financial sector; as new developments arise, everything that involves finance will be impacted by fintech. Here are some fintech trends to keep in mind as we draw closer to 2022.
Banking
Society is steadily leaning towards becoming cashless, and digital-only banks lend to this growing trend. Fewer people have physically needed to go to a bank and handle their financial issues, resulting in fewer lines and no physical cash to hold. Current online banks, such as the UK-based Monzo, Revolut, and Starling, have seen rapidly growing customer bases that force existing banks to rethink the focus on mobile apps. Fintech improvements continue to shift the banking industry, which has forced banks to close branches as a result.
As customers continue to say they plan on converting to digital-only banking, it’s no surprise that a quarter of all bank branches are expected to close within the next three years.
On the other hand, open banking pledges to deliver more competitive financial services to both individuals and businesses. This banking method connects banks, third parties, and technology providers, consensually sharing customer data with authorised providers.
Blockchain
As digital ledger technologies continue to advance and interest in cryptocurrency grows, blockchain technology will continue to open opportunities to fintech companies. According to PWC, worldwide economies are expected to adopt blockchain technology at scale by 2025. Blockchain continues to disrupt the payment industry, with many people expecting it to become apparent in both the financial sector and, specifically, fintech. This technology enables secure payments and transactions for all who use it while removing the middleman, therefore reducing costs by a large percentage. Presently, cryptocurrencies have successfully used blockchain technology and are prepared to be incorporated into financial institutions, applying them to traditional banking operations.
Financial Literacy
Fintech also provides a way to improve people’s financial literacy, allowing customers access to easy-to-understand financial information so they can make sensible decisions about their personal finances. Not all people, for example, understand the importance of budgeting; not all people are completely informed of the details when making spending decisions. Fintech uses data accessible through open banking to inform customers about the best available choices for them. The hope is to continue educating people in financial literacy throughout 2022 so that everyone can make smart financial decisions.