Nottingham, UK, under embargo until 00.01am on Friday 6 February 2014 – A new study1 published today by Experian, the global information services company, reveals that a third of the UK population (33 per cent) believes credit and debit card payments will no longer be the preferred method of payment in 2020, as paying with a smartphone will take over.
The Banking Moving Forward study provides a valuable insight into what expectations individuals have of lenders and how they view the financial landscape. It examines how people bank now and how they expect to bank in the future, and is a useful guide when developing services that meet the needs of their customers.
The findings show that while cash and card payments still dominate, people believe that alternative methods of payment such as smartphones will become more widely used over the next five years. In this timeframe, 67 per cent of respondents feel cash will decrease in popularity, while two in five (41 per cent) think there will be a decline in the use of credit and debit cards as they currently are.
However the main reason smartphone payments are not currently the preferred method of payment is a fear of fraud. Almost half of people surveyed (46 per cent) fear their identity may be stolen online while 60 per cent of smartphone users said they had no malware protection on their devices, leaving them vulnerable to hacking by cyber fraudsters. Organisations that make it easier, while secure, for their customers to transact with them will have the most rewarding relationships.
When asked about how other forms of payment could fare, four in five (80 per cent) said that secure online payment platforms, such as, for example, PayPal, that let people shop using their debit card, credit card or bank account without sharing their financial details will become more popular by 2020.
Looking towards 2020, 14 per cent of the population believes that biometrics, such as retina or fingerprint scans, could also become commonplace and two in five (44 per cent) say they would be prepared to make payments via biometric scanning. A fifth (19 per cent) would consider paying for goods and services using voice authentication.
Derek Garriock, Head of Business Solutions, Experian UK and Ireland, commented:
“People will certainly be faced with more choice in years to come with the payment methods and providers they choose. Their decision will ultimately be based on the ability to pay for something, securely, anywhere and at any time at their own ease and convenience.
“Security is a key concern for many individuals, who may be willing to adopt new ways of paying but have not yet done so, even amongst the younger generation. This is understandable considering that one in six adults has fallen victim to a cyber-attack via their mobile device2.”
How you can better protect your smartphone device:
Smartphones can hold a wealth of information, from cached passwords to online accounts and apps, contacts and other personal information. As paying for goods and services by smartphone increases, people should try to follow these best practices to ensure they are protected:
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About Experian
We are the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to our clients around the world. We help businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. We also help people to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft. In 2014, we were named by Forbes magazine as one of the ‘World’s Most Innovative Companies’.
We employ approximately 16,000 people in 39 countries and our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.
Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2014, was US$4.8 billion.
To find out more about our company, please visit http://www.experianplc.com or watch our documentary, ‘Inside Experian’.