In the ever-changing world of banking, customer experience stands as a critical driver of success. It directly impacts a bank's bottom line and plays a vital role in staying competitive amidst the emergence of fintech and digital challengers.
To thrive in this dynamic landscape, banks must prioritize enhancing customer experience by leveraging digital channels, personalizing services, streamlining processes, offering self-service options, and providing omnichannel support. These strategies not only deliver exceptional customer experiences, but also establish a strong reputation and foster customer loyalty.
At Simply Contact, we are a trusted and reputable company specializing in providing successful customer service solutions. Our comprehensive range of services includes omnichannel and multilingual customer support, personalized interactions, efficient call center operations, advanced customer relationship management and so on.
Explore our detailed guide on Banking Customer Experience Trends to Watch in 2023 and discover how you can revolutionize your approach to meet the evolving demands of your customers.
Customer Expectations From Banking Institutions
Customers have specific expectations from their banking institutions in the modern banking landscape. It goes beyond providing seamless services: customers expect banks to understand their unique needs and offer personalized solutions. According to a study conducted by Forrester, the trust scores of both direct banks and multichannel banks experienced a decline of 2 percentage points each in 2022.
Without exaggeration, ensuring a pleasant customer experience has become a critical element in identifying the success of banking companies, and customers no longer evaluate their experiences in isolation. Regardless of location, customers expect banks to create an experience that caters to their needs, builds trust, offers customized services, and exceeds expectations.
Let's explore some top customer expectations from a digital banking experience.
Easy Accessibility
Easy access is essential – customers should be capable of enjoying services everywhere instead of searching for the closest branch. Digital platforms enable banks to provide convenient and accessible services anytime, anywhere. Branchless banking options, like Bank of America's 30 million active mobile internet users, demonstrate the importance of offering access to customers.
Empower Financial Inclusion With Branchless Banking
Branchless banking is vital in promoting financial inclusion by reaching individuals without easy access to physical branches. Through digital platforms, banks can empower underserved populations and offer essential financial services to bridge the gap and ensure financial inclusion for all.
Real-time Assistance
Customers in the banking industry often require immediate assistance. Almost 50% of customers consider instant customer support vital for building loyalty. Banks can enhance their sponsorship by leveraging technologies like chatbots and AI-ML tools to provide real-time customer assistance, improving their overall experience.
Personalized Services
Each customer has unique requirements, and they expect banks to offer personalized and tailored services that align with their current needs. Banks can deliver customized support and solutions by understanding the individual customer's preferences and needs, enhancing the overall customer experience.
Data Security
Data security is of utmost importance, particularly in the banking and financial industry. Customers want to feel secure when sharing sensitive information with their banks. Building trust through robust data security measures is crucial for maintaining a long-term, healthy customer relationship.
Meeting these customer expectations is essential for banking institutions to thrive in today's competitive market. By prioritizing accessibility, personalization, real-time assistance, and data security, banks can create a positive and satisfying digital banking experience for their customers.
Banking Customer Experience Trends To Observe In 2023
As we step into the year 2023, banks need to stay attuned to the evolving landscape of customer experience. By recognizing and embracing significant industry trends, banks can position themselves for success and foster meaningful customer engagement. Let's explore essential customer experience trends to watch closely in 2023 and decode new avenues for growth and differentiation.
Streamlining The In-Branch Experience
Businesses are investing in optimizing the in-branch experience to enhance customer satisfaction. They focus on reducing waiting times and significant interactions to improve the overall customer experience significantly. The company managers believe implementing technology, such as check-in iPads, can boost customer satisfaction and create an enjoyable in-branch experience. The concept of streaming the in-branch experience is a perfect way to leave an ever-remaining positive impression on customers.
Creating Welcoming Branch Environments Through Redesign
Improving the customer experience has become a priority for banks, and one approach they are adopting is redesigning their infrastructure to create a more welcoming atmosphere. Successful branches implement various changes that align with their goals and aim to engage customers in a positive way, ultimately enhancing their overall experience.
The banking companies try to improve the branch environment starting with the entrance and then every possible part. Physical changes, such as improved lighting, modified floor transitions, and barrier removal, also become part of the redesigning. Digital solutions, like mobile app directions and video calls, are all the tactics to create a positive and welcoming branch environment - helping clients stay longer and purchase multiple services.
Blending Online And Offline Interactions
Customers no longer find a difference between online and offline banking experiences. They want the convenience of both and the freedom to switch between them. Around 25% of customers consider themselves "phygital," meaning they look for a blend of in-person and online interactions for different needs. The important thing is to make these interactions feel connected.
Customers expect actions taken in the app to immediately show up on the website and for staff to be aware of their online activities when they visit in person. All-in-all, banks managements are supposed to ensure harmony between online and offline channels and provide customers with a unified and hassle-free banking experience.
Maintaining Comprehensive Customer Profiles For Personalization
To meet the ever-increasing customer expectations, companies must personalize their services, similar to how e-commerce retailers do.
By having comprehensive customer profiles, company staff can better understand and address individual customer needs. For instance, if an associate contacts a customer who previously expressed interest in buying a house but fails to acknowledge it, the interaction may feel impersonal. However, if an associate knows that a member's child is 17, they can proactively offer assistance with college loans, showcasing exceptional helpfulness.
Utilizing customers’ data about products, services, appointments, or branch visits, empowers frontline staff to provide a personalized touch. Tailoring interactions and offerings to meet customers' specific needs and preferences improves the overall customer experience.
Enhancing Security With Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication – voice recognition, fingerprint, and eye scanning – offers seamless and secure customer verification. Biometric facility eliminates the need for customers to remember passwords or secret questions, enhance their convenience, and reduce the chances of fraud. Furthermore, biometrics simplifies authentication by providing a convenient alternative to traditional methods. Instead of relying on complex passwords, customers can authenticate themselves using their distinct biometric traits. Eventually, it saves time and improves the user experience by eliminating password-related frustrations.
In addition to convenience, biometric authentication significantly enhances security. Adopting biometrics enables businesses to safeguard sensitive information and protect customers and the institution from fraudulent activities.
Offering Communication Options According To Client Preferences
Understanding customers' convenient communication methods is not as simple as categorizing them as "mobile" or "in-branch" customers. Customers' preference for communication options varies regularly: 39% prefer personal interactions, 28% favor digital tools, and 33% desire a balance between both.
To meet customers' diverse preferences, providing various communication options – walk-in services, video banking, SMS, etc. is essential. By integrating both physical and digital channels, clients have the freedom to choose the communication method that best suits their needs.
Institutions can enhance client satisfaction and engagement by offering a range of choices and embracing innovative methods. It is beneficial to break down the barriers between the "physical" and "digital" aspects and explore new communication options. By experimenting with different approaches, you can identify effective channels that resonate with your clients.
Using AI And Data Analytics To Improve Banking Services
Advanced technologies such as AI, ML, data analytics, and Power BI are revolutionizing the way people interact with banks. These technologies help banks personalize customer experiences, assess risks quickly, and analyze credit profiles thoroughly. The global adoption of AI in banking is expected to reach $64.03 billion by 2030, showing its growing importance in the industry.
With AI-powered analytics, banks can use the collected data to develop targeted marketing campaigns and improve their yields. For example, AI-powered chatbots enable banks to offer 24/7 customer support with minimal human involvement.
By integrating AI and data analytics, banks can make informed decisions, improve work efficiency, increase productivity, and enjoy multiple perks. Data analytics also helps banks to stay competitive and timely meet the customers' changing needs.
Enhanced Financial Management Through Proactive Engagement
Banking institutions should go beyond traditional location-based offers and adopt proactive customer engagement strategies to improve financial management and customer satisfaction.
Here are some approaches to assist customers through proactive engagement:
Educate Customers
Take the initiative to educate customers about your bank's comprehensive range of products and services. By delivering clear and concise information, management empowers customers to develop informed decisions that align with their financial goals. One more thing - banks need to shout out for the unique features and benefits that set their offerings apart from competitors.
Timely Notifications
Keep customers informed about the status of their loan applications, credit card requests, or other relevant services by providing regular updates on the progress of their banking transactions. Timely notifications foster transparency and ensure that customers are well-informed about the latest developments concerning their accounts.
Questionnaires And Surveys
Gather feedback and insights through questionnaires and surveys to understand the gaps between customers' expectations and their perceived level of service. Banks can enhance the overall customer experience by actively seeking customer input, identifying areas for improvement, and making necessary adjustments based on their valuable feedback.
By implementing these proactive engagement strategies, banking institutions can empower customers with knowledge, keep them informed, and gather valuable feedback. This approach fosters a robust customer-bank relationship, improves financial management, and enhances customer satisfaction.
The Importance Of Customer Experience Trends In Banking
Customer experience trends play a vital role in shaping the success and growth of the banking industry. In this competitive market, customers have countless options for banking services; therefore, an exceptional customer experience is a real key differentiator to lead. Here are some key reasons why customer experience trends are crucial for banks:
Retaining And Attracting Customers
A positive customer experience is vital for maintaining and attracting new customers. Customers who have a seamless and satisfying experience with a bank will likely stay loyal and recommend the bank to others. On the other hand, an unsatisfied customer utters negative word-of-mouth, putting down customers' reputations and customer base.
According to Medallia's research, 8 out of 10 customers take some form of action following a negative experience with their bank. The study reveals that 35% of customers share their negative experience with friends, family, or colleagues, while 30% choose to voice their complaint in person. Additionally, 16% of customers decrease their usage of the company's services.
Enhancing Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is directly linked to their overall experience with a bank. By understanding and implementing customer experience trends, banks can identify pain points and address them proactively, leading to higher levels of customer satisfaction. Satisfied customers continue using the bank's services longer and use additional products or services.
Building Trust And Loyalty
Trust is a crucial element in the banking industry. A positive customer experience fosters trust in the institution, leading to increased customer loyalty. When customers trust their bank to meet their financial needs and provide reliable services, they stay for the long term, promoting customer lifetime value and profitability.
Differentiating In A Competitive Landscape
The banking industry is experiencing significant disruption with the rise of fintech companies and digital banking solutions. To stay competitive, banks must differentiate themselves by offering unique and compelling customer experiences. By embracing customer experience trends, banks can stand out from the competition and provide innovative solutions that meet their customers' evolving needs and expectations.
Driving Business Growth
A superior customer experience directly contributes to business growth. Satisfied customers are more likely to engage with additional products and services, creating opportunities for cross-selling and upselling within banks.
Positive customer experiences generate positive reviews and recommendations, attracting new customers and expanding the bank's customer base.
Staying abreast of customer experience trends is crucial for banks to retain customers and position their banks for long-term success in the dynamic banking industry.
Our Summary
It is crucial for the banking sector to recognize the importance of customer experience in order to stay ahead in the dynamic industry. Understanding the significance of these trends and the benefits they bring is essential. By implementing personalized services, embracing digital transformation, providing seamless experiences, and offering omnichannel support, banks can enhance their reputation, increase customer satisfaction, foster unwavering loyalty, and drive significant business growth.
To learn more about how Simply Contact can help your bank elevate its customer experience and stay ahead of the competition, contact us today. Our team of experts is ready to assist you in implementing the best practices and strategies to revolutionize your banking customer experience.
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