For the past two years, thanks to its real-time monitoring system based on an intelligent algorithm, D-rating has been tracking the enhancements of European banks digital platforms.
In this article, an overview of the upgrades banks have focused on throughout 2022 is provided.
More than 300 European mobile applications monitored by D-Rating, with nearly 2500 alerts processed between early January and late November 2022
Underlying this analysis, there is a collection of data about bank digital platforms updates, both on the mobile application (both Android and iOS) and in the web services.
Whenever a bank update some of its digital platform, we analyse it to determinate whether if it is a simple bug correction or a relevant enhancement. And on day-to-day basis, we provide all D-Rating customers with an analysis of the latest trends (https://www.d-rating.com/try-market-alerts-60-days/).
2022 global trends on mobile banking updates
A first analysis of the features detected shows that, beyond the customization features, it is mainly features related to day-to-day banking that have been the most implemented in 2022.
Ranking of banking mobile app updates in 2022
“Customization features” (or interface updates) is leading the way. And it is straightforward: in an era where everything is moving towards digital, banks want to have mobile applications that are more and more in the UX standards (i.e. more ergonomic, and attractive to younger generations).
Regarding Account management topics, it’s mainly new features related to “additional details on transaction” and “transaction search bar” that have been implemented. On Cards it’s mainly features related to the management of the card and also the ability to bloc / unlock payment cards. On transfer features, in 2022 top topic in European banks was the possibility to process international transfers. PFM & Aggregation category was this year mainly focused on the categorization (automatic and manual) of the payments and Budget setting is something that is also trending.
Beyond these very common type of features, we would like to highlight 3 trends that seem interesting in the 2022 observed evolutions: the features related to “Junior accounts”, those related to the “Payment” (beside payment cards) and finaly what we call “Beyond banking”.
Junior Account features
The first aspect that stands out from the data concern the “Junior account” category.
Junior accounts is a way for traditional banks to promote an offer that allows them to increase the NBI and to start building loyalty with a new young clientele (rather than having them open an account with neobanks or digital payment services).
The main related Junior account features are Balance and transaction checking (for the child or for the parents) and obviously money transfer (for the parent to feed their child account).
In 2022, the features related to this offer have been developed mainly in Portugal with almost 50% of the evaluated banks having implemented such features
Percentage of banks having implemented Junior Account features in 2022
Payment (beyond cards) features
In addition to the card payment functionality, it can be worthwhile to note other trends related to digital features linked with payments. This indicates that banks have now realized, maybe forced by the strong competition of the many fintech apps, the importance of smartphone as an essential tool in the payment sphere. And as an illustration, It can be noticed that “Payment via QR code “and “Split of expenses” are leading this category of features.
And in 2022 Spain heads the rankings of the banks that are updating the “Payment” features far ahead of Poland and UK.
Beyond banking features
Beyond banking features
For several years now, an increasing number of banks are also focalizing in providing beyond banking services with super-app concepts.
This path allows those banks to provide its client with services that goes far beyond the pure banking or financial domain in broad sense (insurances), such as ticketing services (for transport, culture…). And in 2022 it has been a topic often addressed by Polish banks.
We at D-Rating strongly believe that this is a trend much more relevant for the SME Banking market with the development of features associated with banking services (invoice management, business start-up assistance…).
Nevertheless, we find it interesting to have a look at the development of these features in retail banking.
In 2022 we have seen the implementation of features mainly related to:
- Transports (ex: ING Poland, Caixa, PKO bank)
- Parking payment (ex: ING Poland, mBank)
- Highway toll payment (ex: PKO Bank Polsky)
Further detailed analysis, with emphasis on time analysis on features development in 2022, will be provided by D-Ratings soon.
