• 39% are willing to switch to a different bank due to poor customer relations
  • 32% perceive their bank’s current offering of access to online banking services as weak

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Consumer appetite for digital banking services continues to grow in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), accelerated further by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey conducted by Backbase with YouGov.

Eighty-eight percent of respondents to the survey said that they are now more likely to opt for digital banking services rather than make a physical visit to a bank branch, with consumers saying they prefer digital self-service banking solutions delivered with the same convenience as their ecommerce, entertainment, and transport solutions.

Movement restrictions or closures of bank branches in the early days of the pandemic forced consumers online, and banks responded by rapidly shifting products and services to digital platforms. The research showed that 82% of respondents say that they use digital banking services at least once a week, and 36% uses services once a day or more.

The sudden increase in digital adoption has dramatically advanced the digital transformation agendas for many banks in the region, with banking leaders recognizing online banking services as becoming critical to increasing customer retention and growing revenue streams through personalized services.  Consumer expectations from digital banking has shifted from just day-to-day banking services and transactions, to also include more complex interactions, such as remote account openings or subscriptions to new products or services such as getting a loan or subscribing to insurance. However, 32% of respondents say that their bank is weak when it comes to offering seamless access to online banking services, highlighting an area where banks need to step up their performance.

According to Backbase, many banks have relied on rolling out standalone applications and self-contained systems to add new functions and services to their online banking offerings, creating fragmented systems that don’t deliver a good experience to customers. With further digital transformation ahead, financial institutions need to ensure that they have the right platform to manage future expansion.

“As the pandemic recedes, banks have the opportunity to provide enhanced customer engagement online, which will pave the way for physical branches to only deliver more complex, high-value activities. To make sure that they can capitalize on changing customer behavior, banks will need to break free from siloed technology architecture and bring engagement to the forefront of their digital operations. By adopting the single platform approach to technology that other industries have already mastered, financial institutions can be leaner and more flexible, with the ability to instantly execute new digital services while also providing enhanced customer support,” said Matthijs Eijpe, Regional Vice President Sales EMEA at Backbase..

Customer experience differentiates successful digital financial services from failures with 39% of respondents citing poor customer relations as a key influencing factor in making the decision to switch to a different bank. “Collaboration with a partner that accelerates the shift to engagement banking and manages change across the entire digital journey enables financial institutions to focus on providing a high-quality service to customers and members. Our state-of-the-art digital banking software solution unifies data and functionality from traditional core systems and new fintech players into a seamless, digital customer experience,” continued Matthijs Eijpe.

The Backbase Engagement Banking Platform features a unified architecture with ready-to-go capabilities that enables banks to intertwine with the very fabric of people’s financial lives, ensuring every step of the user journey is enhanced by unique experiences. It is trusted by over 120 financial institutions across the world including Barclays, Bank ABC, Bank of the Philippines, BNP Paribas, Capital Bank of Jordan, Citibank, Citizens Bank, Deutsche Bank, Discovery Bank, Gulf Bank, National Bank of Bahrain, National Bank of Iraq, Kuwait International Bank, RBC, Société Générale.

-Ends-

About Backbase

Backbase is on a mission to transform the broken banking system, so financial institutions don't just interact - they engage - with the people they serve. That's made possible with the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform - powering all lines of business on a single platform, including Retail, SME & Corporate and Wealth Management. From digital sales to everyday banking, the platform's entire design focuses on a seamless and captivating experience for both customers and employees. www.backbase.com 

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2021

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.