- Financial services describes the various offerings within the finance industry, including money management and digital banking technology.
- And below we’ve outlined major terms, topics, and trends to provide a high-level financial services industry overview.
- Do you work in the Financial Services industry? Get business insights on the latest tech innovations, market trends, and your competitors with data-driven research.
The financial services sector is accelerating its adoption of digital technology. Paying with cash, participating in in-personal meetings with financial consultants, and even using an ATM are all fading facets of financial services.
To help you navigate the evolving industry, we’ve outlined major terms, topics, and trends to provide a high-level financial sector overview.
What is the financial services industry?
Financial services is a broad term used to describe the various offerings within the finance industry–encompassing everything from insurance and money management to payments and digital banking technology.
There are a multitude of stakeholders and moving parts within financial services, from credit card issuers and processors, to legacy banks and emerging challengers. And with financial activity becoming increasingly digitized, especially as consumers are choosing to manage their finances from home amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, financial institutions and startups are sharpening their technology and expanding remote services.
Financial Services Industry Overview
There are three general types of financial services: personal, consumer, and corporate. These three categories encompass the major players and influencers for companies and organizations trying to climb the ladder of the industry.
Personal Finance
Why is personal finance management (PFM) important? Personal finance is an individual’s budgeting, saving, and spending of monetary resources, like income, over time–while taking into consideration various monthly payments or future life events. It sets consumers up for all stages and major events in life, from buying their first car to retirement planning.
When choosing a bank or other financial institution, consumers typically look for businesses that offer personal finance services, such as financial advisors. As money management activities increasingly migrate online, consumers are looking to banks that allow them to manage personal accounts remotely and take control of their own financial health via online platforms and mobile apps.
Financial institutions that offer personal finance management (PFM) tools are particularly attractive to younger, tech-savvy consumers. Some of the top players in the personal finance market include:
- Chime: This US neobank provides fee-free financial services through its mobile app. It recently launched a new Visa credit card, designed to help customers build a credit history. And during the coronavirus pandemic, Chime built customer loyalty by rolling out $200 stimulus check advances to 100,000 customers.
- N26: This German-headquartered neobank has no branch network, meaning it reaches consumers completely virtually. N26 products include a free checking account, personal loans, and a suite of PFM tools.
- Personal Capital: This US-headquartered direct-to-consumer (D2C) digital wealth manager offers savings and retirement planning services.
- Varo: In 2020, Varo became the first neobank to receive FDIC approval and to receive a national bank charter. According to Insider Intelligence, Varo plans to use the approval to add credit products such as short-term loans, credit cards, and home financing.
- Cleo: You may recognize this service from Facebook Messenger. This AI-powered money management chatbot is now offered as an app that pulls in customers’ bank data to analyze spending in real time and generate personalized financial insights.
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Consumer Finance
From investing in real estate to paying for college, consumer finance helps people afford products and services by paying in installments over a fixed period of time. The consumer financial services market is made up of key players including credit card services, mortgage lenders, and personal and student loan services.
Some popular consumer finance services include:
- American Express: Amex is a popular payment firm, known for its charge and credit card services accompanied by various rewards programs. Recently, Amex partnered with Marriott Bonvoy to offer rewards for spending at gas stations and restaurants to a travel-focused credit card, in an effort to adjust perks based on the effects of the pandemic.
- Ally Financial: This digital-only bank went public in 2014 and is currently used by over 8.5 million people. It provides financial services ranging from vehicle financing and insurance to mortgages and personal loans.
- LendingTree: This is the largest online lending marketplace in the US. LendingTree connects borrowers with various lenders to help them find the best deals on loans–including car, home, and personal–credit cards, deposit accounts, and insurance.
Corporate Finance
Corporate financing is an all-encompassing term to describe the financial activities of a business, such as sources of funding, capital structure, actions to increase the company value, and tools to allocate resources.
Jobs in the corporate finance sector include accountants, analysts, treasurers, and investor relation experts that all work to maximize the value of a company.
Three key sources of funding in corporate finance include:
- Private equity: This is the value of company shares not publicly listed. High-net-worth investors buy shares of private companies or established mature companies that are failing. They are essentially in complete control of the companies they invest in.
- Venture capital: Venture capital (VC) is financing provided to startups that firms believe are poised for long-term growth. Due to the risk associated with investing in young businesses, venture capitalists typically invest in less than 50% of the equity of the companies.
- Angel investors: These are independently wealthy individuals looking for small businesses and startups to invest in. Angel investors are essentially purchasing a portion of the company, which forces founders to relinquish some control.
Financial Services Industry Regulations
Regulatory bodies are interconnected with various industries, and financial services is no exception. Independent agencies are designated to oversee different financial institutions’ operations, uphold transparency, and ensure their clients are treated fairly.
Two key regulatory agencies within financial services include: The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
- FINRA: This is the largest independent US regulator that oversees brokerage firms and exchange markets. In 2019 the FINRA launched the Office of Financial Innovation to aid communication between regulators, investors, and financial service providers. Essentially, it was set up to assist in understanding and regulating the technological advancements in the finance industry.
- OCC: This is an independent bureau within the US Department of the Treasury designed to regulate all national banks. Most recently, the OCC announced that banks cannot use the coronavirus pandemic as a means for accelerating branch closures. According to Insider Intelligence, the OCC is standing by existing rules that govern bank closures.
Financial Services Industry Trends & Statistics
From personal finance to commercial banks, digital advancement and increased financial technology is rapidly transforming the financial sector. And two trends in particular that are driving this digital evolution are: tapping into a huge gig worker opportunity and the growing influence of big tech companies.
Gig Economy Workers
According to Insider Intelligence, gig workers have been massively underserved by financial services because they represent a high-risk demographic.
But thanks to technological advancement in the financial sector, institutions can conduct more thorough risk assessments, which could make serving gig workers worthwhile. Half of the US population is expected to do gig work by 2028, and financial institutions that cater to this demographic could capture a major monetization opportunity.
Digital gig work generated $204 billion in customer volume in 2018 and is expected to grow to $455 billion by 2023, according to a recent Mastercard study.
Big Tech Companies
Big tech companies, like Apple and Amazon, could grab up to 40% of the $1.35 trillion in US financial services revenue from incumbent banks, according to an Insider Intelligence report.
Apple’s launch of the Apple Card could open doors to additional financial tools such as debit cards or PFM applications. And Amazon could bring Amazon Pay in-store–which could attract merchants by saving them interchange costs, cutting into a $90 billion annual source of revenue for issuers and networks.
And with 54% of respondents to a Bain study indicating that they trust at least one tech company more than their own bank, consumer trust is making big tech players a huge threat in the finance industry.
Financial Services Industry Analysis
The influence of tech-savvy consumers, looming threat of big tech companies, and shifting attitudes of regulators toward new tech, are all impacting the financial services industry.
Financial growth can be achieved with a touch of a button. And whether you’re an individual exploring wealth management options, or a CEO trying to increase the value of your company to shareholders, advanced tech will guide you to success within the finance sector.