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Open Banking Set to Further Enhance Apple Wallet for UK Users

(London, UK): Apple announced this month that it is harnessing Open Banking APIs to deliver new features to Apple Wallet users. As part of the beta version of its iOS 17.1 update, customers can check their current account balances, transaction history and available credit directly in Apple Wallet. This will be rolled out to all customers when iOS 17.1 is officially released later in October. The current version is compatible with Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Monzo, RBS and Starling and is expected to expand to additional banks over time.

These improvements may further differentiate Apple Pay usage from its competitors Google and Samsung Pay. According to Auriemma Group’s latest issue of Cardbeat UK, Apple is the most popular of the bunch, with 17% of credit cardholders currently using Apple Pay, compared to 14% for Google Pay and 5% for Samsung Pay. Usage of Apple Pay notably rises to 47% among those ages 18-34.

The use of Open Banking APIs gives cardholders yet another reason to leave their wallets at home. Research from global card issuing platform Marqeta found that 73% of mobile wallet users feel confident enough to “leave their wallet at home, and only rely on their mobile phones for making payments.”

“Apple’s latest integration is another positive step for Open Banking and mobile wallet usage in the UK,” says Simon Cottenham, Head of International Partnerships at Auriemma Group. “Where previously one could view their Santander current account balance within their HSBC app, Wallet is a centralised app that is already used by millions of UK consumers today. As ever with Open Banking technology, compatibility with a broad reach of banks is key to its customer appeal and success, so Apple should focus on broadening its reach while it is ahead of the curve.”

Auriemma Group will continue to monitor this space closely in upcoming Cardbeat studies.

Survey Methodology

This Auriemma Research study was conducted online within the UK by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma in July 2023, among 801 adult credit cardholders. The number of interviews completed on a monthly basis is sufficient to allow for statistical significance testing between sub-groups at the 95% confidence level ± 5%, unless otherwise noted. The purpose of the research was not disclosed nor did the respondents know the criteria for qualification.

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ID Provisioning Set to Increase Mobile Pay Usage

(New York, NY) Mobile payments give cardholders the chance to lighten their physical wallet, but those in states like Arizona and Maryland may be able to go without a wallet altogether. In March, Apple announced that Arizona would be the first state to offer its locals the opportunity to digitally store their driver’s license or state ID in the Apple Wallet, and Maryland soon followed. But what impact, if any, will this have on mobile payment usage overall?

Auriemma Group’s latest Mobile Pay Tracker study found that ID provisioning could increase mobile payment usage notably. According to the research, 67% of mobile payment users and 20% of non-users would be interested in adding an ID to their mobile wallet. And nearly half of those interested say having an ID available in their mobile pay wallet would make them use it more. This is particularly striking among non-users, 45% of whom would begin using mobile payments as a result.

“With the addition of IDs, mobile wallets take one step closer to being a physical wallet substitute,” says Jaclyn Holmes, Director of Research at Auriemma Group. “Though we don’t anticipate mobile wallets to fully replace physical ones, this addition will make leaving home without one a greater possibility should your state provide the option.”

However, mobile payments have some work to do if they want to convert naysayers. 62% of those uninterested in adding an ID to their mobile wallet say they don’t like the idea of having all their personal information saved to one device, and 50% don’t think it would be secure. Over half of these cardholders also don’t trust mobile wallets enough to leave their physical ID at home, saying they would still carry it with them anyway.

When looking at those interested in adding their ID to a mobile wallet, however, 69% are comfortable leaving their physical ID behind. This is most prominent among younger cardholders, suggesting that over time comfort may increase.

“Mobile payments already allow consumers to add their payment cards, plane tickets, membership cards, and more,” says Holmes. “Adding IDs is the next logical step and is likely to promote mobile payment usage overall. As issuers consider their relationship to mobile payments, it would be worthwhile for them to envision a future where digital wallets are more commonplace, even if only supplemental to the physical wallet.”

Survey Methodology

Mobile Pay Tracker

This Auriemma Group study was conducted online within the US by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Group (Auriemma) in July 2022 among 2,182 adult mobile pay eligible credit cardholders. The number of interviews completed for both is sufficient to allow for statistical significance testing among sub-groups at the 95% confidence level ±5%, unless otherwise noted. The purpose of the research was not disclosed, nor did respondents know the criteria for qualifying.

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Mobile Pay Adoption Grows Across Major Players

Much like contactless card usage, Mobile Pay adoption grew in 2020. According to Auriemma’s Wave 3 issue of Mobile Pay Tracker, 40% of those eligible to use mobile payments report doing so, level with the all-time peak reported in W2-20.

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Contactless Card Rollout May Not Hurt Mobile Payment Adoption, But Probably Won’t Help Either

(New York, NY) The death of plastic. Apple Pay’s launch in 2014 invited headlines touting the digital payments revolution, but in the years since, plastic has thrived. Consumers swiped, they dipped, and now they’re beginning to tap– all with a physical card. Some argue that the proliferation of tapping a physical card at checkout will increase comfort tapping one’s phone. However, a new issue of Auriemma Research’s Mobile Pay Tracker suggests that contactless cards may have some mobile-friendly consumers reverting from digital to physical payments.

Although mobile payments and contactless cards utilize the same near-field communication (NFC) technology, adoption of mobile payments is well behind contactless cards. Three plus years after its mainstream release, mobile payments have only been used by one-third of those eligible—far less than the 59% of contactless cardholders who have tapped with their contactless card.

Consumers appear amenable to contactless cards, specifically because the device (i.e., the physical card) is so familiar. Mobile payment users, however, are even more open to tapping their cards because they’ve been exposed to tapping with their phone. Three-quarters of mobile payment users have used a contactless card to make a contactless payment, compared to just four-in-ten non-users.

“Consumers have been repeatedly asked to change their payment behavior,” says Jaclyn Holmes, Director of Auriemma Research. “While adjusting to various card payments is easy, the larger switch in the physical mechanism of phone payments takes more time.”

Mobile payment users are enthusiastic about contactless technology. The majority (60%) expressed interest in using contactless cards, compared to just over one-quarter of mobile payment non-users. Mobile payment users are also more likely to believe contactless payments can improve everyday purchases. Over one-third say their experience with self-checkout lanes, grocery stores, vending machines, and public transportation would be made better if they were able to use contactless payments.

Until now, many terminals were not accepting of EMV contactless payments because of outdated technology. This has been a struggle for EMV contactless cards as well as Apple, Google, and Samsung Pay. However, with Visa now requiring all contactless terminals to support NFC contactless technology, both EMV contactless cards and mobile payments will have the space to grow.

Although these upgrades will make mobile payments an option at an increasing number of locations, that doesn’t mean mobile payment adoption will rise. Overall, consumers are uncertain about whether contactless card payments are better or worse than mobile payments—65% say they are about the same, 18% say they are better, and 17% say they are worse.

Those who believe contactless card payments are better typically say they are faster, easier, and more secure than mobile payments—three things mobile payment users often describe when asked why it is better to pay with mobile then with plastic. Those who believe contactless card payments are worse often express concerns about security (e.g., more susceptible to fraud, wouldn’t be any safer) and say they still need to take out their payment card.

“Consumers will have more options at checkout than ever before, but will they choose contactless cards or a mobile wallet?” asks Holmes. “Although upgraded terminals benefit both methods, the point-of-sale experience continues to be fragmented for mobile payment users who must pull out their physical card when things go awry.”

With contactless cards, technological barriers to tapping won’t upend the entire payment process. Consumers can still dip or swipe. This alone makes the case for contactless cards, which offer the mobile payment benefits people love without the barriers that have persisted since its rollout.

Survey Methodology

This Auriemma Research study was conducted online within the US by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Group (Auriemma) between January-February 2019, among 2,001 mobile pay eligible consumers. Respondents were screened to own an iPhone 8/8+7/7+/6/6+/6s/6s+/SE/X or Apple Watch (in combination with an iPhone 5/5C/5S) – a Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8 Edge/Edge+, S7, S7 Edge, S7 Active, a Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge/Edge+, S6 Active or Galaxy Note 5, Note 7, or Note 8 – Gear S2 or S3 watch (in combination with an Android/iPhone smartphone) – and/or other Android phone with KitKat (4.4) OS or newer. All respondents also have a general purpose credit card in their own name.

About Auriemma Group

For more than 30 years, Auriemma’s mission has been to empower clients with authoritative data and actionable insights. Our team comprises recognized experts in four primary areas: operational effectiveness, consumer research, co-brand partnerships, and corporate finance. Our business intelligence and advisory services give clients access to the data, expertise and tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex environment and maximize their performance. Auriemma serves the consumer financial services ecosystem from our offices in New York City and London. For more information, call Jaclyn Holmes at (212) 323-7000.

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34% of Those Eligible Are Using Mobile Payments, But Few Would Recommend Them

(New York, NY):  After a year of celebrity following its release in late-2014, Apple Pay had to share the spotlight with Android Pay and Samsung Pay. Since then, the market has grown even more crowded, with merchants, such as Walmart and Kohl’s, developing Pay options for their consumers to use at the point of sale. But according to Auriemma’s Q1-2018 Mobile Pay Tracker, usage of Apple, Google (formerly Android), and Samsung Pay has still managed to grow five points (to 34%) compared to Q1-2017. While this growth is a positive for mobile payments, a declining proportion of these users would recommend the service, signaling trouble ahead.

“The influx of new players makes the future of the Big Three uncertain,” says Jaclyn Holmes, Director of Payment Insights at Auriemma. “Being first to market hasn’t given Apple, Google, or Samsung a leg up on mobile payment newcomers. Providers who are able to deliver a more positive, reliable Pay experience are most likely to encourage continued Pay usage, while others may struggle in the years ahead.”

Problems at the point of sale can prevent even the most enthusiastic Pay users from developing the habit of paying with their mobile device. This, in turn, lessens the opportunity and likelihood for recommending the service. In fact, 42% of mobile payment users wouldn’t recommend the service, up 11 points compared to last year (31%).  And because these sentiments are strongest among the most inactive Pay users (87% very inactive vs. 6% very active), it’s clear developing the habit is key to the success of mobile payments. But this routine could be more easily developed with merchant mobile payments, which have more control over their Pay experience and can eliminate many of the barriers that trouble Apple, Google, and Samsung Pay users.

Merchants have an advantage over the Big Three: a guarantee of acceptance across all its stores and a uniform in-store experience. While most of Apple, Google, and Samsung Pay users think in-store acceptance has improved since these mobile payments launched, reported issues at the point of sale have remained the same compared to last year. Among the issues, unfamiliar cashiers and an inability to complete the transaction come out on top, with a plurality of in-store Pay users who quit and decide to swipe their card instead. All of this could potentially be avoided with a well-conceived Merchant Pay option.

“Merchants have the power to create a frictionless mobile payment experience,” says Holmes. “They can train their store employees to become Pay champions who promote the payment option, offer assistance, and do so in a way that keeps lines moving and customers smiling.”

Survey Methodology

This study was conducted online within the US by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Consulting Group (Auriemma) in January/February 2018, among 1,527 mobile pay eligible consumers. Respondents were screened to own an iPhone 8/8+/7/7+/6/6+/6s/6s+/SE/X or Apple Watch (in combination with an iPhone 5/5C/5S) – a Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Edge/Edge+, S7, S7 Edge, S7 Active, a Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge/Edge+, S6 Active or Galaxy Note 5, Note 7 or Note 8 – Gear S2 or S3 watch (in combination with an Android/iPhone smartphone) – and/or other Android phone with KitKat (4.4) OS or newer. All respondents also have a general-purpose credit card in their own name.

About Auriemma Group

For more than 30 years, Auriemma’s mission has been to empower clients with authoritative data and actionable insights. Our team comprises recognized experts in four primary areas: operational effectiveness, consumer research, co-brand partnerships, and corporate finance. Our business intelligence and advisory services give clients access to the data, expertise and tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex environment and maximize their performance. Auriemma serves the consumer financial services ecosystem from our offices in New York City and London. For more information, call Jaclyn Holmes at (212) 323-7000.

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Auriemma Conducts Parallel Study of Mobile Pay Usage in the US and the UK

(New York, NY): In both the US and the UK, a growing ecosystem of mobile pay providers hope to become consumers’ go-to payment method at checkout. But the future of mobile payments appears more positive across the pond, where contactless payment technology has made familiarity with tapping at the point of sale more prominent.  Auriemma Group recently conducted a parallel study among cardholders in both the US and UK markets, aimed at learning about mobile payment adoption, satisfaction, and how comfort with contactless technology could impact mobile payments moving forward.

A small but notable proportion of credit cardholders (‘cardholders’) in both geographies have adopted mobile payments. While UK cardholders are slightly more likely than their US counterparts to have used Apple Pay (12% vs. 9%) and Visa Checkout (9% vs. 6%) within the past month, other options, such as PayPal In-Store Checkout (5% each) and Android Pay (4% each) show similar usage patterns. Although usage metrics are low, satisfaction with each technology is extremely high.

Over 90% of users in both geographies say they are satisfied with their mobile payment app. However, while it may be true that satisfied users are more likely to continue using than dissatisfied ones, user satisfaction alone does nothing to introduce non-users to the technology. UK consumers have a slight advantage in this area, given their introduction to contactless payment technology has familiarized them with tapping at checkout.

“UK consumers were introduced to contactless payments in 2007,” says Jaclyn Holmes, the Director of Auriemma’s Payment Insights. “Their increased comfort with this technology, in the decade since its inception, makes payment behavior at the point of sale less of a barrier for mobile pay adoption. If anything, paying with a tap has become more natural for this population than their US counterparts, who only recently began the move from swipe to dip.”

While exposure to contactless payments may increase comfort with mobile wallets, the shift from brick-and-mortar to online shopping creates an opportunity for mobile payments to grow. Most US and UK cardholders have made an online purchase on their smartphone, but a notable minority (31% and 40%) have not. And there is a link between comfort with making an online purchase via a smartphone and usage of mobile wallets more generally. Notable proportions of US and UK cardholders who have made online smartphone purchases have ever tried mobile wallets (33% and 43%, respectively). This is in stark comparison to their less smartphone-friendly counterparts, who are much less likely to have used a mobile wallet (7% and 5%).

“Cardholders who are more accustomed to shopping on their smartphone are more likely to pay with their smartphone in-store, especially in the UK,” says Holmes. “The US may have had the advantage of earlier exposure to mobile wallets, but the UK’s history with contactless has made the locale ripe for adopting a variety of mobile payment options. Increased familiarity with contactless payment technology and comfort with the smartphone as a payment device will be necessary to encourage the growth of mobile payments.”

Survey Methodology

These studies were conducted online within the US and UK by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Consulting Group. The UK study (Cardbeat UK) was fielded in August 2017 among 500 adult credit cardholders and the US study (The Payments Report) was fielded June/July 2017 among 800 debit cardholders, of which 567 were also credit cardholders. The number of interviews completed for both is sufficient to allow for statistical significance testing among sub-groups at the 95% confidence level ±5%, unless otherwise noted. The purpose of the research was not disclosed, nor did respondents know the criteria for qualifying. The average interview length was 20 minutes.

About Auriemma Group

Auriemma is a boutique management consulting firm with specialized focus on the Payments and Lending space.  We deliver actionable solutions and insights that add value to our clients’ business activities across a broad set of industry topics and disciplines.  Founded in 1984, Auriemma has grown from a one-man shop to a nearly 50-person firm with offices in New York and London.  For more information, contact Jaclyn Holmes at (212) 323-7000.

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Security Concerns and Problems at the Register Continue to Depress Mobile Pay Usage and Net Promoter Scores

(New York, NY):  Mobile pay usage among eligible consumers is down 5% compared to this time last year (25% vs. 30%). And the decline in adoption is expected to continue into Q4 – a period that has seen seasonal dips in Mobile Pay usage the past two years, according to Auriemma  Group’s Mobile Pay Tracker. This new research reveals a myriad of reasons why consumers aren’t adopting mobile payments quickly, including a lack of need and interest, and that Net Promoter Scores (NPS) are seeing significant declines. But some barriers are directly influenceable by merchants and issuers alike, namely security concerns and problems at the Point of Sale (POS).

Nearly one-third (32%) of consumers cite security concerns as a top barrier for using mobile payments. A slightly smaller proportion (21%) actually believe the method is unsafe. Auriemma’s research identified specific ways mobile pay providers could alleviate concerns that block the trialing of mobile payments.

For one, 58% of consumers want issuers to assure them that mobile payments fraud will be covered by the bank, similar to card-based payments. And 57% of customers would like to see data demonstrating the security of mobile payments, with 43% wanting direct comparisons to more common payment methods such as magnetic stripe and chip cards.

“Issuers who do these things could find themselves at the top of the mobile wallet for new adopters within their customer base,” says Jaclyn Holmes, the Director of Auriemma’s Payment Insights. “In an environment of heightened consumer anxiety regarding data breaches, it is critical to clearly communicate mobile payments’ security to customers.”

Confidence with security alone, however, isn’t enough to grow mobile pay adoption. Merchant acceptance is crucial for establishing habitual use, but many Pay users run into problems at checkout. These issues at the POS are a great risk to the most active mobile pay users, who experience the highest incidences of disrupted transactions.

The majority of Samsung Pay (74%), Android Pay (63%), and Apple Pay (52%) users consider themselves to be at least somewhat active. A notable proportion of each have said they encountered a problem at the register (44%, 33%, and 37%, respectively). The top reason for the issue, however, is unfamiliarity of store personnel (55%) followed closely by problems with the actual terminal, including “transaction did not go through” (46%) and “terminal took too long” (35%).

These issues have a clear impact on Pay user’s likelihood to recommend the service. Auriemma research reveals sharp declines between Q4 2016 and Q3 2017 in the Net Promotor Scores (NPS) of Apple Pay (from 22 to 4), Android Pay (from 18 to 13), and Samsung Pay (from 46 to 21). While Samsung Pay’s technology should render it mostly immune to problems at the POS, even it has had difficulty staying away from issues.

“One of the key benefits of Samsung Pay is that it can be used anywhere that accepts cards,” says Holmes. “But even its enthusiastic user base risks becoming disenchanted by recurring issues at the POS.”

Problems at the register don’t just impact behavior at the transaction-level. Half of those who had problems at a retail location that accepts mobile payments say the issue made them use the service less often overall. Problems at POS are particularly perilous for cards at the top of the digital wallet, who have the most to lose if the Pay transaction is unsuccessful. In fact, 45% of in-store Pay purchasers quit trying to use mobile payments entirely, and use a physical card instead.

There are many ways to educate those wary of the method, but the real question is whether issuers and merchants are willing to put in the time to train their customers and employees. While merchants may want to offer their customer’s preferred payment method, offering it without the proper employee training and support stops mobile payment adoption in its tracks. Likewise, issuers who make their card compatible with a mobile wallet without educating customers of its benefits are forfeiting potential utilization. Issuers who want to remain or become top of the mobile wallet, and merchants looking to provide a seamless payment experience for those Pay-preferred, play a pivotal role in getting them off the ground.

Survey Methodology

This study was conducted online within the US by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Consulting Group (Auriemma) in July/August 2017, among 1,505 mobile pay eligible consumers. Respondents were screened to own an iPhone 7/7+/6/6+/6s/6s+ or Apple Watch (in combination with an iPhone 5/5C/5S) – a Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Edge/Edge+, S7, S7 Edge, S7 Active, a Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge/Edge+, S6 Active or Galaxy Note 5, Note 7 – Gear S2 or S3 watch (in combination with an Android/iPhone smartphone) – and/or other Android phone with KitKat (4.4) OS or newer. All respondents also have a general-purpose credit card in their own name. In addition to the quantitative web survey, eleven in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in August 2017.

About Auriemma Group

Auriemma is a boutique management consulting firm with specialized focus on the Payments and Lending space.  We deliver actionable solutions and insights that add value to our clients’ business activities across a broad set of industry topics and disciplines.  Founded in 1984, Auriemma has grown from a one-man shop to a nearly 50-person firm with offices in New York and London.  For more information, contact Jaclyn Holmes at 212-323-7000.

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Incentives Push Mobile Pay Users Over Tipping Point, Increasing Method Frequency and Spend at Checkout

(New York, NY):  Mobile pay users are an enthusiastic bunch, but admit they sometimes forget to choose mobile payments at checkout. New data from Auriemma Group’s Mobile Pay Tracker suggests that transaction-based incentives may provide the nudge needed to get higher frequency and spend through mobile pay. The study of 1,505 mobile pay eligible cardholders didn’t just reveal incentive’s benefits to Pay providers, but to issuers and merchants as well. Those who leverage incentives are positioning themselves for greater success as mobile payments become more commonplace.

Regardless of who funds the incentives, issuers, merchants, and Pay-app providers all have something to gain. Increases in mobile pay spend and frequency of use will have a marked impact on the most frequently used (MFU) card in the mobile wallet, while also encouraging use of mobile pay instead of a physical wallet. As the mobile pay user population grows, it will become increasingly important to be the top of mobile wallet card. Interestingly, two-thirds of mobile pay users already say that the MFU card in mobile pay is also their most used card overall.

“While cards used in the mobile wallet benefit from merchant- and Pay-funded incentives in the short term, those not already being used could miss out, especially as mobile pay grows,” said Jaclyn Holmes, Director of Auriemma’s Payment Insights. “Pay apps very well may be the future of payments. Incentives provide an opportunity for issuers and merchants to have consumers associate their brand with the payment method, which could turn out to be a valuable long-term investment.”

Currently, 25% of consumers with an eligible smartphone use mobile pay, mostly composed of a highly covetable demographic of employed, affluent, and college-educated consumers. Of these consumers, 32% recall being offered a mobile pay incentive (compared to 19% earlier in the year), and when the incentive is offered, the take rate is high: 86% of incentive recipients report claiming the incentive at the point of sale in-store or in-app.

In the past, these incentives were primarily offered by banks, but in Auriemma’s most recent study the proportion of banks offering incentives to their customers compared to last quarter dropped from 58% to 40%. Merchant-funded offers are now most prevalent (46%), and regardless of who offered the incentive, nearly eight in ten respondents (78%) report their offer was linked to a specific merchant. Many consumers, however, are not seeking these incentives out—most hear about them from friends, or through emails or letters.

Consumers who are offered incentives, unsurprisingly, use mobile payments more frequently than those not offered—demonstrating a clear influence on choice of payment method at checkout. Over a one-week period, for example, those who received an incentive to use mobile pay in-store did so 4.6 times, compared to 3.1 times for those not offered an incentive. The same is true of in-app purchases, with incentivized shoppers purchasing four times in a week, compared to 2.4 for those not offered an incentive.

“Incentives can give consumers the push they need to use mobile pay,” said Holmes. “Their greatest impact will be on consumers on the cusp of using the method, but who need an additional nudge.”

Survey Methodology

This study was conducted online within the US by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Consulting Group in November 2016, among 1,505 mobile pay eligible consumers. Respondents were screened to own an iPhone 7/7+/6/6+/6s/6s+ or Apple Watch (in combination with an iPhone 5/5C/5S) – a Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S7 Active, a Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge/Edge+, S6 Active or Galaxy Note 5, Note 7 – and/or other Android phone with KitKat (4.4) OS or newer. All respondents also have a general purpose credit card in their own name. In addition to the quantitative web survey, ten in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted during December 2016.

About Auriemma Group

Auriemma is a boutique management consulting firm with specialized focus on the Payments and Lending space. We deliver actionable solutions and insights that add value to our clients’ business activities across a broad set of industry topics and disciplines. For more information, call Jaclyn Holmes at 212-323-7000.

 

 

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