Though users of Click to Pay tend to use the service more than once, PayPal continues to be the preferred pay button. PayPal has a slight edge over Click to Pay among Click to Pay users, but non-users express a strong preference for PayPal.

Issuer-offered installment plans are attractive to consumers, but many are looking for a convenient, seamless experience from sign-up thru plan management. Auriemma’s Mobile Pay Tracker conducted in-depth interviews with consumers to gain insights on their opinions and experiences with installment plans.

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.

(New York, NY and London, UK) COVID-19 has put additional financial strain on cardholders globally, but some issuers are trying to lessen the immediate burden. Auriemma Group’s latest issues of Cardbeat US and UK uncover how the pandemic could be affecting on-time payments, which accommodations issuers are offering consumers to help ease the strain, and how card rotation is being impacted as a result.

While missing payments is not exclusive to COVID-19, wage cuts, job loss, and other unexpected financial stressors could make missed or late payments more common. According to Auriemma’s research, about one-sixth of cardholders in both markets say they have missed a payment over the last 6 months. During this time, unemployment figures in both regions increased, with many cardholders needing government aid. However, credit card issuers in both geographies are finding creative ways to assist cardholders through this unprecedented time.

Payment Holidays Provide Short-Term Relief

One of the many ways UK card issuers are helping relieve payment pressure for their cardholders is by offering payment holidays, which allows cardholders to miss monthly payments without penalty. Auriemma’s research found that 20% of UK credit cardholders were aware of the option to take a payment holiday from their issuer, and 33% of them accepted the offer.

The high take-rate is unsurprising given the circumstance. Pandemic-adjacent reasons are most often cited for their acceptance, including wanting to keep money in their bank account and that it would help with cash flow.

“Payment holidays offer a temporary solution for an immediate problem,” says Jaclyn Holmes, Director at Auriemma Group. “And while the accommodation has become a necessary offering for high street banks in this moment, issuers will need to determine and communicate its intended tenure before it becomes table stakes for their cardholders.”

Long-Term Accommodations Chart a Corrective Course

While payment holidays offer a short-term fix, impacted cardholders can be transitioned to other accommodations meant to improve their financial standing in the long-term. In the US, 40% of cardholders have been offered at least one of the accommodations tested in Auriemma’s study (e.g., a reduction in their monthly minimum payments or interest rate, waived interest charges, forbearance options, hardship programs)within the past 6 months.

According to Auriemma’s study, the top offers include increasing credit card limits (20%), offering hardship programs (17%), and providing forbearance options (16%). These accommodations are popular among those offered them, with over half accepting.

“Offering payment accommodations provides a halo effect for your brand,” says Holmes. “Those offered a payment accommodation say they felt more positively about their card issuer as a result, which, along with attractive rewards and benefits, could influence card selection when making a purchase.”

Accommodations and Attractive Rewards Could Impact Card Selection

Over six-in-ten cardholders in both regions report using multiple payment cards in the past 30 days. These individuals are also more likely than their counterparts who used a single payment card to have taken either a payment accommodation or a payment holiday. And while goodwill derived from payment accommodations has an ancillary influence on which card is chosen in the near-term, attractive rewards and benefits remain the main drivers of card choice, regardless of locale.

“When the dust settles, consumers struggling financially will look back on this time and remember which issuers had their back” says Holmes. “Rewards and benefits continue to be critical factors in card selection, but they’re not the only consideration at the moment. Issuers who give their cardholders both payment flexibility and relevant benefits during these uncertain times will be best suited to secure or maintain their top-of-wallet position.”

Survey Methodology

Cardbeat US

This Auriemma Group study was conducted online within the US by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Group (Auriemma) in June 2020 among 811 adult 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 22 minutes.

Cardbeat UK

This Auriemma Group study was conducted online within the UK by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma in July 2020, among 800 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. The average interview length was 20 minutes.

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 (+1) 646-454-4200.

Contactless card functionality plays a role when deciding on an MFU card for most. 54% of those whose contactless card became their MFU card in the past year report that their card’s contactless functionality was either the primary or secondary reason in their decision to make it their MFU payment method.

While major credit card issuers have offered the option to redeem rewards points as donations for years, some merchants are just now integrating this ability into their loyalty program.

 

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be used to provide budgeting advice, but 68% of debit cardholders don’t like that AI can access their data. Creating a monetary value in sharing that data (like Andrew Yang proposes in his Data Dividend Project) could create greater interest in such tools. Currently, 34% of cardholders express interest in an AI tool that has access to their financial information and gave budgeting recommendations based on a cardholder’s income and expenses.

Products on the market currently offering this type of function, less the incentive, include:

Many cardholders expect to talk with a live agent when interacting via live chat. For the tool to be viewed as successful, however, cardholders expect it to seamlessly solve their issues and provide easy connection to a live agent when needed.

34% of debit cardholders say they have used live chat. Of them, 64% believe they communicated with a human throughout the full interaction and only slightly fewer say they expect to interact with a human from start-to-finish. Yet, the most common activities that have been attempted via live chat could be completed via an artificial intelligence tool:

  • Checking an account balance
  • Reviewing transactions
  • Activating new/reissued cards
  • Checking the status of a payment

 

Auriemma’s Jaclyn Holmes discusses our recent point-of-sale installment plan data:

Full article available on nbcdfw.com.

(New York, NY) COVID-19 changed consumer purchasing behavior in the short-term, but will changes be long-lasting or temporary? It is a question often asked within the payments industry, and one that Auriemma Group’s research has been asking consumers for months. Auriemma’s latest Mobile Pay Tracker study (fielded April-May 2020) uncovered that the answer may be a little bit of both—purchase frequency could level, but preferred methods, channels, and services may shift to create a new normal going forward.

1. Shopping habits will likely level out, but methods may change

In the early days of COVID-19 consumer spend was reoriented to household purchases (e.g., food, cleaning supplies). While specific categories of purchases saw notable spikes, spend overall declined. Auriemma’s research found that in April and May two-thirds (65%) of cardholders said they were spending less over the past 30 days than they would have before COVID-19. When asked about the next 30 days, however, this figure drops to 44%, and a similar proportion (42%) expect their spend to return to pre-COVID-19 levels by that point.

Although spend may return to normal, there may be a new normal for how consumers make payments. More consumers are trialing contactless and mobile payments than ever before, and some are shifting their purchase channel preferences. For example, consumers have historically preferred in-store shopping for groceries, and while most still do, a notable 31% now say they prefer using digital channels (i.e., websites, mobile apps) to make grocery purchases.

“COVID-19 has given consumers strong incentive to try new payment methods and purchase channels,” says Jaclyn Holmes, Director of Research at Auriemma Group. “The disruption it has caused may be the catalyst that propels more innovative shopping and payment experiences moving forward.”

2. COVID-19 has not only changed how consumers shop, but also where

Staple household items were in high-demand at the start of COVID-19, and the need for those items trumped merchant and brand loyalty. Many consumers said stores they regularly shop at were out of many items (76%), that they needed to switch from their preferred brand to purchase an item they needed (67%), and that they have visited stores they don’t normally shop at to find what they need (35%).

This sentiment extends to the online shopping experience, with 40% of those shoppers saying they have tried shopping with new merchants or websites since the COVID-19 outbreak. Overall, COVID-19 has motivated consumers to try different merchants, items, and experiences. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of consumers say they are willing to try new ways to shop, including using apps and curbside pick-up.

“Brand loyalty is often a strong purchase motivator, both when purchasing products and selecting a merchant,” says Holmes. “In recent months, many consumers have tried new merchants and products out of necessity. While some will understandably revert back to their preferred brands, some have expressed they’ve been pleasantly surprised by these alternatives and will continue to utilize or purchase from them looking ahead..”

3. Some industries and products will thrive, while others will struggle

With consumers staying and/or working from home, there were many services that gained popularity. Unsurprisingly, consumers reported increased usage of video chat platforms, online food delivery, and online workouts. At the same time, however, cardholders report a notable decrease in usage of deal/discount services or apps.

Groupon has been hit particularly hard—in February, the company announced they were shifting their focus away from products and back to experiences. The timing was unfortunate, given that just a month later consumer spend shifted away from in-person experiences because of COVID-19. By March, the company reported decreased demand for their offerings and significant increases in refund levels.

4. Consumers aiming to support local businesses may skip third-party apps

Third-party apps like Groupon and Seamless may also see decreases in usage among those aiming to support local businesses. 31% of consumers have donated money to local businesses and 24% have purchased gift cards to support their local businesses during this time.

Additionally, consumer awareness for hidden fees and commissions are driving some to purchase directly from the end merchant. Auriemma’s research identified that some consumers avoid using food ordering or delivery apps to better support local businesses. One 33-year-old male said:

“We’ve been bothered by the commission the food delivery apps are making so we are making a conscious effort to order directly from the restaurant. It had crossed my mind prior to the outbreak but now, it is more top of mind.”

COVID-19’s Overall Impact

COVID-19 will create some long-lasting impacts on consumer behavior, but some behaviors will return to normal. While overall spending is expected to lift as people get back to work and regain confidence in the economy, where they spend their money, what they spend money on, and the methods they use to make purchases may change. Issuers may see further increases in contactless payments and digital spend, as in-person purchasing (particularly via swiping or dipping)  remains low.

“Now more than ever consumer behaviors and attitudes are in a state of flux,” says Holmes. “Our continued research into the impact of COVID-19 will give us a forward look into these shifts and provide a roadmap for future expectations.”

 

Survey Methodology

This Auriemma Group study was conducted online within the US by an independent field service provider on behalf of Auriemma Group (Auriemma) in April/May 2020 among 2,022 adult Apple, Google, or Samsung 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. The average interview length was 27 minutes.

Additionally, ten in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted in May 2020 via telephone. All were recruited from the quantitative web survey from parts of the country that had seen at least some impact (either business closures or social distancing rules). The goal was to understand the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on shopping behaviors and attitudes.

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 (+1) 646-454-4200.

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