(24 May 2011 – Britain) Online banking is the preferred way of accessing money for two thirds of Brits according to a survey commissioned by the British Payments Council.The poll of 4020 adults, conducted by Opinium Research showed that age was still a factor, with only a quarter of over 55-year-olds having ever banked online.
Meanwhile, around 80 percent of Brits are confident making online banking transactions, rising to 90 percent of 25 to 34 year-olds. In fact, overall nine in ten have made online transactions, falling to 80 percent of the over 65-year-olds.
There is still support for face-to-face contact though, with just over a quarter of respondents saying they would prefer the ‘traditional’ way of managing money – by going into a bank or building society branch.
Just over one in ten visit their local bank branch at least weekly, while a further 10 percent say they go on average every two weeks. However, seven percent say they never visit their local bank branch.
Visiting a branch is most popular amongst older generations, with 42 percent of respondents aged 75 and over preferring this, compared to only one in five of 18 to 24 year-olds.