10-Q, Member Exclusive

The changing tides in the Gen Z-traditional FI relationship

  • With the rise of new-age, youth-centric non-bank financial firms, traditional banks might find themselves at the end of the line in the eyes of Gen Z.
  • Some banks are now stepping out of their comfort zones to adapt and stay competitive with the largest generation, who are currently their customers and also the talent of tomorrow.
close

Email a Friend

The changing tides in the Gen Z-traditional FI relationship

    Legacy banks are stepping out of their comfort zones to co-exist with non-banks and win over Gen Z

    Lit, sick, gucci — how do traditional banks measure up in Gen Z lingo? Likely, they’re not even a contender among these words that scream cool and trendy. With the rise of new-age, youth-centric non-bank financial firms, traditional banks might find themselves at the end of the line.

    It’s not that banks are oblivious, but their longstanding focus on security, slow-moving steps, regulations, and compliance tends to saddle them with a serious and boring image in the eyes of Gen Z.

    Banks are now implementing tangible actions to adapt and stay competitive with the largest generation, who are currently their customers and also the talent of tomorrow. Growth begins where comfort ends — keeping this in mind, banks are overhauling their strategies related to employment, internal policies, and marketing. However, when it comes to products and services, some are opting for strategic partnerships. 

    We explore each of these areas to see how some banks are approaching things differently, and, in a few cases, even diverge from the norm and conventional routes.

    1. The most unusual fusion of traditional banks and TikTok


    subscription wall for TS Pro

    0 comments on “The changing tides in the Gen Z-traditional FI relationship”

    10-Q, Member Exclusive

    How Payoneer is embedding itself as an essential engine in its clients’ operational workflows

    • Payoneer is focused on sustained growth by embedding itself deeper into the core operations of the global SMBs and digital-first enterprises it serves.
    • Chief Product & Technology Officer shares the thinking behind the company's recent product updates and how they align with the company’s goal of becoming core to its clients’ financial infrastructure.
    Sara Khairi | July 28, 2025
    Embedded Finance, Member Exclusive

    From ‘banks as destinations’ to ‘banks as infrastructure’: How J.P. Morgan Payments, Citi, and U.S. Bank are embedding themselves into the digital economy

    • The concept — from ‘banks as destinations’ to ‘banks as infrastructure’ — has transitioned from theory to execution.
    • Banks are increasingly where you don’t see them, embedded into platforms you already use, providing payments, and even lending in the background of marketplaces, apps, and enterprise systems.
    Sara Khairi | July 24, 2025
    10-Q, Member Exclusive

    How 5 US regional banks are getting bigger without going generic

    • A closer look at 5 publicly listed regional banks thriving by focusing on depth over breadth.
    • Instead of chasing scale for scale’s sake, these banks double down on the communities that shaped them — investing locally, building loyalty, and demonstrating that specialization and growth can go hand in hand.
    Sara Khairi | July 21, 2025
    Embedded Finance, Member Exclusive

    U.S. Bank deepens focus on CX through its recent embedded payments suite expansion

    • U.S. Bank has recently expanded its embedded payments suite in response to growing demand for more integrated solutions.
    • By making this move, the bank is emphasizing the importance of embedded payments in creating a smoother user experience, a key driver behind its latest expansion.
    Sara Khairi | July 17, 2025
    Member Exclusive, The Quarterly Review

    The Quarterly Review: How Zelle’s GM Denise Leonhard scaled beyond $1 trillion through customer growth and 2,300+ financial institution partnerships

    • Denise Leonhard, GM of Zelle, is back to report that her aim to help Zelle go beyond the $1 trillion mark in transaction volume has been achieved.
    • Leonhard breaks down how systematically improving security and reliability as well as focusing on high-value use cases has allowed the firm to become more of a mainstay in consumers and SMBs financial lives.
    Rabab Ahsan | July 15, 2025
    More Articles