Munich, 13 November 2025. For many people, their smartphone has long been their nearest bank branch: checking their account, making transfers, getting information – all from their pocket. At the same time, Germans remain loyal to their bank. According to a representative YouGov survey* commissioned by Gini, a provider of AI-based solutions for banks, insurance companies and e-commerce, two-thirds (66.9 per cent) consider it unlikely that they will change accounts in the next twelve months.
Hybrid banking: Digital dominates, but bank branches remain relevant
Smartphones have become the most important means of accessing bank accounts. More than half of Germans (54.1 per cent) prefer the simple and fast handling of a mobile app, while 43.4 per cent mainly use a laptop or PC. Bank branches are considered the primary point of contact for one in eight people (12.5 per cent). In contrast, only three per cent use telephone banking as their main channel.
Overview of the most frequently used banking channels (general use, primary and secondary channels):
- Online-Banking: Three out of four customers (75.4 per cent) manage their finances at least occasionally on a PC or laptop..
- Mobile Banking: 71.9 per cent use their smartphones for banking transactions, a significant increase from 60.2 per cent in March 2023.
- Bank branches: Despite the digital boom, bank branches remain an integral part of everyday life: over half of those surveyed (54.9 per cent) continue to seek personal advice or services on site.
- Telephone banking plays only a minor role and is used by 18.1 per cent of respondents.
Older generations are also increasingly using mobile banking
Mobile banking is no longer just a topic for digital natives. While 89.2 per cent of Gen Z, 88.4 per cent of millennials and 72.5 per cent of Gen X use the app for banking transactions, older generations are also increasingly turning to smartphones: 54.6 percent of baby boomers use mobile banking at least as a secondary channel.
High levels of trust and satisfaction
When it comes to security, desktop browsers remain the clear favourite: 61.3 per cent consider traditional online banking on a laptop or PC to be secure or very secure. Mobile banking follows closely behind with 54.7 per cent, although customers aged 55 and over are particularly sceptical: 42.2 per cent trust mobile banking, while 29 per cent consider it to be insecure or very insecure.
Overall satisfaction with banking apps remains high: in 2025, it stands at 90.7 per cent, down from 93.3 per cent in the previous year. The rating has shifted slightly from ‘very satisfied’ to ‘satisfied’ – a trend that can be attributed to increased expectations in terms of user experience and design. Mobile banking is thus establishing itself as an everyday standard, even as demands on usability and security continue to rise.
“Digital solutions are successful when they make people’s everyday lives easier and make banking processes intuitively accessible. Mobile and online banking offer the opportunity to improve the user experience and strengthen trust – provided that the services are designed to be simple and accessible so that all age groups can benefit from them,” says Alexander Jäger, CEO of Gini GmbH.
