How savings habits are changing in the era of digitization and social distancing. 

2:00 min

As we announced a few weeks ago, we asked our followers to answer four point-blank questions about their savings habits. Even though World Savings Day is now a distant memory, the results of our survey provide a snapshot with useful information in any timeframe.
 

When it comes to saving their money, people’s behaviors, attitudes and motivations have been changed by the wave of digitalization that now touches all areas of our lives, across all cultural or geographical differences. People who chose to set aside a portion of their earnings to ensure a more solid future, in the majority of cases, prefer to find information about their investment choices by surfing the net. The same is true for money management and payments, all of which now take place through apps and mobile sites.

Why is it important to you to save?

 

How do you prefer to manage your savings?

 

How do you inform yourself before making your savings?

 

How do you think the bank can help you save?

 

Financial education is key

These digital tools, to be successful, must be supplemented by the human touch, according to our survey. When asked "How do you think the bank should help you?" the majority of users replied "Through financial education programs." This answer points to the very real need for qualified experts who are able to transmit lasting and useful basic knowledge.

UniCredit has been active on the financial education front for several years now, organizing and offering courses for users with all sorts of different profiles. This demonstrates that private clients, entrepreneurs and companies that receive adequate training will be able to make informed choices, even before receiving tailored advice.

In Italy, the Banking Academy has offered a program of financial education events and social activities for years, helping the public to become familiar with this topic. On November 24, for example, the Save4Women path dedicated to women and savings held its closing event, "Money management and female empowerment” looking at how  money management, women's independence and gender equality are closely linked. For the six interviews in the series conducted by Chiara Tagliaferri with experts in the field, click here. 

 

In addition, several programs have grown out of our social impact banking area .   

GERMANY

HVB continues to expand its long-standing commitment to financial education with new digital formats; these include the "geldwissen2go.de" app and the "Start Up Your Life" e-learning program first developed by UniCredit in Italy, which is currently being tested at JOBLINGE, HypoVereinsbank's partner in financial education.

ROMANIA

Creative Minds, UniCredit Bank Romania's  financial and entrepreneurial education program, started three years ago and has already had 11 editions in Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara and Iasi, and recently expanded nationwide after the courses were offered on a digital platform. The Academy  is a school staffed by professionals with a long track record in business, entrepreneurs with creative thinking, who give advice based on their experience.

CROATIA

In Zagrebacka Banka, financial education is divided into two categories. The first is focused on young people, covering basic financial concepts and personal finance. The second is aimed at first-time entrepreneurs. 

AUSTRIA

Under the title "MoneyMatters," Bank Austria offers a combination of workshops and an online platform that allows students to build financial knowledge.

The Group's commitment to financial education was not interrupted during the pandemic, and will   continue in 2022 in the spirit of digitalization and public dialogue.

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