Advances in AI are reshaping the UK financial services industry, yet consumers remain cautious. Adoption of AI in personal financial management remains in a growth stage, with around a third…
UK
Financial Services
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
simple
UK AI and Financial Services: 2026
"AI is transforming UK financial services, but trust is an issue. To fully harness its potential, focus on how the technology can enhance the factors that really matter to users, convenience and service."
Advances in AI are reshaping the UK financial services industry, yet consumers remain cautious. Adoption of AI in personal financial management remains in a growth stage, with around a third of UK adults using AI to support financial decisions.
A lack of trust in AI is the biggest challenge facing the wider adoption of bank-led AI tools and services. Consumers are twice as likely to think AI will increase exposure to scams and deepfakes as they are to believe it will improve financial products and services. Declining access to humans is also of particular concern, with most preferring to speak with a human before making a major financial decision.
The integration of AI into financial services offers huge potential upsides for consumers and brands alike. However, to ensure any roll out is perceived positively by consumers, it is essential that AI use is shown to be secure and transparent, while note replacing human support at the times that matter most to consumers.
Given current sentiment about AI, the key to wider acceptance in financial services is not about developing the most advanced and sophisticated AI tools, but to make AI feel safe, useful and easy to understand.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
How AI advances are being deployed in financial services
Use of AI tools and services in financial product and advice search
Consumers’ experience with AI-powered banking features
Preferences for digital vs human interaction
Consumer concerns about using AI powered personal finance tools
How consumer AI product innovation is evolving in UK banking
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for AI and Financial Services
Opportunities
Ease AI concerns with human-backed AI tools
Improve financial outcomes with proactive AI support
Put customers in control of AI personalisation
MARKET DRIVERS
Consumers and the economic outlook
Consumers lean on third-party AI for financial product and advice selection
Graph 1: AI tools used to help chose a financial product or get financial advice, 2026
Negative media coverage about AI is hindering its adoption in financial services
AI regulatory debate a source of consumer confusion
THE CONSUMER
Use of AI in financial services
Adoption of AI for financial decision making is still in its early stages…
Graph 2: use of AI tools to support personal finance decision making, 2026
…but is already being normalised among younger consumers
AI is most likely to be used to select everyday financial products
Graph 3: financial products chosen with the help of an AI tool, 2026
Experience with AI-powered banking features
AI is overwhelmingly used by the under 35s in FS
Graph 4: use/experience of AI-powered banking features, by age, 2026
Leverage chatbot exposure to speed up the adoption of AI assistants
Graph 5: use/experience of AI-powered support chatbots or virtual assistants, by age, 2026
Design proactive AI money management tools so they will be used by those who need them most
Graph 6: use/experience with select AI-powered banking features by current financial situation, 2026
Comfort with AI in financial services
A significant minority remain uncomfortable with AI in financial services
Build trust with AI security and support features
Graph 7: comfortable with select AI-powered banking features, 2026
Make personalisation more personalised
Graph 8: comfort level with select AI-powered banking features, 2026
Concerns about AI and the importance of human interactions
Overcome concerns about a lack of human interaction
Human guidance preferred for big decisions but most think AI will reduce access to it
Graph 9: agreement with statements about AI and human assistance, 2026
Design AI tools that ensure easy access to humans
Graph 10: top concerns about financial services firms using AI, by rank from 1st to 3rd, 2026
How people feel about AI in financial services
Low trust is the biggest barrier to AI value in financial services
Promote AI tools through younger early adopters
Graph 11: agreement that AI-powered tools improve the quality of products/services offered by financial services providers, by age, 2026
Build trust and engagement through transparency and education
Graph 12: agreement with statements about financial services provider communication around the use of AI and the need to better educate about how to use AI , 2026
INNOVATION AND MARKETING
AI financial assistant Cleo returns to the UK
Starling introduces AI assistant powered by Google Gemini
LBG unveils AI financial assistants for banking and investing
AIR goes beyond banking with travel planning assistance
NatWest launches home buying app directly into ChatGPT
Taking insurance to Chat GPT via integrations
APPENDIX
Report scope definition
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology – UK
UK Report generation groups definitions
Abbreviations
Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
$ 2,995(Excl.Tax)
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or invoice (net 30 payment terms)
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook available on our platform
23% of consumers would use an AI-powered tool for mortgage advice. Although it is not yet a priority source of advice, this level of engagement indicates AI is...
Property investment in the UK is undergoing significant change, as rising costs, regulatory reform and economic uncertainty reshape both participation and perception. While
Mortgage lending continued its resurgence in 2025, with gross mortgage lending rising by 20.2% in 2025 to £290.8 billion. Elevated mortgage rates for both FTBs and those refinancing,...
There is huge demand for financial advice. 72% of UK adults believe they would benefit from it, particularly in relation to investing, pensions and retirement planning. Yet, due...
The UK's transition towards a cashless economy continues, with consumers embracing digital and mobile-first payments in their everyday lives. Debit cards dominate spending, supported by the near-universal contactless...
UK consumer spending grew by an estimated 4.6% in 2025, to £1.9 trillion. Growth remains predominantly driven by inflation, and consumers continue to take a cautious approach to...
When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.
They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.
So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.
Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.
As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.
We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.
Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink
We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.
By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.
For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.
Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.
It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.
Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
Need help before you buy?
Our research specialists can answer your questions and recommend the reports that best match your business needs.