Tag Archives: Charles Schwab

5 Key Financial Education Trends in 3Q21

Numerous surveys continue to highlight financial literacy gaps among U.S. adults and children, illustrating the ongoing need for financial education programs (according to a Step survey, 97% of teens believe that financial literacy is important). Many financial firms and their partners have been at the forefront in developing and distributing innovative financial education programs. The following are noteworthy financial education trends in the 3rd quarter of 2021.

  1. Build engagement with younger segments through financial education programs and content. Firms are looking at a wide range of channels to reach younger demographics:
    • HSBC created a new world in Minecraft – Fintropolis – designed to improve financial literacy.
    • Bank of America launched a 7-part series on YouTube that aims to share financial know-how with both parents and students.
  2. Develop financial education partnerships with associations and advocacy groups.
    • OneMain Financial partnered with EverFi to launch the Money LaunchPad financial literacy program for students in grades 9 to 12.
    • BancorpSouth committed $1.5 million to Operation HOPE for financial literacy programs and announced six additional HOPE Inside locations.
  3. Target specific consumer segments with financial education programs and thought leadership tailored to their unique needs, including:
    • LGBTQ: Capital One published an article, “The Debt Free Guys: Financial Obstacles Facing LGBTQ+ People”, and Ally published an article on “Financial Considerations for LGBTQ+ Couples.”
    • Couples: Ally Bank launched a marketing campaign targeting couples’ fears over the “Money Talk”, and Morgan Stanley listed “6 Money Questions to Ask Your Partner Before You Commit.”
    • Widows and Widowers: MassMutual published “A financial checklist for widows and widowers.”
  4. Brand financial education programs to bring together various financial education initiatives as well as raise consumer awareness and engagement. Recent examples:
    • Charles Schwab launched MoneyWise America™ program for teens.
    • Regions introduced the Next Step podcast, the latest resources from the bank’s Next Step financial education program.
    • Capital One launched the Money & Life program, which builds on its former Money Coaching program.
  5. Position financial education as part of broader ESG and CSR initiatives. Financial education efforts are now more prominently featured in financial firms’ annual ESG and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports.

Multiple Motivations Drive Credit Card Issuers to Introduce New Plastic in 2016

The first four months of 2016 have seen a steady stream of new credit cards entering the market.  Issuers have a range of different objectives for introducing these new cards, including:

Filling gaps in the issuer’s product portfolio

  • PNC lacked a travel rewards card, so launched the Premier Traveler Visa Signature Card in April 2016.  The card features an earn rate of 2 miles per dollar, offers a choice of mileage redemption options, and carries an $85 annual fee (waived the first year).  The card also promotes a 30,000 bonus miles offer, and an introductory offer on balance transfers (most other travel cards have purchase-only introductory offers)
  • TD Bank launched the TD Cash Visa Signature Credit Card, which features an unlimited 2% cashback on dining, 1% on other purchases, a $100 cashback bonus, and no foreign transaction fees.

TD_Cash_Visa

  • Discover introduced the Discover it Secured Card, which both expands the it suite and enables Discover to target higher-risk borrowers. Applicants for this secured card must deposit at least $200 to open an account.  Unlike many other secured cards, the Discover it Secured Card offers 1-2% cashback on spending.  It does not carry an annual fees, but does have an APR of 23.24%.

Launching enhanced versions of existing products

  • Chase’s new Freedom Unlimited Card has many of the same features as Chase Freedom (APR, introductory offer, bonus offer, fees).  However, the new card offers unlimited 1.5% cashback on all purchases (Chase Freedom had featured 5% on up to $1,500 spent in categories that changed quarterly).

chase_freedom_unlimited

  • American Express launched SimplyCash Business Plus, an enhanced version of its main small business cashback credit card, SimplyCash Business.  SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card features charge card-like functionality, which allows cardholders to exceed their credit limit for specific large purchases.  However, these purchases must be fully paid for at the end of the billing cycle.
  • Wells Fargo introduced the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card, the third in a series of Propel cards.  The card offers 3 points per dollar on gas, as well as 2 points per dollar at restaurants.  Cardholders who hold qualifying Wells Fargo checking or savings account receive a 10% points bonus.

Introducing new co-branded or private-label cards following new partnerships

  • Citi announced the launch of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, following Costco’s well-publicized decision to split from American Express.  The new card features 4% on gas spending (on up to $7,000 in gas spend), 3% on travel and at restaurants, 2% on Costco purchases, and 1% on other purchases.
  • Barclaycard launched a suite of three JetBlue MasterCard credit cards (two consumer and one business), following JetBlue’s decision to switch from American Express.  All three cards feature no foreign transaction fees, in-flight savings, and a higher earn rate on JetBlue spending.

barclaycard_jetblue

As issuers look to grow their card volumes and outstandings, they will need to regularly revisit their card portfolios to determine if they are meeting customers ever-changing payment needs and preferences.  Issuers should be prepared to act quickly to change elements of their card portfolio, e.g., adding new cards, enhancing existing cards, and even eliminating some cards.  And these product portfolio decisions should be supported by other card-related decisions, on pricing (interest rates and fees), incentives (bonus offers and introductory rates), ongoing rewards (earn rates and redemption options), and value-added features.