Money 
Most banks offer digital and online banking services that allow customers to check balances, make payments, and transfer money between their accounts using their smartphone or computer.
This article delves into digital banking statistics including how many people in the U.S. use these services, how secure they are, and the most important features people look for in digital banking. It also includes data from a survey on behalf of Self which asked 1,448 U.S. adults how they use digital banking.
Key statistics
- Only 5% say they never use online or mobile banking services,while 95% use online or mobile banking services at least occasionally.
- Mobile apps are the preferred banking method for 52.8% of users, compared to 24.2% who prefer web browsers.
- Security and fraud are the top concern for 33.3% of users, followed by technical access issues at 28.3%.
- Checking balances (44.7%) and transferring money (43.6%) are the most common uses of digital banking.
- 83.9% of people have visited a physical bank branch in the past 12 months.
- More than half (56%) of people do not trust online-only banks, with 22% citing security concerns.
How many people use digital banking in the U.S.?
According to a survey on behalf of Self Financial, only 5% of respondents say they never use online or mobile banking services, while the remaining 95% use them at least occasionally.
Less than half (46.2%) use digital banking weekly
Less than half of respondents (46.2%) say they use digital banking weekly, while 19% say they use it daily. Only 5% of people say they never use any digital banking methods.
Keeping a close eye on your bank accounts can help you keep track of your finances, and make it easier for you to catch fraudulent activity on your account.
| How often people use digital banking | |
|---|---|
| A few times a year | 5.0% |
| Daily | 19.1% |
| Monthly | 24.7% |
| Never | 5.0% |
| Weekly | 46.2% |
Checking balances (44.7%) and making transfers (43.6%) are the most common uses of online banking
Almost half (44.7%) of respondents say they have used digital banking to check their account balances in the past month, while 43.6% have used it to transfer money between their own accounts, and 30.2% have used it to send money to someone else.
| What people have used online banking for in the past month | |
|---|---|
| Checking a balance | 44.7% |
| Transferring money between accounts | 43.6% |
| Transferring money to someone else | 30.2% |
| Making a payment | 25.8% |
| None of the above | 7.0% |
Note: Respondents could select more than one answer.
Smartphones are most commonly (41%) used to access banks
Digital banking gives us the convenience to access our bank accounts wherever we are, and less than half of respondents (41%) use smartphones to check their accounts and manage transactions. A laptop was the next most common device used at 38.7%, while tablets were the least likely (7.8%).
| Devices people use to access online banking | |
|---|---|
| Smartphone | 41.0% |
| Laptop | 38.7% |
| Desktop computer | 30.3% |
| Tablet | 7.8% |
| I don't use online banking | 6.8% |
Note: Respondents could select more than one answer.
Preferred methods of banking
The majority of people (52.8%) say that their preferred method of banking is via a mobile app, while 24.2% prefer to access their accounts online using a computer or web browser on another device.
| Preferred methods of banking | |
|---|---|
| In-branch | 16.5% |
| Mobile app | 52.8% |
| Online (via computer or web browser) | 24.2% |
| Postal | 1.0% |
| Telephone | 5.5% |
Why people use online banking
The most common reason people use online banking is that their bank is only accessible online, with over one-third (36.9%) saying this is the main reason they use it. 34.5% said they use mobile banking out of convenience, and 19.4% say they use it because there are no bank branches close to them.
| Why people use online banking | |
|---|---|
| Convenience | 34.5% |
| I don't use online banking | 9.3% |
| My bank is only accessible online | 36.9% |
| There is not a bank close to me | 19.4% |
Having a mobile app is the most important thing people want from their bank (47.9%)
When asked about the most important things they look for in a bank’s online services, most people (47.9%) said that having a mobile app available was a top priority. This was followed by wanting 24/7 access (37.7%) and being able to make money transfers online or via an app (24.6%).
| Most important things people want from online banking services | |
|---|---|
| Mobile app | 47.9% |
| 24/7 access | 37.7% |
| Bill paying | 30.2% |
| Money transfers | 24.6% |
| Managing multiple accounts | 7.0% |
Note: Respondents could select more than one answer.
Using payment apps to send money
In addition to using online banking for money transfers, the majority of survey respondents (94.7%) use payment apps such as PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle to pay friends or family.
This supports research that shows peer-to-peer (P2P) payment usage is continuing to grow, with projections showing that the average user could send $9,408.35 per year by 2028, as these platforms become a regular part of everyday financial activity. This growth is being driven by younger users, with Gen Z adoption expected to reach 83% of smartphone users by 2028, as these apps become more embedded in how people manage and move money. [1] eMarketer, “P2P Transaction Value Growth Outpaces User Growth” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.emarketer.com/content/p2p-transaction-value-growth-outpaces-user-growth
Over a third (37.5%) of respondents use payment apps weekly, followed by 25.6% who use them daily and 24.8% who use them monthly. This shows that over 63% use payment apps at least weekly, highlighting how embedded peer-to-peer payments are frequently used.
| Frequency of payment app usage for sending money to friends or family | |
|---|---|
| Weekly | 37.5% |
| Daily | 25.6% |
| Monthly | 24.8% |
| A few times a year | 6.8% |
| Never | 5.3% |
Physical bank branches
83.9% of survey respondents say they have visited a physical bank branch in the past 12 months, but how regularly do people use physical branches?
6.6% of people never visit a physical bank branch
The highest proportion of people (31.4%) said they visit a bank branch weekly, while 23.5% said they visit them monthly. 6.6% say they never visit a bank branch in person, whereas 16.9% say they visit their bank daily.
| How often people visit physical bank branches | |
|---|---|
| Daily | 16.9% |
| Weekly | 31.4% |
| Monthly | 23.5% |
| A few times a year | 21.7% |
| Never | 6.6% |
A previous study on behalf of Self about bank closures found that people mostly used physical banks for making cash deposits (63.2%) and speaking to advisors in person (56.5%). This survey also found that 39% of people trusted physical banks the most, more than online (36.1%) and app-based banking (24.9%).
The analysis of FDIC data shows that an average of 1,646 bank branches have closed each year since 2018.
Data from S&P shows that between April 2023 and March 2024, there were 1,277 net bank branch closures in the U.S. with Wells Fargo closing the most branches (290) in the 12 months to March 2024. [2] S&P Global, “U.S. Banks’ Net Closings Climb in Q1 as Branch Network Adjustments Continue” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/us-banks-net-branch-closings-climb-in-q1-as-branch-network-adjustments-continue-82027239
Over one-third (34.2%) of people think physical banks are essential
Over a third of those asked (34.2%) said that physical bank branches were essential, while 61.4% said they were somewhat important. Only 4.4% of those surveyed think that physical bank branches are not important at all.
Further to this, almost three-quarters (72.7%) say they would be put off signing up with a bank if they didn’t have any physical branches.
Over a quarter of respondents (27.6%) said they’d find it very difficult or at least struggle with some banking tasks if physical bank branches were no longer available. Over half (51.5%) said it’d be inconvenient but manageable, while 20.9% said it wouldn’t affect them.
Long-term trends show that bank branches have been declining for over a decade. Previous research shows the decline in physical banks is likely to continue with a gradual reduction in branch networks according to projections. This shift has contributed to the rise of “banking deserts,” defined as areas with no branch within 10 miles (rural), 5 miles (suburban), or 2 miles (urban). Over 12.3 million Americans live in a banking desert, while 11.1 million are located in a potential banking desert, according to Fed Communities, a collaborative initiative among the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. [3] WTOP News, “Banking Deserts Are Becoming More Common. Here’s How to Survive” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://wtop.com/news/2026/03/banking-deserts-are-becoming-more-common-heres-how-to-survive/
Concerns about digital banking
Although many people now use digital banking in some form, there are still a number of concerns people have when it comes to banking online. Let’s take a look at some of the top concerns survey respondents mentioned.
Security and fraud is the top concern about digital banking (33.3%)
A third (33.3%) of people said that they had concerns over security and fraud when using online banking services. A further 28.3% said they were worried about losing access to their accounts due to technical problems. Alongside this, 73.2% said they had experienced technical issues at least once when trying to access their bank online via a web browser or a mobile app. Only 10.6% of people said they had no concerns at all about digital banking.
| Concerns people have about digital banking | |
|---|---|
| I don't have any concerns | 10.6% |
| I don't trust online services | 7.5% |
| Lack of customer support | 20.3% |
| Losing access due to technical problems | 28.3% |
| Security and fraud | 33.3% |
Digital banking security and fraud
With 33.3% of survey respondents saying that security and fraud is their biggest concern when it comes to digital banking, just how secure are digital platforms when it comes to managing your money?
70.5% have experienced fraud attempts with online banking
Over two-thirds of the people surveyed (70.5%) say they have experienced fraud or fraud attempts when using online banking. This can include things like phishing scams, payment fraud, identity theft, or compromised account details.
Data from the FTC shows that U.S. consumers reported losing more than $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025, up 27.2% from $12.5 billion in 2024. The FTC received 3 million fraud reports in 2025; however, this includes all types of fraud, not just online banking-related fraud. [4] FTC, “FTC Testifies Before the Joint Economic Committee on Agency’s Efforts to Combat Fraud” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/03/ftc-testifies-joint-economic-committee-agencys-efforts-combat-fraud
Nearly half of respondents use fingerprint to access digital banking
The most common method people use to access their bank accounts online or via mobile apps is fingerprint (48.5%). Over four in ten (41.2%) use a password to gain access and 25.3% use facial recognition. Respondents were able to select more than one answer, and many said they used a combination of two or more of these options.
| Security measures people use to access digital banking | |
|---|---|
| Fingerprint | 48.5% |
| Password | 41.2% |
| Facial recognition | 25.3% |
| I don't use online banking | 8.4% |
Note: Respondents could select more than one answer.
Online only banks
Online-only banks are banks that allow customers to manage their accounts online and do not have any physical locations. This means all banking activity must take place through a web browser or mobile app, and customers must contact customer services by phone, email, or live chat.
A separate study found that nearly half (44.6%) digital banking users prefer digital wallets over physical cards, suggesting that consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable managing their finances through digital channels. [5] PYMNTS, “More Than 4 in 10 Digital Bank Users Prefer Wallets Over Cards” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.pymnts.com/news/payment-methods/2026/more-than-4-in-10-digital-bank-users-prefer-wallets-over-cards/
More than half of people (56%) don’t trust online-only banks
A separate survey conducted in 2023 highlighted an issue of trust around online-only banks, with only 10% of those surveyed saying they had a high level of trust, while 34% said they have a medium level of trust, and more than half (56%) said they have a low level of trust.
| Level of trust in online-only banks (2023) | |
|---|---|
| Level of trust | Percentage of people |
| High trust | 10% |
| Medium trust | 34% |
| Low trust | 56% |
Source [6] CivicScience, “Online-Only Banks Are Gaining Ground with Gen Z” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://civicscience.com/online-only-banks-are-gaining-ground-with-gen-z/
Methodology
A survey of 1,448 adults was carried out in March 2026, asking questions about digital banking, how people use it, and their opinions of it.
Sources
- [1] eMarketer, “P2P Transaction Value Growth Outpaces User Growth” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.emarketer.com/content/p2p-transaction-value-growth-outpaces-user-growth
- [2] S&P Global, “U.S. Banks’ Net Closings Climb in Q1 as Branch Network Adjustments Continue” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/us-banks-net-branch-closings-climb-in-q1-as-branch-network-adjustments-continue-82027239
- [3] WTOP News, “Banking Deserts Are Becoming More Common. Here’s How to Survive” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://wtop.com/news/2026/03/banking-deserts-are-becoming-more-common-heres-how-to-survive/
- [4] FTC, “FTC Testifies Before the Joint Economic Committee on Agency’s Efforts to Combat Fraud” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/03/ftc-testifies-joint-economic-committee-agencys-efforts-combat-fraud
- [5] PYMNTS, “More Than 4 in 10 Digital Bank Users Prefer Wallets Over Cards” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://www.pymnts.com/news/payment-methods/2026/more-than-4-in-10-digital-bank-users-prefer-wallets-over-cards/
- [6] CivicScience, “Online-Only Banks Are Gaining Ground with Gen Z” - Accessed May 27th, 2026 https://civicscience.com/online-only-banks-are-gaining-ground-with-gen-z/
