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BANKING ON BANKS 2025: EUROPE’S FINANCIAL SERVICES ON THE ROAD TO 2030

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Executive summary of Banking on Banks 2025: Europe's financial services on the road to 2030

ON THE ROAD TO 2030

Europe’s financial services providers are experiencing a period of profound change, fueled by recent political and economic turbulence and the acceleration of technological transformation in the sector and beyond.

Recent years have tested the resilience of economies, institutions, and individuals alike. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and military conflicts, including in Ukraine, are reshaping economies and impacting the financial landscape. More recently, tariffs introduced by the U.S. administration have added to market volatility – effects that, though beginning to ease, continue to ripple across Europe’s financial services sector.

Alongside this, political instability in major European economies has created uncertainty for financial markets and those who operate in them, while the acceleration of technological transformation in the sector and beyond, including in key areas like AI, is piling further pressure on institutions trying to keep up with the pace of change.

In this new environment, financial institutions and their customers must navigate a complex mix of pressures. Rising costs, conflicts and economic uncertainty continue to affect household budgets and business strategies.

At the same time, customer behaviors are shifting – driven by a growing demand for digital solutions, greater financial security, and more personalized services. These expectations are being shaped by technological innovation that shows no signs of slowing down.

CRIF’s second report in its 2025 Banking on Banks series examines the trends impacting European financial services through to 2030. Drawing on insights from 6,000 consumers in Italy, Germany, France, Poland, and the UK, as well as insights from senior financial professionals in the UK and serving European markets, the report offers both business and consumer perspectives on how financial behaviors have evolved and where priorities converge or diverge.

Building on CRIF’s earlier findings this year that examined the past decade, this latest edition considers the opportunities and challenges of the years to come. It looks at how consumers’ financial lives are likely to further evolve and assess what this means for financial services providers – from adapting to these shifting demands to challenges they must navigate and the opportunities open to them.

One of the most transformative forces shaping the future is the rise of GenAI. This technology holds enormous potential to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences and unlock new service models. However, it also presents risks and challenges that must be carefully managed if the apprehensions of some customers are to be overcome.

By examining the overlap between consumer needs, technological change, wider economic and political pressures, this report aims to help financial institutions to better understand what the future holds and make informed, forward-looking decisions that help them meet the needs of customers, for now and years to come.

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PRIVACY POLICY PURSUANT TO ART. 13 OF EU REGULATION 679/2016 (“GDPR”)

In accordance with the legislation in force on the protection of personal data, CRIF S.p.A., located at Via Fantin 1-3, 40131 Bologna, Italy, VAT No. 02083271201 (“CRIF”), as the Controller for the processing of your personal data, must provide you with certain information concerning the use of such data. 1 – Purpose of the processing of personal data and lawful basis of the processing 1.1 – Purpose and lawful basis of the processing Your personal data is processed by CRIF for the following purposes: a) for the purpose of fulfilling contact requests. Lawfulness of processing: art. 6(1)(b) of the GDPR. b) for marketing and/or information purposes, as well as market analysis and initiatives related to CRIF activities, including via automated calling systems (e.g., SMS, MMS, e-mail, fax). Lawfulness of processing: art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. c) purpose of sharing/transferring your data with/to CRIF Group companies (refer to link https://www.crif.it/chi-siamo/la-nostra-presenza-globale/ to fulfill contact requests. Lawfulness of processing: art. 6(1)(b) of the GDPR. The provision of personal data for the purposes referred to in point (b) is optional, and the related processing requires the consent of the data subject; any refusal to provide consent will not give rise to any consequences. The provision of data for the purposes referred to in points (a) and (c) is necessary and does not require consent. The user is free to not provide this information, but in this case we will not be able to fulfill your requests. After the initial telephone/e-mail contact, if the user decides not to subscribe to any service or to purchase any product or states that he/she does not want to be contacted again, the Controller will cancel the user’s details. Likewise, users can decide not to receive any marketing communications at any time by using the opt-out link at the bottom of each message and in any case exercising the relative right to withdraw consent. Any other processing for different purposes is excluded. 2 - Retention times 2.1 We hereby inform you that your personal data will be processed and retained for up to 5 years or in any case until you withdraw your consent. In this regard, you can withdraw consent for the processing of personal data for the purposes described in point 1.1 (b) at any time by e-mailing: dirprivacy@crif.com. 3 – Methods of data processing 3.1 Data processing is carried out using manual, computerized and ICT tools according to methods strictly related to the purposes themselves and, in any case, in a way that guarantees the confidentiality and security of the data. 4 – Categories of subjects to which personal data can be communicated or who may become aware of such data 4.1 – To achieve the purposes described in point 1.1 “Purpose and lawful basis of the processing” of this Privacy Policy, CRIF may communicate your personal data to third parties belonging to the following categories: a) personnel authorized to perform the processing, or third-party subjects appointed as processors; b) CRIF Group companies, including outside the European Union, which will act as independent controllers and will provide their own privacy notice in accordance with art. 14 of the GDPR. 5 – Transfer of data outside the European Union 5.1 To achieve the purposes described in point 1.1 letter c) “Purpose and lawful basis of the processing” of this Privacy Policy, CRIF may also communicate your personal data to CRIF Group companies based outside the European Economic Area. 5.2 The above transfer may be put in place, without specific authorizations, if the third country to which the data is transferred falls under those which guarantee an adequate level of protection according to the European Commission. In the absence of such an adequacy decision adopted by the European Commission, this transfer to recipients located in third countries can be carried out by adopting and documenting the sufficient guarantees referred to in art. 46 of the GDPR. In the absence of an adequacy decision or additional guarantees, the transfer of personal data to recipients located in third countries can be carried out if the terms are met and the additional conditions set out by Chapter V of the GDPR exist, including the possibility to make use of the derogations for specific situations in art. 49 of the GDPR. 5.3 A list of countries where CRIF Group companies operate is available at: https://www.crif.it/chi-siamo/la-nostra-presenza-globale/ 6 - Data Subject rights 6.1 According to Chapter III of the GDPR, as the Data Subject, you have the right to (i) obtain confirmation of whether personal data relating to you is being processed, obtaining the information listed in article 15 of the Regulation; (ii) obtain rectification of inaccurate personal data regarding you or to have incomplete personal data completed; (iii) obtain deletion of personal data regarding you, pursuant to and with the limitations set out in article 17 of the Regulation; (iv) obtain the restriction of processing of your personal data, in the cases specified in article 18 of the Regulation; (v) receive the personal data concerning you in a structured and machine-readable format, in the cases specified in article 20 of the Regulation; (vi) oppose the processing of personal data pursuant to and with the limitations set out in article 21 of the Regulation, even only for automated contact; and (vii) withdraw consent at any time, without prejudice to the lawfulness of the processing based on the consent given prior to the withdrawal. 7 - Controller 7.1 The Controller responsible for the processing of personal data is CRIF S.p.A., Via Mario Fantin 1‐3, 40131 Bologna, Italy, VAT No. 02083271201. A complete list of Processors is available from the Controller’s head office. The following methods can be used to exercise the rights set out in Chapter III of the GDPR: - e-mail sent to the address: dirprivacy@crif.com; - certified e-mail sent to the address: crif@pec.crif.com 7.2 You can also submit a complaint to the Italian Data Protection Authority, following the instructions via the link: http://www.garanteprivacy.it/web/guest/home/docweb/-/docweb-display/docweb/4535524. 8 – Data Protection Officer 8.1 For any questions regarding the processing of your personal data, you can contact the Data Protection Officer at: e-mail: dirprivacy@crif.com: Certified e-mail: crif@pec.crif.com.