Financial services are economic activities offered by the finance industry. These include a broad range of businesses including credit unions, banks, and credit-card companies. These services are critical to the well-being of society and should be provided to individuals and businesses in every sector. The following sections will provide an overview of the various services provided by financial institutions. Getting a better understanding of what these services entail is essential for improving your brand image. However, it is not just the products that make up financial services.
Finance
In simple terms, financial services refer to the economic activities provided by the finance industry. These businesses include credit unions, banks, and credit-card companies. These companies provide the goods and services required to keep an individual’s financial life on track. In the United States alone, there are nearly two million financial service firms, so these numbers are growing by the day. To better understand financial services, let’s look at each of these types of businesses in more detail.
Savings
The growth of financial service providers depends on the ability to reach the lowest income groups. Savings Groups are an informal savings mechanism, with assets ranging from $430 million to $1.2 billion. They represent a pathway to formal financial services in developing markets. Members self-select to be part of a group and meet regularly to save. Members may have one or more goals, such as accumulating a large amount of money for a home or a car.
Payment systems
The evolution of consumer payments has changed dramatically over the past decade. New aspirants are leapfrogging traditional card infrastructure in developing countries, while tech companies are taking advantage of consumer reach by establishing intermediaries between card networks and consumers. Companies like Visa, MasterCard, and Earthport have forged partnerships with new aspirants to establish their own networks and services, and countries are rapidly establishing new domestic standards for use. For example, in the US, MasterCard acquired Vocalink and Earthport.
Brand image
It has become imperative for financial brands to understand consumer perceptions, as these perceptions often determine whether a brand will remain in the market for years to come. While many firms have embraced the digital age, not all are making the shift. Many of them still struggle to connect with their digital customers, and the growing distrust of fintech services has led to less investment in financial services marketing. To create a strong brand image, financial brands must understand what their target audience values and what they can do to win that trust.
Segmentation
In recent years, the financial services industry has increasingly focused on segmentation. Most studies, however, use a combination of demographic and psychographic factors. Moreover, the use of psychographic factors has become increasingly common, as more research focuses on the financial behaviour of individuals. However, it is not clear how effective segmentation can be in financial services. To help companies make decisions about how to best meet the needs of different groups, segmentation should be done as accurately as possible.
Insurance
The insurance industry is one of the most important sectors in the financial services industry, providing services to protect individuals and businesses from risk and loss. Insurance services cover liabilities, personal injury, and property damage. Various roles are involved in insurance, including agents, brokers, underwriters, and reinsurers. Agents represent insurance carriers, brokers represent insureds, and underwriters assess the risk associated with insuring clients. Underwriters also serve as advisors to investment banks regarding loan risk.