Despite the decline in total ad spending in the US this year, the financial services industry will increase its digital ad outlays. Why? The pandemic has caused many consumers to reassess their personal finances and change how they bank, leading the financial services industry to continue spending on digital ads during the pandemic.

The financial services sector will continue to increase its investments in digital advertising this year despite the pandemic. Shifting consumer behavior toward digital banking services and heightened interest in personal finance has given financial services companies good reasons to continue advertising.

Sarah Zhang, co-founder of Points (PTS), offers her take on China's social credit system.