The news: According to a recent survey by money management and safety app Greenlight, financial literacy is a top concern among US families. While this type of education is in high demand, 47% of financial institutions (FIs) don’t offer it at all, per the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Our take: Offering solutions that help young families can help build stronger relationships with parents and their kids (who are likely to bank where their parents do). While it’s difficult to quantify the ROI of offering these solutions, the benefits of improved customer loyalty and young customer acquisition can help set up an FI for long-term success.

On today's episode, we break down everything there is to know about banking and the Gen Z demographic. In our “Headlines” segment, we discuss the article our analyst Tyler Brown published a few weeks ago about Greenlight, a neobank for kids, teens, and families. In “Story by Numbers,” the conversation revolves around why Gen Z is different from other generations and how banks need to cater to their mobile preferences. And in “For Argument’s Sake,” host Rob Rubin takes the position that in 10 years, there will be fewer than 500 consumer banks. Tune in to the conversation between Rubin and analysts Tyler Brown and Tiffani Montez.

Acorns acquired the youth-focused bank app to enter the European market and address customers’ full financial life cycles.

Banks know that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the up-and-coming banking customers, and they’re offering numerous options to help teens and kids learn the ropes. We’re devoting this entire edition to an overview of the competitive landscape for FIs seeking to get these consumers while they’re young.

By 2026, nearly 30% of US consumers’ average retail spending (excluding food and beverage sales and ticketing) will be made using proximity mobile payments, as providers look to build on the pandemic-driven adoption of the technology.

A financial planning platform for students will offer valuable tools to 17- to 24-year-olds and may win their long-term loyalty and retention.

Incumbents and fintechs alike are launching teen investing accounts, and no amount of heightened regulatory pressure will stop them—here’s why.