The Future of Banking: How AI and Digital Tech Are Changing Finance
Sonia Vitiello, the 12th of September 2025
Well, well, well… Every day we use dozens of digital tools without even noticing it. Our banking apps are no exception.
The days of standing in line just to pay a bill or fix a small issue are longer gone. Banking has changed, and AI is leading the way.
So, what exactly is transforming in the financial industry?
Chatbots: Cutting the Queue
No one likes waiting in line, or on hold. That’s why AI chatbots are becoming essential part of customer service in banking.
From HSBC to Lloyds to Barclays, most banks now offer 24/7 chatbot support, giving customers instant answers to everyday questions.
But here’s the catch: for anything more complex, you still need to wait until human agents are available during office hours.
Now imagine this: what if chatbots could go beyond simple FAQs, accessing your profile to give you personalised, real-time solutions? That would be super helpful, and believe it or not, this change is not so far away.
AI Advisors: Your Personal Finance Coach
Today’s AI assistants can track your spending, warn you when you’re going over budget, and even roast you for that extra takeaway order. They adjust to your lifestyle and help you set goals that you can actually stick to.
Take Cleo, the world’s first AI financial assistant. It’s famous for its cheeky attitude, sometimes sassy, sometimes encouraging, but always keeping you on track. From setting budgets to spotting bad habits, Cleo makes money management a little less boring.
And this is just the start. Soon, AI could help you uncover hidden fees, suggest smarter ways to save, and even give you personalised investment tips.
Blockchain: Security and Speed
If AI makes banking smarter, blockchain makes it safer.
By spreading transactions across a secure network of computers, blockchain ensures transparency and trust, making fraud and tampering much harder.
But it’s not just about safety. Blockchain also promises faster, cheaper cross-border payments and even instant loan approvals with less paperwork. It brings both security and speed to modern finance.
Digital Money and Mobile Banking
Banking is no longer tied to a branch. With mobile apps and digital money, everything fits in your pocket.
China led the way by launching a digital yuan, and other countries are following with their own experiments. In the UK, Monzo offers three types of virtual cards: Standard, Single-Use, and Free Trial, each designed for specific needs.
Pair that with mobile banking apps, and you’ve got full control: savings pots, budgeting tools, instant transfers, and safer online transactions, all without stepping into a branch (or standing in another queue).
Biometrics: Your Face Is Your Password
When it comes to security, biometrics are becoming the new normal.
No more forgotten passwords. Today, your face or voice can unlock your account in seconds. It’s faster, safer, and it keeps control in your hands, literally.
By simply looking at your phone, you can now access your wallet. Biometrics make banking not only more secure, but seamless.
The future of banking is all about smarter, safer, and more personal experiences.
From chatbots and AI advisors to blockchain, digital money, and biometrics, technology is reshaping how we interact with our money.
One thing is clear: the days of long queues at the bank are fading. The future of finance is in your pocket, always on and always evolving.