Digitalization
Financier

The financial landscape in Mexico and Latin America has changed radically in recent years. The advancement of financial technologies has allowed more people to manage their finances digitally, but financial inclusion still faces challenges.

In this edition of Deciphering we break down those challenges, focusing our analysis on different types of users and their relationship with personal finance.

Join us as we decipher financial inclusion!

The financial landscape in Mexico and Latin America has changed radically in recent years. The advancement of financial technologies has allowed more people to manage their finances digitally, but financial inclusion still faces challenges.

In this edition of Deciphering we break down those challenges, focusing our analysis on different types of users and their relationship with personal finance.

Join us as we decipher financial inclusion!

The dynamic cycle of financial inclusion

The inclusion and digital adoption of financial products is not a linear or homogeneous process; it comprises stages that allow it to be analyzed as a cycle.

Each stage of the cycle allows us to understand how people interact with financial services and what strategies different platforms and services can follow to improve their experience.

Financial inclusion

Savings capacity

Possibility to save easily and securely.

Risk Protection

Services that help to manage

financial risks.

Reducing inequality

Promotes economic development and reduces barriers,

Access to financial products

How accounts, loans, and formal services.

Future investment

Facilitate investments in education, business, housing, etc.

Moments of life and financial maturity

There are two key factors that influence our relationship with finances: life moments and financial maturity. The interaction of both factors determines how financial decisions are made.

Moments of life

Major life events or transitions

Financial maturity

Level of experience and knowledge to make informed decisions

Moments of life

Major life events or transitions

Financial maturity

Level of experience and knowledge to make informed decisions

Different attitudes towards financial inclusion

When we talk about financial inclusion, demographic aspects are often insufficient to deeply understand people. We have identified five archetypes that represent financial attitudes and behaviors in young Mexican adults. Each of them faces unique challenges and opportunities on their journey toward financial inclusion.

Traditional Conformity

Prefers the familiar, with low appetite for risk. [card_driver]

Comfort

[/card_driver] [card_oportunidades]

Access and loyalty

[/card_opportunities] [card_description]
  • What he has works for him and he has no interest or motivation to explore.
  • He is financially stable, so he doesn't like to limit himself, but he also doesn't like to take risks.
  • He feels comfortable with his lifestyle and his job; his income is good and allows him financial freedom.
  • Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
[/card_description] [card_need]

Make them a participant with digital activity, improving their confidence. Reinforce their perception of security and access to money. Increase their responsibility, stepping out of their comfort zone.

[/card_need] [card_experience]
  • Your experience level is low because you've probably only had one bank and prefer to stick with it.
  • They came to a financial entity by recommendation or through employers and stayed there.
  • Prefers recognized and solid financial institutions.
[/card_experience] [card_knowledge]
  • He has relatively high financial knowledge due to his career path. He has been banked for a long time, and his economic stability has allowed him to grow.
  • They are afraid to experiment with new financial products because they don't trust their legitimacy and feel like they don't understand them.
  • Deep knowledge of specific products within specific entities, but unaware of the sector and alternatives.
[/card_knowledge] [card_behavior]
  • She likes bank branches because having a physical channel gives her confidence.
  • He doesn't explore much due to lack of knowledge of the sector and complacency.
  • There is a significant factor of fear and distrust when making decisions.
[/card_financial_behavior] [card_financial_life]

[card_financial_life] [card_tooltip_management]Track your money in the banking app, life stability allows you to have visibility of expenses[/card_tooltip_management] [card_tooltip_vision]Always prefers to play it safe[/card_tooltip_vision] [card_tooltip_priorities]Has visibility and plans for the future[/card_tooltip_priorities] [card_tooltip_attitude]Better the devil you know than the devil you don't[/card_tooltip_attitude] [card_tooltip_risk]Your risk is low because you already know what works for you and you know your product well[/card_tooltip_risk] [card_metrics management="45" vision="60" priorities="30" attitude="20" risk="30"]

Pragmatic Skepticism

Critical and data-driven, but reluctant to new things.

Utility, stability, and benefit

[/card_driver] [card_oportunidades]

Use

[/card_opportunities] [card_description]
  • Base your decisions on concrete data and be critical.
  • He/She has economic stability because he/she has managed and invested wisely.
  • It is hardly influenced by trends or fashions.
  • They are distrustful of unverified data, products that have little time on the market, or that don't have a solid customer base.
[/card_description] [card_need]

Loyally engage him and ensure he promotes his learning to those close to him. Increase his responsibility, step out of his comfort zone.

[/card_need] [card_experience]
  • He hasn't used many financial products, but he knows the ones he has used perfectly.
  • You need to identify comprehensive benefits to decide whether to use a new product.
  • Master financial concepts.
[/card_experience] [card_knowledge]
  • He knows a lot about finance and stays informed on relevant topics.
  • Learn by being informed and not so much by experience.
  • He has a habit of looking for information, he is curious but from a distance.
[/card_knowledge] [card_behavior]
  • Critically evaluate the financial decisions you make.
  • He doesn't make decisions unless he's sure it's the best alternative.
  • They have low brand loyalty, use what works for them, and stop using it as soon as it stops working for them.
[/card_financial_behavior] [card_financial_life]

[/card_financial_life] [card_tooltip_management]Perfectly knows what comes in and what goes out, is always aware of everything[/card_tooltip_management] [card_tooltip_vision]Makes decisions based on intense product evaluations[/card_tooltip_vision] [card_tooltip_priorities]Is already thinking about future investment plans[/card_tooltip_priorities] [card_tooltip_attitude]Actively informing himself about the sector and products, but hardly adopts them[/card_tooltip_attitude] [card_tooltip_risk]Does not make a decision unless he is sure and knows a lot about finance[/card_tooltip_risk] [card_metrics management="25" vision="80" priorities="35" attitude="70" risk="20"]

Overconfident Idealism

Risk-taker and explorer of new financial experiences.

Adventure, new experiences

[/card_driver] [card_oportunidades]

Financial Education & Loyalty

[/card_opportunities] [card_description]
  • He believes he has reached the tipping point between knowledge and experience.
  • It's risky in your financial decision-making.
  • Your trust in the products makes you early adopters.
  • Browse through the various benefits and products to get the best of all.
  • They tend to be a brand lover; there's a feature of their product that they defend to the death.
[/card_description] [card_need]

Look for new approaches to your financial education; ensure you can evolve with the subject so you don't fall behind. Increase your responsibility, step out of your comfort zone.

[/card_need] [card_experience]
  • They see experience with products as knowledge, and they seek to develop themselves in that way.
  • Once they reached a certain level of financial stability, they sought to learn from experience and make high-risk decisions.
  • They are very interested in expanding into innovative and digital products to remain at the forefront.
[/card_experience] [card_knowledge]
  • They overestimate their financial knowledge and are confident in making high-risk decisions.
  • They have a decent financial education that has given them stability.
  • They manage their daily money well, even though they don't thoroughly know the products they explore.
[/card_knowledge] [card_behavior]
  • They are adventurous, they like to delve into different financial products.
  • They can make very prudent day-to-day financial decisions, but they like to take risks when trying new things.
  • You are interested in using financial products to your advantage.
  • They are prone to recommendations from financial gurus or close circles.
[/card_financial_behavior] [card_financial_life]

financial_life[/card_vida_financiera] [card_tooltip_gestion]Track your money in the banking app, life stability allows for spending visibility[/card_tooltip_gestion] [card_tooltip_vision]Tends to be idealistic, as they have a false perception of their financial capabilities[/card_tooltip_vision] [card_tooltip_prioridades]Can be balanced, tends to have high ambitions for the future, but likes to treat themselves[/card_tooltip_prioridades] [card_tooltip_actitud]They are particularly active as they seek to explore as many available products as possible and take advantage of them[/card_tooltip_actitud] [card_tooltip_riesgo]Their willingness to make high-risk financial decisions (like investments) puts them at greater risk of losing everything[/card_tooltip_riesgo] [card_metricas gestion="40" vision="30" prioridades="20" actitud="10" riesgo="20"]

Adventurous Impulsiveness

Guided by urgency or pleasure in their decisions.

Pleasure, the goal they seek to achieve.

[/card_driver] [card_oportunidades]

Use from the restrictions.

[/card_opportunities] [card_description]
  • They are idealists by choice (or lack of experience), they see it as a way of life.
  • They don't see knowledge as necessary for making financial decisions.
  • Financial products are a means.
  • They believe "money comes and goes.".
  • They are guided by pleasure (benefits, performance, consumption).
[/card_description] [card_need]

Increase your responsibility by connecting with new value propositions.

[/card_need] [card_experience]
  • Are they open or looking to level up their experience to receive benefits.
  • Their openness to exploration and pursuit of hands-on learning provide them with a high level of expertise.
[/card_experience] [card_knowledge]
  • Your level of knowledge is low, and it's partly related to your carelessness about the future.
  • They feel they can learn everything they need through pure experience, although this can have serious consequences.
  • On occasion, they may have an aversion to theoretical financial knowledge (either because they are lazy, or because seeking more knowledge causes them more anxiety than just living in the moment).
[/card_knowledge] [card_behavior]
  • They seek to maximize financial benefits.
  • They are impulsive and open to trying new things.
  • They tend to get stuck in consumption habits or fixed goals.
  • They prefer to learn from people they trust, reducing their worry about the future.
[/card_financial_behavior] [card_financial_life]

[/card_financial_life] [card_tooltip_management]They don't worry much about money, but they can make an effort to get organized[/card_tooltip_management] [card_tooltip_vision]They feel that money comes and goes, they may not be attached to reality, but they prefer not to worry[/card_tooltip_vision] [card_tooltip_priorities]Their priority is to enjoy the present and not worry about the concept of scarcity or failure[/card_tooltip_priorities] [card_tooltip_attitude]They can be impulsive (in purchases, taking out loans, etc.) in their pursuit of these benefits, comfort, or what they perceive as triumph[/card_tooltip_attitude] [card_tooltip_risk]Their risk is high due to their high level of action and impulsivity without being cautious, or fully informing themselves[/card_tooltip_risk] [card_metrics management="60" vision="20" priorities="80" attitude="80" risk="80"]

Fearful Uncertainty

Avoid making financial decisions out of fear and lack of knowledge.

Fear, stress avoidance

[/card_driver] [card_oportunidades]

Financial Education.

[/card_opportunities] [card_description]
  • New to the financial world.
  • They are afraid of the world of finance, which is why they avoid gaining experience and knowledge beyond what is necessary.
  • They avoid talking about finances because they perceive it as imprudent, or it stresses them out.
  • They are looking for low risk and simplicity.
[/card_description] [card_need]

Strengthen your decision-making moment. Increase your independence, step out of your comfort zone.

[/card_need] [card_experience]
  • Your level of experience with financial products and services is almost nonexistent.
  • They tend to only have a debit card and a credit card.
  • Your fears may be based on your lack of experience, or on negative family experiences.
[/card_experience] [card_knowledge]
  • Their level of knowledge is very low, usually because they haven't needed to develop it.
  • Your financial knowledge (and sometimes "trauma") tends to be inherited.
  • They might prefer learning through advice from trusted individuals (the theory of the financial world seems intimidating to them, and learning through experience scares them too much).
[/card_knowledge] [card_behavior]
  • They tend to go with the first option, guided by advice from trusted individuals or information from social media.
  • They don't explore much; they're afraid of their own ignorance and the unknown.
  • They avoid increasing their knowledge because finances stress them out.
[/card_financial_behavior] [card_financial_life]

[/card_financial_life] [card_tooltip_management]Although they have generalized anxiety about finances, they worry about making big mistakes, so they try to focus on their finances[/card_tooltip_management] [card_tooltip_vision]Their fear prevents them from being idealistic about finances, but their lack of experience keeps them away from their financial reality[/card_tooltip_vision] [card_tooltip_priorities]They tend to worry about the future but in a very passive way[/card_tooltip_priorities] [card_tooltip_attitude]Their worry makes them very passive and avoidant[/card_tooltip_attitude] [card_tooltip_risk]Their risk is medium due to their passivity, but they have high risk due to their high dependence and low knowledge[/card_tooltip_risk] [card_metrics management="80" vision="70" priorities="35" attitude="15" risk="60"]

Traditional Conformity

They prefer the familiar, with low appetite for risk.

Pragmatic Skepticism

Critical and data-driven, but reluctant to new things.

Overconfident Idealism

Risky and eager for new financial experiences.

Adventurous Impulsiveness

Guided by urgency or pleasure in their decisions.

Fearful Uncertainty

Avoid making financial decisions out of fear and lack of knowledge.

Archetypes and the Dynamic Cycle of Financial Inclusion

Each archetype experiences the trip financial inclusion cycle.

When adopting or using digital financial products, each person encounters their own tipping point or moment of greatest inhibition in their growth.

Base map Traditional Conformity Pragmatic Skepticism Overconfident Idealism Adventurous Impulsiveness Fearful Uncertainty





Common Journey Journey Ideal
map

Financial digitization can be approached from different angles and under various schemes.

At Gerundio, we believe that to address the financial inclusion cycle from a systemic and strategic design approach, we must commit to increase people's knowledge and experience at each stage, starting with education.

Recommendations for encouraging
financial digitalization

Visualize the win-win of risks and benefits

Communicate transparently and clearly both the benefits and risks when obtaining a product, as it does Diggit

Share success stories and real-life experiences

Offer testimonials, success stories, or everyday scenarios to teach financial concepts, just like Let's share a bank

Visualize long-term goals and plans

Implement financial education programs to encourage planning, as does Santander Super Checks

Provide personalized assistance at all times

Follow up and provide personalized attention through a friendly and easy-to-use channel, as you do Santander LikeU

Personalize your offer based on life moments

Design products for people at different life stages and with particular needs, as [they/she/he] does. Dinner

Address financial inclusion through education

Incorporate a scalable and customizable pedagogical experience into your product, like [competitor name] does. Financial Independence"

Avoid the fine print at all costs

Make product terms and conditions visible in a simple, easy-to-understand, and interpretable way, just like Policy 2.0

Promote gamification and interactivity

Create tools that playfully reward knowledge and experience, like BillúVerse

Fosters a balance between immediacy and the long term

Offers benefits on two parallel axes that can be applied immediately or in the long term, as it does Mercado Pago

Increase confidence in your financial products

Use features to explain how your product works and demonstrate its safety, as it does BBVA

Encourage repeat usage and progress

Offers programs that benefit users for consistently using products, just like Vexi Levels

Simplify the procedures and steps to follow

Create agile processes for opening accounts, applying for credit, accessing financial services, etc. Now

Accompany your users at all times

Offers customer service that resolves problems efficiently, reliably, and immediately, as it does Now

Provide clear, transparent, and accessible information

Offers digestible and practical information that clarifies the step-by-step process of financial inclusion, as it does Ualá

Validate and iterate constantly

Identify potential navigation and user experience issues to improve it, as it does Konfío

Offers simple and friendly interfaces

Design financial products with clear processes to make their use more intuitive and frictionless, just like Or

Create scalable learning experiences

Design products that allow users to grow as they learn to use and manage them, just as they do Stori Card

Reward loyalty and build trust

Offers exclusive benefits, priority attention, or even personalization of the experience, as it does Hey Bank

Deciphering Financial Digitalization

Deciphering is a series of reports in which we share learnings we've gained through customer-centric and user-centric research efforts in specific industries.

We chose to tackle financial inclusion because we identified a growing demand for digital solutions among our clients. This topic not only represents a good opportunity to drive innovation and design strategically focused experiences, but it also sparks our genuine curiosity to understand how people (including our team) and financial businesses interact.

How did we do?

Visualizing the challenge and analyzing the industry trends together, we formulate a plan to structure and manage our clients' future information. We draw upon our experience to present an analysis effectively, reinforced with market best practices, and formulate hypotheses focused on people, businesses, and their future projections.

We conduct interactive surveys and interviews, mapping learnings and cross-referencing demographic data. This process allowed us to internalize the information and synthesize a contextual proposal with a more emotional focus.

This way, we developed five dynamic archetypes that, connected to key moments in the financial cycle, allowed us to offer clear recommendations and jobs to be done. Our goal is for brands, financial providers, and anyone to transform financial inclusion experiences, improving relevance and presence in their customers' lives.