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May 2026 Banking and Payments Intelligence Report shows rising financial stress, with consumers cutting essentials, fearing job loss, and facing increasing fraud risks.

RBC Ranks Highest in Banking Advice and Financial Health Support; CIBC Ranks Highest in Credit Card Financial Health Support

As holiday bills continue to be paid off and tax refunds get set to hit consumers’ bank accounts, the number of consumers in the U.S. classified as financially unhealthy[1] is 68%, as measured by JD Power. That marks an improvement from 72% last month, but it hardly spells widespread relief.

A marketer’s guide to leveraging regional customer satisfaction insights to strengthen trust, loyalty, and brand differentiation.Banking Customer Insights driven by JD Power ResearchIn today’s crowded financial services landscape, customer experience has become one of the most powerful—and credible—marketing differentiators. With more than half of retail banking customers open to switching banks within the next year, marketers face a clear mandate: earn trust, prove performance, and communicate value in ways that resonate locally and emotionally.For CMOs and agencies serving retail banks, this environment elevates the importance of unbiased, third‑party customer insights. Data‑driven performance signals not only inform smarter marketing strategies—they also provide the proof points that build confidence, credibility, and brand preference.Unbiased customer insights help banks understand what matters most, allowing banks to craft more effective marketing strategies. Messaging should resonate with regional audiences while reinforcing the bank’s reputation as a trusted institution. By addressing the priorities of different customer segments, banks can fight attrition and strengthen their competitive position. Regional Variations in Customer Satisfaction A one-size-fits-all national approach can fall short in addressing local market differences—especially those around trust and reputation. JD Power research reveals that customers in the New England, Northwest, Upper Midwest and California regions have lower-than-average scores on critical-to-success metrics. These include overall satisfaction; level of trust; likelihood to say they definitely will reuse the bank; and reputation. This regional performance gap is driven in part by a divide among age groups. For example, Gen Z customers in California have a lack of confidence in regional and midsize banks and a preference for national banks. The opposite is true in the New England and Upper Midwest regions, where Gen Z customers display a lack of confidence in national and regional banks and a preference for midsize banks.Banks on both sides of the size equation must proactively highlight their reputation for satisfying customers to win new business and retain existing accounts. Marketing Strategies Based on Data-Driven Regional Insights Effective regional marketing requires a nuanced and informed approach with strategically tailored messages that speak to regional customer preferences. Regional marketing campaigns help banks to meaningfully engage customers, reinforce a reputation for exceptional customer satisfaction, and build lasting relationships that inspire retention. Marketers can make the most of regional consumer data with messaging that meaningfully addresses the concerns of regional banking customers. Emphasizing Reputation and SecurityA bank’s reputation remains a top reason why customers select a bank, while “security/fraud” is the main reason why customers replace a previous checking account with a new one. Marketers should highlight credible proof of performance, customer satisfaction, and the bank’s demonstrated strength in security and fraud prevention to reinforce and promote their bank’s positive reputation in regional markets. By pairing marketing efforts with both reputation management and clear communication of security and fraud‑prevention capabilities – grounded in real‑world customer experience data – banks can more effectively communicate their trustworthiness, their commitment to protecting customers, their ability to deliver a satisfying experience, and their overall brand valueDeveloping Regionally Tailored Campaigns Banking customers in different regions have distinct priorities and expectations when choosing and working with a financial institution. To connect with customers effectively, banks must create tailored campaigns that address regional concerns, demonstrate their commitment to local markets and highlight how they meet customer needs. Final Thoughts The banking landscape is changing rapidly. Staying competitive relies on leveraging every advantage. Credible third-party customer insights are more important to marketing efforts across the banking industry than ever before, especially for banks serving clients in a variety of regions and those competing with national players.Customer insights from reliable sources are useful to banks looking to stand out in a competitive market and understand how they perform when compared with national and regional competitors. Data-driven rankings and recognitions also help consumers avoid exhaustive searches and piecemeal comparisons, saving time, and frustration, and giving a more accurate picture of available choices. The results of the JD Power 2026 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study are coming soon. Stay tuned for the results. In the meantime, explore insights from the JD Power 2025 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. Read the 2025 press release >[1] JD Power defines generational groups as Pre-Boomers (born before 1946); Boomers (1946-1964); Gen X (1965-1976); Gen Y (1977-1994); and Gen Z (1995-2006). Millennials (1982-1994) are a subset of Gen Y.