Fintech vs Traditional Banks: Why More Users Are Switching to Fintech

Hazel WatsonHazel Watson
5 min read

Summary

In 2025, the battle of Fintech vs Traditional Banks is more relevant than ever. Consumers are switching to FinTech apps because they offer faster service, enhanced user experience, and modern tools like real-time payments, crypto wallets, and API-based banking. This blog dives into the reasons behind this shift, explores features that make FinTech superior, and highlights how solutions like Fintech App Security Solutions, Digital Wallets Vs. Crypto Wallets, and FinTech APIs To Use In Your Finance Software are changing the game.

Introduction

Traditional banks have long been the default choice for managing money. But that monopoly is breaking. The digital-first generation demands faster services, smarter features, and more control over their finances. That’s where FinTech steps in.

The debate between Fintech vs Traditional Banks is no longer theoretical—users are actively making the switch. Whether it's peer-to-peer transfers, credit scoring, or international remittance, FinTech platforms are providing quicker, more flexible, and more user-friendly experiences.

Key Stats for 2024–2025

  • Over 64% of global users now use at least one FinTech service regularly. (Statista, 2024)

  • 47% of banking customers worldwide have reduced their reliance on traditional banks in favor of FinTech. (Capgemini, 2025)

  • In India, UPI-based FinTech apps crossed 12 billion transactions monthly in Q1 2025. (NPCI, 2025)

  • 72% of Gen Z users trust FinTechs more than legacy banks for everyday financial services. (Accenture, 2024)

Why Are Users Switching? Fintech vs Traditional Banks

1. Instant Access and 24/7 Services

In traditional banks, users still face long queues, paperwork, and restricted banking hours. In contrast, FinTech platforms deliver everything on-demand.

Take PhonePe and Razorpay—users can sign up, verify their identity, and start transacting within minutes. No paperwork. No waiting. FinTech wins the round in accessibility.

This always-on convenience is one of the biggest drivers in the shift of Fintech vs Traditional Banks.

2. Essential Features of FinTech Apps

Traditional banking apps often feel outdated and clunky. FinTech apps, on the other hand, are built for the digital user. Here are the Essential Features of FinTech Apps:

  • AI-powered budgeting tools

  • Real-time expense tracking

  • P2P transfers with zero fees

  • Automated savings and investment tools

  • Multi-language and voice-enabled UIs

Apps like Navi, Cred, and Slice in India have built huge user bases by offering such intelligent and intuitive features. Users can now manage credit, loans, and investments from a single interface.

FinTech doesn’t just provide banking—it personalizes it.

3. FinTech App Security Solutions: Better Than Traditional?

Security used to be a strong point for traditional banks. But the tables have turned. FinTech apps are leveraging AI and advanced encryption for better protection.

FinTech App Security Solutions include:

  • Biometric authentication (face/fingerprint)

  • AI-based fraud detection

  • Real-time transaction alerts

  • End-to-end encryption for data privacy

  • Device binding and geofencing

For example, Paytm now uses AI to flag suspicious behavior within seconds. This proactive protection is more adaptive than the outdated security layers used in many bank apps.

With cyberattacks rising, users are right to trust FinTech apps that prioritize security innovation.

4. FinTech APIs To Use In Your Finance Software

FinTech isn’t just about the front end—it’s built on powerful, modular backends using FinTech APIs To Use In Your Finance Software. These APIs let developers create custom features and automate finance at scale.

Top use cases:

  • Plaid and Yodlee for account aggregation

  • RazorpayX for automated payouts

  • Highen Fintech APIs for lending, payments, and KYC

  • Stripe for global payments

  • Salt Edge for open banking integrations

These APIs allow businesses to create FinTech products in weeks, not years. Traditional banks simply cannot match this level of agility or modularity.

5. Digital Wallets Vs. Crypto Wallets

Traditional banks support only fiat currency. But in today’s fast-moving digital world, users demand both digital and crypto solutions.

Let’s break down Digital Wallets Vs. Crypto Wallets:

  • Digital Wallets like Apple Pay, PhonePe, or Google Pay help you store and use debit/credit cards or UPI for daily use.

  • Crypto Wallets like MetaMask or Trust Wallet store blockchain-based digital assets such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.

In 2025, more users are using both. For example, Binance Pay now integrates with Visa, bridging digital and crypto worlds. This dual-wallet experience is something traditional banks do not offer at all.

In the debate of Fintech vs Traditional Banks, FinTech clearly leads in innovation.

6. Customer Experience: The Silent Differentiator

Traditional banks often fall short on customer experience. Long support wait times, complex interfaces, and poor app design are common complaints.

FinTech apps, however, offer:

  • 24/7 in-app chat support

  • AI bots for instant query resolution

  • Clean and minimalist UI/UX

  • Personal finance coaching tools

Apps like Groww and Zerodha are now preferred over old brokerages not just because they’re digital—but because they are pleasant to use.

Want to build a FinTech app with delightful UX? Contact Highen Fintech for UX-driven development and design support.

Real-Life Example: A Smart Switch to FinTech

Meera, a 32-year-old freelance designer in Bangalore, struggled with her bank’s hidden fees and poor app UX. In 2024, she switched to a FinTech platform offering UPI-based payments, auto-budgeting, and a crypto wallet.

Within six months, she was tracking all expenses, saving more, and investing regularly—all from her smartphone. She even received a pre-approved personal loan, which her traditional bank had declined earlier due to rigid credit norms.

Conclusion: FinTech Is Not the Future—It’s the Present

The gap between Fintech vs Traditional Banks is no longer subtle—it’s massive. Users today want more than just a bank—they want intelligent, personalized, and convenient financial ecosystems.

From Essential Features of FinTech Apps to FinTech App Security Solutions, and from FinTech APIs To Use In Your Finance Software to the emerging battle of Digital Wallets Vs. Crypto Wallets, FinTech is leading in every arena.

As 2025 continues to unfold, this trend will only grow stronger. Whether you're a user tired of old-school banking or a business aiming to launch a custom finance solution, the time to embrace FinTech is now.

Ready to switch or build something smarter? Contact Highen Fintech—your partner for secure, scalable, and intelligent FinTech development.

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Written by

Hazel Watson
Hazel Watson

Hazel Watson is a skilled software developer with a passion for building innovative and efficient solutions. With expertise in coding, problem-solving, and software architecture, she specializes in developing scalable applications that enhance user experiences. Hazel stays ahead of industry trends, mastering new technologies to create seamless and high-performing software. Her dedication to clean code, collaboration, and continuous learning makes her a valuable asset in any development team.