The Changing Expectations of Banking Customers

The financial services landscape is changing faster than ever. Customers today expect their primary financial institution to offer more than just checking, savings, and lending—they expect wealth-building tools at their fingertips.

Retail investing participation is at an all-time high, driven largely by Gen Z and Millennials. According to surveys, 72% of Gen Z and 66% of Millennials want investing tools embedded directly in their primary bank account. Gen Z investors, on average, begin investing at age 19—a full decade earlier than Boomers, who didn’t typically begin until 35.

This generational shift matters. With the $84 trillion Great Wealth Transfer expected to pass from Boomers to younger generations by 2045, community banks and credit unions that fail to meet evolving expectations risk being cut out of this transfer altogether.

Your Customers Want It

Younger investors are not only more engaged, they’re also more demanding of digital convenience. They want:

• Choice. The ability to access stocks, ETFs, crypto, and precious metals in one place.
• Education. Tools to learn and grow as investors, not just speculation or hype.
• Integration. Seamless access to investing within their existing digital banking experience.

Without these services, customers turn to third-party apps. That creates a break in the chain of loyalty, as younger customers consolidate their financial lives outside of their trusted community institution. Once they leave, it’s hard to win them back.

Your Competitors Are Offering It

Big banks and fintechs aren’t standing still.

• Big Brand Banks like Chase, Citi, and Bank of America have long offered integrated investing services, capturing deposits and wealth-building relationships.
• Fintechs like Robinhood, SoFi, and Wealthfront blur the lines between brokerage and bank. Robinhood now bundles high-yield deposits, robo-advisory, and commission-free trading. SoFi combines lending, credit cards, and investing under one roof.

This is no longer a niche trend. It’s the mainstream expectation—and community financial institutions risk losing market share if they don’t keep pace.

It’s Easier Than You Think

The good news? Community banks and credit unions no longer need to build digital wealth management tools themselves.

Through API-driven integrations, services like Unifimoney can be embedded directly into existing online and mobile banking platforms such as Alkami, Jack Henry Banno, or Q2. There’s no heavy coding, no multi-year development cycle, and no complex technical overhead.

That means:

• Low cost. No massive IT budget required.
• Fast to market. Deploy in weeks, not years.
• Scalable. Add or remove modules to match your institution’s strategy.

In a world where fintechs iterate rapidly, speed-to-market matters. Community institutions can now match that pace.

Why Choose Unifimoney?

Community financial institutions have been cautious about embracing small account, self-directed investing. Until now, the market lacked a vendor with the right combination of stability, compliance, and modern features.

Unifimoney changes that equation.

💰 Strong Financial Backing

We are majority owned by Palm Ventures, a family office-backed investment firm with a history in social impact, healthcare, education, and financial inclusion. This long-term partnership ensures Unifimoney is a reliable, stable provider—not a startup chasing short-term growth.

👨‍🚀 A Unique Vision

Our goal is to build the first modern, integrated digital wealth management platform for community institutions. We believe everyone—regardless of age, income, or investing experience—should have access to the tools needed to build wealth responsibly. Our “get rich slowly” philosophy emphasizes long-term, sustainable financial health.

👩‍🎨 Customized Solutions for Diverse Needs

No two financial institutions are alike, and neither are their customers. Unifimoney’s modular platform allows for customization:

• Decide whether to include crypto.
• Offer your own model portfolios or integrate advisory services.
• Tailor the user experience to your community’s demographics.

Current Integrations and Product Set

Unifimoney already integrates with leading online banking providers, including Alkami Technology, Jack Henry Banno, Q2

Our current product set includes:

• 📈 Fractional self-directed investing in stocks, ETFs, and money market funds
• 🤖 Robo-advisory for long-term, automated investing
• 💲 Digital assets (optional) through secure partnerships
• 🥇 Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) for portfolio diversification

This combination allows community institutions to offer both traditional and modern wealth-building tools inside the channels customers already use.

Industry Context: Why Now?

Community banks and credit unions are facing unprecedented pressure:

• Deposit outflows. Fintech apps and big banks are capturing funds through high-yield products and investing features.
• Customer expectations. Gen Z and Millennials demand more than checking and savings—they want wealth-building integrated into their daily financial lives.
• Competition at scale. Institutions like Fidelity and Schwab are moving down-market, while fintechs are moving up, leaving community institutions squeezed in the middle.

Adding digital wealth management is not optional—it’s essential to remain competitive.

The Risk of Waiting

Every month that passes without a digital investing solution increases the risk of customer attrition. Younger members consolidate their accounts with fintech competitors. Deposits leave. Wealth-building relationships shift away from local institutions.

And once customers establish these relationships elsewhere, winning them back is extremely difficult.

By acting now, community financial institutions can:

• Retain deposits and prevent outflows.
• Attract younger members who want integrated investing.
• Secure their role in the generational wealth transfer already underway.

Final Word

Community banks and credit unions don’t need to sit on the sidelines while big banks and fintechs reshape the market. By embedding digital wealth management today, they can:

• Stay competitive in the fight for deposits.
• Deepen relationships with younger customers.
• Ensure long-term relevance in the era of digital-first finance.

Unifimoney makes it possible. With our platform, institutions can offer fractional investing, robo-advisory, digital assets, and precious metals—all seamlessly integrated into online banking.

The opportunity is here. The only question is: will your institution seize it, or risk being left behind?