Rural Spain banking survey reveals digital use but service gaps for seniors
A survey on financial inclusion conducted by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) for the Spanish Ministry of Economy reveals a digital divide in rural areas. While 76.9% of respondents in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants use mobile banking applications, many elderly citizens report significant difficulties with in-person services.
Among seniors over 65 who visit physical branches, 55.7% report a lack of preferential attention, and 62.8% claim there is no dedicated staff to assist them. Additionally, 47.4% of this demographic stated their bank does not offer extended teller hours for seniors. The survey also noted that 21.6% of respondents have been forced to change branches due to local office closures.
Regarding financial products, debit and credit cards are the most widely used at 94.2%, followed by savings accounts and deposits at 72.6%. Cryptocurrency usage remains low at 4.8%.
Entities
Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas · Ministry of Economy · Spain
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] 94.2% of respondents have used debit or credit cards in the last five years. www.farodevigo.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 21.6% of respondents have had to change branches due to the closure of their usual office. www.farodevigo.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 62.8% of seniors visiting branches claim their office lacks dedicated staff to assist them. www.farodevigo.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 55.7% of seniors who visit banks in person report a lack of preferential service at their branch. www.farodevigo.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 76.9% of respondents in rural Spain habitually use their bank's mobile application. www.farodevigo.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The CIS conducted a financial inclusion survey commissioned by the Ministry of Economy. www.farodevigo.es · www.elperiodicoextremadura.com