Almost four in ten (38%) current account holders did not use any of their banking benefits in the past year, with the most common reason being that they simply forget they exist, according to research from Zopa Bank.
As summer holidays become a distant memory and the heating gets cranked up, Brits are reassessing their financial situations. The research shows that nearly seven out of 10 Brits (68%) agree that different times of the year require different money management strategies.
Seasonal shifts and Budget concerns
This shifting expectation is partly driven by seasonality, with two in five Brits (40%) stating that Christmas specifically alters their financial priorities. Over a third (35%) are considering upcoming winter household expenses.
Brits also anticipate their costs to increase following the Budget on October 28, with four in 10 (40%) predicting it will significantly impact their financial standing over the next six months.
Demand for flexible benefits
The majority (54%) state that what they need from their money today differs from what they needed a year ago, rising to 65% for those aged 25-34.
Across the board, 77% of Brits would prefer to select banking benefits that suit their individual needs rather than subscribing to a set list of pre-determined options, while nearly two thirds (65%) believe their benefits should adapt as their life circumstances change.
A significant majority (70%) say they would be more inclined to utilise a benefit that aligns with their current spending habits, but almost four in ten (38%) current account holders did not use any of their listed banking benefits in the past year.
The most common reasons were simply forgetting they exist (21%) or finding them irrelevant to their lifestyle (18%).
Zopa's response
Zopa Bank's Merve Ferrero said: "While our financial needs are not fixed and evolve with the seasons and different stages of our lives, banking benefits have traditionally stayed the same. We think that needs to change."
"The Biscuit account gives customers more choice over the benefits they receive, allowing them to select what is most relevant to them at different points throughout the year - giving them more control over the value they get from their bank."
"That's why we're giving people the flexibility to choose the perks and benefits that work best for them, rather than expecting their banking to fit around a one-size-fits-all model."
Zopa introduced Biscuit in 2025, rapidly making it the UK's top current account for everyday value, ranked #1 by MoneySavingExpert for cashback, perks and regular savings.
In addition to a 1% AER variable on all balances, fee-free card spending abroad, and access to the UK's most helpful banking AI, customers can choose between 2.75% AER variable interest on their balance, 3% cashback on up to £150 of eating-out spend each month, or 3% cashback on up to £150 of Direct Debits each month.
