Western Union survey finds more using mobile devices to pay bills
Mobile devices are changing how U.S. consumers pay bills, even as people continue to use different payment channels such as in-person or mail, according to the latest findings from the Western Union Bill Payments Money Mindset Index.
Fifteen percent of people surveyed indicate they plan on paying more bills via a mobile phone or tablet over the next six months, according to a news release, while 13 percent will pay via a mobile app or text message. Of those who paid a bill using a mobile device, 65 percent did so using smartphones and 25 percent using tablets.
But U.S. consumers aren't just using online and mobile options to pay bills, Western Union said. The survey underscores why choice and convenience are critical to meeting consumer needs:
- 36 percent of consumers use three or more channels, such as online, in-person and others, to pay their monthly bills
- 38 percent use three or more payment methods, such as credit card, debit card, ACH or cash, to pay their monthly bills
- 18 percent of multimethod bill payers and 27 percent of multichannel bill payers used a mobile phone to pay at least one bill per month
"The Western Union Bill Payments Money Mindset Index points to increasingly tech-savvy consumers choosing to add mobile options to their bill payment tool kit," David Shapiro, senior vice president, Payments, Western Union, said in the release. "Another key takeaway for the business community is the importance of meeting consumer demand for convenience, flexibility and choice; our customizable bill payment solutions can help companies deliver on these needs."
Thirty-one percent of Gen Y respondents (age 18-34) report paying a bill using a mobile device, compared to 25 percent of Gen X respondents (age 32-52) and 11 percent of Baby Boomer respondents (age 48-68). But a surprising number of Gen Y respondents — 34 percent — said they pay at least one monthly bill through the mail.
Learn more about mobile payments trends and statistics.