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Insights16 July 2025

Why Traditional Loyalty Is Losing — and How Behavioral Rewards Are Helping Banks Win the Switch

Create continuous value with real-time rewards that reflect how customers spend and live.

Girl holding card looking at laptop

Customer inertia is no longer a reliable strategy for banks. With over a million people switching banks in the UK in 2024 alone, consumers — especially younger generations — are actively seeking better digital experiences, more personalized benefits, and lasting value. One-off cash incentives may attract attention, but they rarely build loyalty. The message is clear: customers expect more than just a sign-up bonus — they want relationships that reward their everyday choices.

 

Valuedynamx is helping banks meet this moment with behavioral rewards — personalized, brand-driven incentives that reflect how customers actually spend, live, and engage. These programs go beyond transactional perks by encouraging valuable actions like card activation, direct deposit setup, or repeat usage, all while tailoring rewards to individual preferences. Instead of offering a single reason to switch, behavioral rewards create continuous reasons to stay, building habits that deepen engagement over time.

 

What makes this model powerful is its built-in personalization. Customers increasingly expect rewards that align with their lifestyles — whether that’s airline miles for travelers, restaurant cashback for food lovers, or wellness discounts for fitness enthusiasts. Banks already have the behavioral data to make these experiences possible. With customer consent, they can use spending patterns, brand preferences and location insights to deliver real-time, relevant rewards that evolve with customer needs.

 

Merchant partnerships further amplify the value of these programs. By working with popular retailers and brands, banks can offer meaningful rewards without bearing the full cost. Merchants, in return, gain exposure to targeted, high-value audiences. This win-win ecosystem helps banks move beyond traditional financial services and into the role of everyday value enablers. In a market where switching is easy, behavioral rewards give customers a reason not just to join — but to stay.