Our yearly Index report, refreshed.

The 2025 UK Consumer Digital Index marks the 10th edition of this landmark study. Building on a decade of research, it combines anonymised behavioural and transactional data from one million customers across Lloyds Banking Group brands with new, large-scale surveys and interviews, to deliver the most comprehensive view yet of people's digital and financial lives across the UK. Now, drawing on our historical insight and enriched by this fresh research, we explore how people are responding and adapting to one of the most transformative technologies in the digital space – artificial intelligence (AI).



Figures on AI usage and reported savings are based on self-reported survey data and reflect perceptions at the time of fieldwork, not verified outcomes. References to AI tools or social media platforms are illustrative only and do not constitute regulated financial advice or endorsements. See footnote and the methodology section of the report for more details.
 

 

What does the increasing use of AI for managing personal finances mean for consumers?

Video | 2 mins

With more than 28 million UK adults now using AI to help manage their money, what does this mean for consumers? Jas Singh OBE, CEO, Consumer Relationships at Lloyds Banking Group, looks at the impact.

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Empowering the UK's digital and financial future

Over the years, the Consumer Digital Index has helped us understand how digital innovation is transforming people's financial lives across the UK and helping to shape the national conversation on inclusion and empowerment.

In 2025 we stand at an inflection point: digital participation has reached almost universal level, with more than 28 million adults now using AI tools to manage their money independently. This is not just technological progress, it’s a profound shift in confidence and capability for millions. Our new research shows that those embracing these technologies say they are not only saving more but, crucially, are feeling more informed and empowered to make decisions that shape their financial futures. 

As digital adoption continues to accelerate, new challenges are emerging. Our research highlights the importance of keeping trust, transparency, and inclusion at the core of this transformation. While AI is helping to transform how millions of people manage their money, giving them greater control over their financial futures, people need to know that the information they receive is accurate, secure and truly in their best interests. Our findings show that concerns around data privacy and the reliability of advice remain high, particularly among those who are not yet fully engaged.

People's digital and financial lives in data

Who's using AI and how?

 

As AI tools become more integrated into personal finance, people are responding in different ways. AI adoption isn’t just about age or tech access – confidence, relevance and trust all matter. The biggest opportunity lies with curious users, who are open but need support. And the sceptics may surprise you – some are young and digitally active but still hesitant.

Here we meet two people who are at different stages in terms of how they're adopting AI in their lives.

AI curious: Beryl

Video, 2 mins

Despite having used AI once or twice to help with tasks, until the benefits are really proven Beryl will stay on the fence.

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AI enthusiast: Nicola

Video, 2 mins

As a keen adopter of AI in her everyday life, Nicola estimates that she's saved around £1,000 by using it to help her with financial planning.

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Myth-busters: common misconceptions about the digital divide

 

Despite the ever-presence of technology in our lives, many people are still shut out of the digital world. Age and lack of interest are often cited as the ‘why’ – but this doesn’t paint the full picture. Not only is a better understanding needed of the barriers to digital inclusion, we need to ask how these can be overcome. These are some of the most common myths around digital exclusion.

“Only the elderly are digitally excluded”

 

“They're offline by choice”

 

“It's just about motivation”

 

At Lloyds Banking Group we're committed to helping people feel confident managing their money digitally. Through our Academies, we offer free learning resources – both online and in person – designed to build financial and digital skills. These are open to individuals, groups, and businesses across the UK. 

 

10 years of the Consumer Digital Index

The Consumer Digital Index launched in 2016, following the establishment of the Government Digital Service and debate about the increasingly urgent issue of digital literacy and exclusion. 

As the UK's largest digital bank with 23 million digitally active customers, we have the data, insight and expertise to really delve into this issue – and so now, a decade later, the Consumer Digital Index is the UK’s biggest study of people's digital and financial lives. 

A couple of years after the Index launched we led a consultation on adult digital literacy, creating the Essential Digital Skills framework. This has now been separated from the Consumer Digital Index and is a resource in its own right, used by the UK Government and devolved nations, combined authorities, and over 250 organisations across various sectors. 

The Digital Skills framework was followed in 2019 by the Lloyds Bank Academy, offering free digital and financial skills support through helplines, training, webinars, resources and mentoring. More than one million people have benefited from these services.

Since then, with the Consumer Digital Index being published every year, we've continued to use its insight to inform change – highlighting the economic and social impact of digital exclusion and taking steps to address this. The report is now based on data from more than 35,000 people, and it informs government policy, business strategies and community programmes with the aim of ensuring that no one is left behind.

FAQs about AI, digital and financial literacy

  • Being digitally literate can significantly impact financial wellbeing by enhancing control over personal finances, increasing savings, reducing stress, improving financial decisions and building financial resilience.

    • Enhanced control: Individuals who are digitally literate and confident online are more likely to feel in control of their finances. They can access advice and resources online and use digital tools such as auto-savings, round-ups and credit score monitoring to manage their money, set financial goals and prepare for the future. This confidence translates into better financial planning and resilience.
    • Increased savings: The Consumer Digital Index report shows that those with high digital capability are able to save more money annually compared to those with low digital capability, primarily through being able to access better deals and discounts online for purchases and financial products. 
    • Reduced financial stress: People who are comfortable using digital tools to help with managing their finances are less likely to lose sleep over money worries and feel more on-track to meet their future financial needs.
    • Better financial decisions and improved resilience: Digital tools provide users with insights and advice that can help them make informed financial decisions around things such as budgeting, spending and investing. This turn leads to improved financial resilience, with those who are digitally confident better prepared to withstand financial shocks and more likely to keep track of their long-term investments and retirement savings, which supports long-term financial stability.
  • We're leveraging AI in several innovative ways to help customers manage their money more effectively. Here are some of our key initiatives:

    • AI-powered financial insights and tools: We've integrated AI into various financial tools on our apps to provide personalised financial insights and support for customers. Tools that analyse transaction data and spending patterns can provide real-time, personalised insights – helping customers understand where their money goes. They can then use tools for things like savings goal planning, budgeting advice, financial education and product comparison to save money.
    • AI models in production: In 2025 we have more than 800 AI models in production, including Athena – an AI-powered knowledge hub designed to support our customer-facing colleagues, and GenAI tools that enable faster credit risk reporting and fraud prevention.
    • Responsible AI framework: We follow a strong responsible AI framework with seven AI ethics principles. Every AI system undergoes rigorous testing for fairness, transparency and bias, with human oversight built in to ensure that innovation builds trust as well as value.
    • AI for financial resilience: AI tools are also being used by our customers to keep track of their long-term investments and retirement savings. This supports long-term financial stability and helps individuals withstand financial shocks, building overall financial resilience.
    • AI literacy and education: We're investing in AI literacy through partnerships with universities and fintechs, as well as internal training programmes. This includes initiatives like AI literacy bootcamps and partnerships with creators of financial large language models (LLMs).

    Find out more about AI at Lloyds Banking Group

  • Yes, the Consumer Digital Index report shows that on average, £815 more is saved every year by customers with higher digital and financial capability vs. the lower segments. 

    These people are likely to be utilising digital tools to help manage their finances more efficiently by providing personalised spending insights, flagging unused subscriptions, and highlighting cost-saving opportunities. 

    Our own banking apps feature a spending insights tool which categorises transactions – helping customers to see exactly what they're spending their money on, enables tailored financial advice and sends alerts for unusual transactions – all of which can help to save money in the long-run.

  • The Consumer Digital Index report recommends improving digital engagement by offering tailored support such as accessible formats, flexible learning options and targeted outreach, while also addressing structural barriers and building confidence through user-friendly digital experiences.

    To support digital and financial inclusion, we run initiatives like the Lloyds Bank Academy, collaborate with charities, and lead the Digital Inclusion Initiative, all of which provide digital skills training, access to devices and data, and support for vulnerable groups who may not otherwise be able to access the financial and other benefits that being online can offer.

The opportunity

 

This year’s findings make one thing clear: digital participation and the rise of AI are reshaping financial lives at an unprecedented pace. The opportunities for empowerment are vast, but so are the challenges of trust, inclusion, and capability.

The 2025 Consumer Digital Index offers insight to help navigate this evolving landscape – showing where progress is happening and where barriers remain. We're proud of our role supporting the UK’s financial inclusion strategy and ensuring that everyone – regardless of age, income or circumstance – can benefit from the opportunities of a digital-first economy.

 

*AI usage and reported savings

Insights in this report combine anonymised transactional/ behavioural data and survey responses. 

The online survey findings (including AI usage and reported savings) are based on self-reported data from a nationally representative (based on age, gender and region) online survey of approximately 5,000 UK adults (fieldwork: July 3rd–July 28th 2025). Self-reported savings are not verified against transactional data and should be interpreted as perceived impacts, not guarantees of future outcomes.

Correlations shown do not imply causation. References to third-party AI tools or social media platforms are illustrative only; they do not constitute regulated financial advice and are not endorsed by Lloyds Banking Group.

Customers seeking personalised recommendations should use regulated advice channels.

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