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The Trust Premium: what people will pay to feel safe with their money

Published 12 Mar 2026 Commissioned by a fintech ↓ Download data (CSV)

A study of 1,000 consumers on how much trust is worth in financial services, and why the most trusted brands command far more than a rounding error.

2.4×
more likely to choose a provider they trust over a cheaper one they do not recognise.

What we found

In money, trust beats price by a wide margin. Asked to choose between a familiar, trusted provider and a cheaper unknown, consumers picked the trusted option more than twice as often, even when the savings were real. The pattern held across income levels.

Reputation did the heavy lifting. A track record of fair treatment mattered more than headline rates, and a single bad experience was enough to erase a price advantage entirely.

Why people choose a financial providershare ranking as most important

0255075% Trust & track record61% Security48% Fees & rates34% Ease of use27% Brand familiarity19%

Key findings

  • People are 2.4× more likely to pick a trusted provider over a cheaper unknown.
  • 61% rank trust and track record as the single most important factor.
  • One bad experience erases a price advantage for 7 in 10.
  • Trust outranks headline rates across every income band tested.

Methodology

PanelConsumer online panel
Samplen=1,000 consumers
RepresentativenessNat. rep. by age & income
Fielded6–9 March 2026
Margin of error±3.1% at 95% CI
WeightingAge, gender, income

Commissioned by a fintech. Fielded and published by Miss Investigate. Full question wording available on request.

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