The Insight Seeker
Insight Seekers saved moneyUsers who use AI to understand their financial habits and discover new opportunities save nearly twice as often.
While the conversation around AI is stuck on hype and efficiency, we asked a simpler question. What are people actually doing with it?\n\nWe found a direct link between the honesty users feel with AI and the money they save. This report unpacks who gets the most out of it, why, and how that mindset differs across the globe.

While the conversation around AI is stuck on hype and efficiency, we asked a simpler question. What are people actually doing with it?\n\nWe found a direct link between the honesty users feel with AI and the money they save. This report unpacks who gets the most out of it, why, and how that mindset differs across the globe.

While the conversation around AI is stuck on hype and efficiency, we asked a simpler question. What are people actually doing with it?\n\nWe found a direct link between the honesty users feel with AI and the money they save. This report unpacks who gets the most out of it, why, and how that mindset differs across the globe.

We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Insight Seekers saved moneyUsers who use AI to understand their financial habits and discover new opportunities save nearly twice as often.
Time Savers saved moneyUsers who focus on AI's ability to automate tasks and speed up chores see moderate success in saving.
Cost Cutters saved moneyBy focusing only on cutting immediate costs, this group sees the lowest rate of financial improvement.
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Insight Seekers saved moneyUsers who use AI to understand their financial habits and discover new opportunities save nearly twice as often.
Time Savers saved moneyUsers who focus on AI's ability to automate tasks and speed up chores see moderate success in saving.
Cost Cutters saved moneyBy focusing only on cutting immediate costs, this group sees the lowest rate of financial improvement.
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Insight Seekers saved moneyUsers who use AI to understand their financial habits and discover new opportunities save nearly twice as often.
Time Savers saved moneyUsers who focus on AI's ability to automate tasks and speed up chores see moderate success in saving.
Cost Cutters saved moneyBy focusing only on cutting immediate costs, this group sees the lowest rate of financial improvement.
Beyond the hype, AI's real value is surprisingly practical: it has become a safe space to ask the money questions we hesitate to ask a person. This judgment-free zone unlocks a powerful honesty that leads directly to saving real money. But the story doesn't end there. For many, rehearsing these difficult conversations with AI builds the confidence to finally have them with the people who matter most.
Beyond the hype, AI's real value is surprisingly practical: it has become a safe space to ask the money questions we hesitate to ask a person. This judgment-free zone unlocks a powerful honesty that leads directly to saving real money. But the story doesn't end there. For many, rehearsing these difficult conversations with AI builds the confidence to finally have them with the people who matter most.
Beyond the hype, AI's real value is surprisingly practical: it has become a safe space to ask the money questions we hesitate to ask a person. This judgment-free zone unlocks a powerful honesty that leads directly to saving real money. But the story doesn't end there. For many, rehearsing these difficult conversations with AI builds the confidence to finally have them with the people who matter most.
The UK highlights a clear generational and behavioral divide. Younger Brits are saving significantly more with AI, and those who use it across multiple financial tasks see their savings triple. For a quarter of Brits, it has also become a private confidant for honest money conversations.
Working Abroad Snapshot
Saving Time
37
Better financial insights
25
Personalized recommendations
13
Saving costs on financial services
25
The UK highlights a clear generational and behavioral divide. Younger Brits are saving significantly more with AI, and those who use it across multiple financial tasks see their savings triple. For a quarter of Brits, it has also become a private confidant for honest money conversations.
Working Abroad Snapshot
Saving Time
37
Better financial insights
25
Personalized recommendations
13
Saving costs on financial services
25
The UK highlights a clear generational and behavioral divide. Younger Brits are saving significantly more with AI, and those who use it across multiple financial tasks see their savings triple. For a quarter of Brits, it has also become a private confidant for honest money conversations.
Working Abroad Snapshot
Saving Time
37
Better financial insights
25
Personalized recommendations
13
Saving costs on financial services
25
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Younger Brits are three times more likely than Boomers to have saved over £500 with AI in the past year.
Using AI for multiple financial tasks triples the average savings compared to using it for just one.
One in four Brits admit to being more honest about their spending with AI than with another person.
Users who lean on AI for speed save less than those who use it to understand their habits first.
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Younger Brits are three times more likely than Boomers to have saved over £500 with AI in the past year.
Using AI for multiple financial tasks triples the average savings compared to using it for just one.
One in four Brits admit to being more honest about their spending with AI than with another person.
Users who lean on AI for speed save less than those who use it to understand their habits first.
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Younger Brits are three times more likely than Boomers to have saved over £500 with AI in the past year.
Using AI for multiple financial tasks triples the average savings compared to using it for just one.
One in four Brits admit to being more honest about their spending with AI than with another person.
Users who lean on AI for speed save less than those who use it to understand their habits first.
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Survey results
Reduce my mental load (saving time, reminders, forecasting, organisation, budgeting).
15
Help me avoid costly mistakes (fees, overdrafts, duplicate payments)
26
Protect me from fraud
33
Give me valuable insights about my financial situation
10
Grow my money and get better results
16
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Survey results
Reduce my mental load (saving time, reminders, forecasting, organisation, budgeting).
15
Help me avoid costly mistakes (fees, overdrafts, duplicate payments)
26
Protect me from fraud
33
Give me valuable insights about my financial situation
10
Grow my money and get better results
16
We asked bunq users how AI shows up in their money habits—and what that means for saving.
Survey results
Reduce my mental load (saving time, reminders, forecasting, organisation, budgeting).
15
Help me avoid costly mistakes (fees, overdrafts, duplicate payments)
26
Protect me from fraud
33
Give me valuable insights about my financial situation
10
Grow my money and get better results
16
Three patterns from our research on how people use AI for money—and what actually leads to saving.
People are more honest about their spending with AI than with humans. This judgment-free interaction is unlocking more candid conversations about money.
Adoption is outpacing trust. Across markets, users are embracing financial AI for its convenience, even while remaining skeptical of the advice it provides.
Users see AI as a financial co-pilot, not an autopilot. Over 90% prefer AI as a decision-support tool rather than an autonomous decision-maker.
The strongest savers use AI for insight first, not just faster bill pay or admin.
Three patterns from our research on how people use AI for money—and what actually leads to saving.
People are more honest about their spending with AI than with humans. This judgment-free interaction is unlocking more candid conversations about money.
Adoption is outpacing trust. Across markets, users are embracing financial AI for its convenience, even while remaining skeptical of the advice it provides.
Users see AI as a financial co-pilot, not an autopilot. Over 90% prefer AI as a decision-support tool rather than an autonomous decision-maker.
The strongest savers use AI for insight first, not just faster bill pay or admin.
Three patterns from our research on how people use AI for money—and what actually leads to saving.
People are more honest about their spending with AI than with humans. This judgment-free interaction is unlocking more candid conversations about money.
Adoption is outpacing trust. Across markets, users are embracing financial AI for its convenience, even while remaining skeptical of the advice it provides.
Users see AI as a financial co-pilot, not an autopilot. Over 90% prefer AI as a decision-support tool rather than an autonomous decision-maker.
The strongest savers use AI for insight first, not just faster bill pay or admin.
See how AI habits differ by generation, use case, and attitude toward automation.
See how AI habits differ by generation, use case, and attitude toward automation.
See how AI habits differ by generation, use case, and attitude toward automation.
The survey was conducted by Pollfish on behalf of bunq in February 2026, with 7,000 respondents across 7 countries: France (1,000), Germany (1,000), Ireland (1,000), the Netherlands (1,000), Spain (1,000), the United Kingdom (1,000) and the United States (1,000). The objective was to understand public perception of AI in finance including the extent to which people have adopted AI tools for money management, the benefits and concerns they associate with them, and how AI is influencing the way they think about and organise their finances.
The survey was conducted by Pollfish on behalf of bunq in February 2026, with 7,000 respondents across 7 countries: France (1,000), Germany (1,000), Ireland (1,000), the Netherlands (1,000), Spain (1,000), the United Kingdom (1,000) and the United States (1,000). The objective was to understand public perception of AI in finance including the extent to which people have adopted AI tools for money management, the benefits and concerns they associate with them, and how AI is influencing the way they think about and organise their finances.
The survey was conducted by Pollfish on behalf of bunq in February 2026, with 7,000 respondents across 7 countries: France (1,000), Germany (1,000), Ireland (1,000), the Netherlands (1,000), Spain (1,000), the United Kingdom (1,000) and the United States (1,000). The objective was to understand public perception of AI in finance including the extent to which people have adopted AI tools for money management, the benefits and concerns they associate with them, and how AI is influencing the way they think about and organise their finances.