A Bankwest analysis of savings goals amidst the global pandemic has revealed millennials are prioritising their homeownership dreams over lifestyle aspirations more than any other generation.
Bankwest analysed the trends of close to one million customers, comparing differences between those who had used the Savings Goal feature in the Bankwest Mobile App, and those who had not.
The data showed that, across all generations of goal-setters, millennials were not only the most focused on saving for a home but were also least likely to be setting Travel or miscellaneous goals.
The drive of millennials propelled saving for a Home to the largest growth in overall customers pursuing the goal in the six months, inclusive, from March to August, swelling by 49.62 per cent.
The growth positioned saving for a Home as the third most-common goal across customers, behind Just Saving and Travel, which held as the second most common, despite ongoing restrictions.
However, while those already saving for a holiday continued to cache the cash, the data suggested others had moved on, with Travel flatlining as the only goal with single-figure growth in the period.
The analysis also revealed the significant impact of goalsetting on savings balances, with those working towards a purpose growing their war chest at a far greater rate than those with no aim.
The data showed the average savings balance of those customers who had a goal grew by 41.77 per cent year-on-year to the end of September, compared to just 13.67 per cent for those without goals.
It was a difference that became most apparent with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Average balances of goal-setters and non-goal-setters were near even in May before rapidly diverging, as those with a goal held about $1000 more by the end of the first quarter of the financial year.
The data also suggested one goal was all it took for customers to see a benefit to their bank balance, with little difference in year-on-year growth between those with a single goal or multiple goals.
Bankwest’s Savings Goal feature allows customers to create goals and specify a time period, then calculates the periodical deposits required, assists with recurring transfers, and provides live tracking.
Bankwest Chief Customer Officer Paul Vivian said: “We’ve known for a while through the data we see that the stereotype of millennials as carefree money wasters isn’t true, and this is another example.
“We’re in a period of unprecedented uncertainty, but also a period of low interest rates, and it seems like millennials are seeing both as a reason to prioritise saving for a roof over their heads.
“They’re not alone in re-prioritising, either, and it’s probably not surprising to see a stall in the growth in the number of customers setting Travel goals, and instead squirrelling away pennies elsewhere.
“What was also interesting was the impact on savings balances by simply having a goal, which makes sense, as not having a goal is like expecting to get somewhere without knowing the destination.”
Log in
Home goal for millennial savers amidst pandemic uncertainty
19 October 2020
Goal distribution by generation
| Goal category | Gen Z (%) | Millennial (%) | Gen X (%) | Baby Boomer (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Big purchase
|
18.79
|
8.87
|
7.15
|
7.20
|
|
Emergency fund
|
4.24
|
9.07
|
11.71
|
10.67
|
|
Family
|
2.21
|
7.52
|
8.20
|
4.53
|
|
Home
|
11.85
|
21.18
|
13.31
|
8.98
|
|
Just saving
|
29.70
|
25.09
|
23.10
|
23.02
|
|
Something else
|
9.43
|
8.86
|
9.76
|
12.09
|
|
Travel
|
23.77
|
19.40
|
26.78
|
33.51
|
Goal category
Gen Z (%)
Millennial (%)
Gen X (%)
Baby Boomer (%)
Big purchase
18.79
8.87
7.15
7.20
Emergency fund
4.24
9.07
11.71
10.67
Family
2.21
7.52
8.20
4.53
Home
11.85
21.18
13.31
8.98
Just saving
29.70
25.09
23.10
23.02
Something else
9.43
8.86
9.76
12.09
Travel
23.77
19.40
26.78
33.51
Growth in goal categories (Ranked by most-to-least common)
| Goal category |
March to August growth (inc.) (%) |
|---|---|
|
Just saving
|
40.02
|
|
Travel
|
7.67
|
|
Home
|
49.62
|
|
Big purchase
|
49.58
|
|
Something else
|
48.88
|
|
Emergency fund
|
42.90
|
|
Family
|
45.03
|
Goal category
March to August growth (inc.) (%)
Just saving
40.02
Travel
7.67
Home
49.62
Big purchase
49.58
Something else
48.88
Emergency fund
42.90
Family
45.03
Savings balances by customers with goal/no-goal
| Average age |
Average Savings Balance (at last week of September) ($) |
Year-on-Year change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
No savings goal
|
40
|
11,294
|
13.67
|
|
Savings goal
|
29
|
12,067
|
41.77
|
Average age
Average Savings Balance
(at last week of September) ($)
(at last week of September) ($)
Year-on-Year change (%)
No savings goal
40
11,294
13.67
Savings goal
29
12,067
41.77
Savings balances across time by customers with goal/no-goal
|
Month (values at last week of month) |
Average savings (No savings goal) ($) |
Average savings (Savings goal) ($) |
|---|---|---|
|
September 2019
|
9,924
|
8,993
|
|
December 2019
|
9,936
|
9,011
|
|
March 2020
|
10,000
|
9,067
|
|
June 2020
|
10,721
|
10,758
|
|
September 2020
|
11,294
|
12,067
|
Month
(values at last week of month)
(values at last week of month)
Average savings
(No savings goal) ($)
(No savings goal) ($)
Average savings
(Savings goal) ($)
(Savings goal) ($)
September 2019
9,924
8,993
December 2019
9,936
9,011
March 2020
10,000
9,067
June 2020
10,721
10,758
September 2020
11,294
12,067
About Bankwest
Bankwest’s vision is to deliver brilliant customer experiences every day and our purpose is to improve the financial wellbeing of our customers and communities. Bankwest provides personal and business banking solutions for more than 1.1 million customers across Australia. Our customers enjoy access to an extensive network of branches and business centres, direct and third-party distribution channels, agencies and electronic banking facilities, as well as 24-hour banking on the telephone, internet and the Bankwest App. Bankwest, a division of Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL/Australian credit license 234945.
