Bank Marketers: Winning Gen Z with Personalization

As a bank marketer, you’re on the front lines of a generational shift. The old playbooks for customer acquisition no longer apply. Gen Z, aged 13-28, and millennials before them want more than just a place to invest. They seek a financial partner who understands their needs. This isn’t a hunch—it’s a data-backed reality.

A recent article in Gen-Z Banking revealed that 72% of Gen Z and 55% of millennials expect banking experiences tailored to their needs and aspirations. In a world where every digital touchpoint is hyper-personalized, a generic, one-size-fits-all approach feels out of touch and inauthentic.

Aggie Tuxhorn, CMO at Skyward Credit Union, explains it perfectly: “They can spot a one-size-fits-all approach instantly, and it feels out of touch.”

Bank Marketers: Personalization Is Not a Channel—It’s a Strategy

For bank marketers, personalization isn’t just about dynamic email content or targeted ads. About demonstrating that you know your customer’s life stage and goals, whether that’s saving for college or buying their first home. This is a foundational strategy for building trust and long-term loyalty.

The onboarding process is a prime example of where this strategy can win or lose a customer. As Tuxhorn notes, “If you tell someone to sign up for e-statements they already have, you’ve shown you’re not paying attention.” This disconnect can erode trust before the relationship even begins.

Here’s the main question. How can you use personalized data to create a unique experience? This experience should stand out from the digital clutter. This is where the power of modern commercial printing comes in.

Extending Your Digital Strategy into the Physical World

In a time of constant digital scrolling, a piece of personalized, high-quality mail can be a strong tool. It cuts through the clutter and lands directly in your customer’s hands. At NextPage, we call this the strategic integration of print and digital.

Think about it:

• A Welcome Kit that Wows: Instead of a generic letter, imagine a personalized welcome kit for a new Gen Z customer. It could include a slim, credit card-sized guide for your mobile app. It might have a QR code that links to a personalized onboarding video.

Or it could have a brochure that highlights features that matter to them, like student accounts or budgeting tools. This is the physical manifestation of a seamless onboarding experience.

• **Hyper-Personalized Direct Mail**
• You can create direct mail that feels as engaging as an online ad. This is possible with variable data printing (VDP). A new customer could receive an offer for a savings account with their name and their specific savings goal (e.g., “Ready to save for that first car, [First Name]?”). This approach feels less like marketing and more like a proactive, helpful nudge.
• Transactional Print with a Twist: Even essential communications like statements can become a personalized touchpoint. With VDP, you can include a callout box on a statement that recognizes a recent transaction or suggests a product based on their spending habits. It shows you’re paying attention in a way that feels helpful, not intrusive.

By combining your digital data with tangible, targeted print, you create a powerful, unified experience that resonates with a generation that values authenticity. The human touch doesn’t have to be a person; it can be a well-crafted, personalized piece of mail that shows you know them.

Ready to explore how personalized print can help you build trust and loyalty with Gen Z? Let’s talk.