Solaris insights have indicated that during a time-period when artificial intelligence is reshaping personal finance, consumers in Germany are showing stronger faith in traditional banks than in public authorities to safeguard sensitive information processed by AI systems. A new poll shared by Solaris reveals that 45.4 percent of respondents view their bank as the most reliable institution for handling such data, outranking both insurers and state entities.
According to the update from Solaris, this preference is even more pronounced among younger adults, with 51.5 percent of those aged 18 to 29 placing top trust in their financial providers.
The study, conducted by market research firm Civey on behalf of embedded finance specialist Solaris, highlights how deeply AI has already integrated into daily money management.
Roughly one in three participants—33.4 percent—reported using widely available tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini at least weekly, with usage rates nearly identical across genders.
Financial applications are particularly popular: 27.9 percent have relied on AI to clarify their recent transactions, while 27.8 percent turned to AI-powered chat features for routine banking needs.
Additional activities include gaining fresh insights into money matters (19.8 percent) and even building exchange-traded fund portfolios with algorithmic assistance (10.8 percent).
Younger demographics lead the charge here, with 41 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds using AI for transaction breakdowns and 15.6 percent of 30- to 39-year-olds experimenting with automated portfolio construction.
Despite this growing adoption, caution persists. Nearly half the sample—45.6 percent—expressed worries about potential data breaches, and 34.5 percent feared unchecked information gathering by intelligent systems.
These concerns appear heightened among frequent users, particularly the young, who simultaneously embrace the technology yet flag more potential downsides.
When ranking institutional reliability for AI-related financial information, banks secured the lead at 45.4 percent, followed by insurance firms at 40.6 percent.
Government organizations trailed at just 37.6 percent.
The survey also uncovered firm expectations for safeguards.
An overwhelming 84.7 percent demanded the ability to retrieve or erase their personal records at will.
Another 82.4 percent insisted on simple controls to activate or deactivate AI assistants, while 81.2 percent supported confining all such data exclusively within European Union borders.
Steffen Jentsch, chief executive of Solaris SE, interpreted the findings as evidence of solid baseline confidence in the banking sector’s AI offerings.
He urged institutions to seize the opportunity by building these capabilities internally, emphasizing strict European data residency and user-friendly oversight mechanisms.
Leaving the space open to overseas tech giants from the United States or China, he suggested, could erode the very trust now evident in local providers.
The poll, carried out between November 14 and 20, 2025, questioned 4,000 German online banking users aged 18 to 65.
Results carry a statistical margin of error of 2.5 percentage points and are representative of the target population.
Overall, the data paints a nuanced picture: widespread everyday engagement with AI in finance alongside clear demands for transparency and control.
As banks accelerate their use of the technology for fraud prevention, process automation, and customer support, the path to broader acceptance appears to hinge on demonstrable commitments to data sovereignty and consumer empowerment. The findings offer a roadmap for financial players seeking to lead responsibly in the AI age rather than merely follow global trends.