The ubiquity of Internet-connected mobile devices is reshaping the preferences and expectations of consumers when it comes to acquiring products and services—in every industry. The financial services industry is no exception. Banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions (FIs) are already starting to see decreases in account opening through traditional channels like the branch and online as mobile-focused customer acquisition strategies have begun to take off.

Despite clear shifts in consumer preferences and behaviors, a majority of financial institutions do not currently allow their customers to select, apply for, and open new financial accounts entirely on a mobile device. There are a myriad of legal, technical, and institutional barriers standing in the way. None of these barriers is insurmountable, but collectively they represent a steep challenge for FIs to overcome.

Mercator Advisory Group’s research report, Mobile Account Opening: Adjusting to a New Normal, reviews the trends driving consumer demand for and FIs’ interest in mobile account opening (MAO) and outlines the challenges and potential solutions for enabling MAO for different financial products and customer use cases.

“Today, the mobile channel contributes a small trickle of new accounts for most banks. Within a few years, it will be a flood,” comments Alex Johnson, Director, Credit Advisory Service at Mercator Advisory Group and the author of the research report. “Changing consumer behaviors suggest an important role for mobile account opening moving forward, the question is when and how financial institutions should respond.”

This research report contains 39 pages and 18 exhibits.

Companies mentioned in this research note include: Adobe, Amazon, AU10TIX, AuthenticID, Avoka, BankMobile, BehavioSec, Betterment, Cachet Financial Solutions, CreditCards.com, Credit Karma, Equifax, Experian, Google, Gro Solutions, ID Analytics, IDology, iovation, Jumio, Lending Club, Malauzai, miiCard, Mitek, MorphoTrust USA, OnDeck Capital, Payfone, Salesforce, Socure, SoFi, Synchrony, Trunomi, Trulioo, USAA, Yodlee, and Zoot.