Alkami Technology, Inc. has released a new report examining how women are expected to play a central role in the major intergenerational wealth shift taking place in the U.S. and what financial institutions must do to retain their loyalty. The report, First Beneficiaries: How Financial Institutions Can Serve Women Through Inherited Wealth, expands on research carried out alongside Jason Dorsey and The Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK).

The study looks at the significant wealth transfer forecast over the next 25 years, now estimated to total $124 trillion, and outlines how women will increasingly become primary financial decision-makers for family assets. It also sets out expectations women have around digital banking, highlighting the need for tailored digital services to maintain long-term banking relationships.

Adriana Freeman, vice president of marketing and engagement at Signal Financial Federal Credit Union, said the findings deliver essential direction for the industry. “This research gives us both a mirror and a roadmap. It reflects areas where we can do more to understand and engage women meaningfully and shows us what’s possible when we get it right,” she said. “The wealth transfer is a catalyst, but the real shift is in how we build relevance, trust, and personal connection long before that moment. It goes beyond optimizing capabilities to reimagining the entire approach towards fostering the banking relationship digitally.”

Key digital banking trends from the research show:

• 93% of women say user experience and functionality matter to them
  
• 87% value the quality of online customer service
  
• Their primary bank is most significant because it is where they do most online or mobile banking (50%), use their debit card most frequently (49%),receive direct deposits (44%) or hold most of their money (44%).
  

Marla Pieton, senior director of research and influencer marketing at Alkami, said the moment represents a major shift in financial services. “As the largest wealth transfer in history begins to unfold, women are poised to become the primary financial decision-makers in households and businesses across the country. This is a pivotal moment for financial institutions to show up differently,” she said. “By delivering anticipatory experiences that feel one-to-one, not one-size-fits-all, banks and credit unions can show up as true partners. Women are looking for personalization and support as they navigate their financial journey. The financial institutions that recognize that will shape the future of banking while building trust, strengthening relationships, and earning long-term loyalty.”

The company said the insights align with its Women in Banking initiative, developed to ensure female perspectives and expectations remain a priority as digital banking evolves.