As branches close and an increasing number of consumers use app-based finance services, high street banks are at a crossroads, with online alternatives set to further shake things up. Atom is a digital-only bank with a range of consumer and business accounts, but can it take digital banking nuclear?

With UK consumer confidence increasing, competition among banks is stronger than ever. Austerity has left consumers cautious, while 24/7 banking has given more access and control over personal finance. But what do people want, and how can banks entice them to switch?

Consumer banks are racing to leverage social media and win over younger customers. But with 44% of Gen Yers believing that banks don’t understand them, they’ve had little success. In Brazil, Banco Original – for ‘people who don’t need banks, but need banking’ – is about to show them how it’s done.

Visiting your local bank branch feels like a very outdated way of dealing with your money. Bank of Queensland is ditching the teller lines and glass-windowed counters for a look that’s more akin to a coffee shop. Can this initiative help the bank build stronger relationships with its customers?