ABA Morning Consult Survey: U.S. adults are wary of AI agents handling their money, bank Information

U.S. Adults Are Wary of AI Agents Handling Their Money and Bank Information

• 4 in 5 adults agree:
  • consumers should not be required to share their online banking username and password with an AI tool to get help managing their finances
  • a bank should be able to know whether it is dealing with a customer or the customer’s AI agent
• 3 in 4 say banks should be able to require AI agents to show adequate privacy and security protections before giving them access to customers’ personal information
• 3 in 4 are concerned about giving an AI tool or agent permission to move money, make payments or carry out other financial transactions for them
• Only 27% are likely to use an AI agent to autonomously manage cash balances in their bank account in the next 12 months
• 1 in 5 say an AI agent has already asked them for login credentials or card numbers
• 74% care if the business that handles their finances is held to the same legal and regulatory requirements as a bank

Americans Want Congress to Protect Local Lending in Establishing Digital Asset Rules

• By a 5-to-1 margin, respondents agree that in establishing the first-ever rules for digital assets like cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in the U.S., lawmakers and the administration should avoid steps that could weaken our existing financial system
• 7 in 10 would be concerned if banks had less money available to make loans to individuals and businesses in their communities
• By a 4-to-1 margin, consumers say policymakers should prohibit crypto companies from offering interest-like rewards for holding stablecoins that threaten to siphon the bank deposits that drive local lending

Consumer Interest in Crypto and Other Digital Assets Remains Limited

• Only 17% currently own digital assets
• Only 30% have ever owned digital assets
• 6 in 10 are unlikely to buy, hold or use digital assets such as cryptocurrencies in the next 12 months
• 3 in 5 say digital assets are NOT relevant to their day-to-day financial life

Source: Morning Consult, on behalf of the American Bankers Association, conducted an online survey from October 9–12, 2026. The margin of error is plus or minus 1 percentage point, from a weighted national sample of 4,402 adults.