This week marks Global Money Week 2026—a global campaign promoted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to help young people build strong financial knowledge and skills.
As part of this international initiative, CRIF reaffirms its long‑standing commitment to empowering people and organizations with knowledge, clarity, and informed decision-making—core elements for promoting financial inclusion and responsible growth.
For more than 35 years, CRIF has been a global leader in credit and business information and credit risk solutions. This role allows the company not only to deliver financial health and affordability services to consumers and institutions, but also to actively contribute to a broader understanding of the financial ecosystem through research and data‑driven insights.
Here are some of CRIF’s key initiatives:
Research and Market Outlooks
CRIF contributes to a deeper understanding of the financial ecosystem through a wide range of research activities and market observatories designed to inform consumers, professionals, and institutions.
Among the most prominent initiatives for consumers are:
- The Credit Map, a six-monthly interactive study that offers a clear picture of credit behavior across Italy, helping individuals interpret key indicators and regional trends;
- The Cybersecurity Observatory, which tracks the exposure of individuals and companies to cyber risks worldwide, drawing on intelligence from both the open web and dark web;
- The Credit Fraud Observatory, which provides evidence-based insights into evolving fraud patterns in Italy, supporting banks and institutional stakeholders in refining their prevention strategies.
Beyond consumer-facing education, CRIF also supports professionals and financial institutions through research on business credit developments, non-performing exposures, Buy Now Pay Later dynamics, open banking behaviors, Know Your Customer trends, and ESG transition risk.
Together, these analyses offer a structured view of emerging risks, sector dynamics, and technological shifts—delivering data-driven insights that guide strategic decision-making and contribute to a more transparent, resilient, and responsible financial landscape.
Banking on Banks
“Banking on Banks” is a series of reports that brings together in‑depth analyses and exclusive insights on financial services, based on the opinions of consumers and financial-sector professionals across multiple European countries and the UK.
Since 2022, the reports have examined the trends reshaping the relationship between consumers and banks, insurance companies, and financial service providers. The aim is to support the development of new solutions, particularly in countries that do not have access to credit bureau data.
In 2025, for its fourth edition, the study surveyed 6,000 consumers across five countries (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK) and 200 professionals (UK), resulting in two comprehensive reports. These publications analyze how the sector has evolved over the past decade and explore the expected trends for the next ten years, integrating both consumer and industry perspectives:
- Banking on Banks 2025: A Decade of Transformation in Financial Services
The European financial sector has undergone profound change, driven by digitalization and the growing adoption of online and mobile services. Consumers recognize the value of innovation, yet they express concern about losing personal interaction with their providers. There is also increasing apprehension about the slowdown in ESG initiatives. Meanwhile, Europe’s financial leadership faces mounting pressure from the rise of new hubs in Asia and the Middle East. - Banking on Banks 2025: Europe’s Financial Services on the Road to 2030
The European financial services sector is undergoing significant transformation, shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and rapid technological innovation. Consumers are demanding new digital solutions, stronger security, and a higher level of personalization. The report explores how these behaviors are expected to evolve toward 2030 and the challenges and opportunities that financial institutions will face. GenAI will play a central role, with its potential requiring careful and responsible governance.
Inside GenAI Series
CRIF’s work to advance financial knowledge is part of a broader, long-term commitment: supporting people, businesses, and institutions as they navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape. By combining education, research and digital innovation, CRIF contributes to a more transparent, informed and inclusive ecosystem—one where knowledge creates opportunity, strengthens decision-making, and builds resilience. As part of this commitment, CRIF continuously develops forward-looking analyses on GenAI, exploring its evolution and implications for organizations, risk management, and regulatory frameworks. Recent publications include:
- GenAI Trends 2026: Industry Overview and Implications
A clear overview of the key GenAI trends transforming industries—from agentic AI to multimodal models and AI‑enhanced customer experiences—highlighting their strategic impact and the opportunities they create for organizations. - Responsible GenAI Use: Addressing Legal and Ethical Challenges
The rapid evolution of GenAI has outstripped the pace of existing legal and ethical frameworks. This makes responsible adoption—anchored in human values, privacy protection, transparency, and accountability—crucial across both professional and personal domains. - Generative AI Adoption. A Comprehensive Survey
Insights from CRIF market research on how organizations are integrating GenAI, covering strategic approaches, technological complexity, skills shortages, perceived benefits, and the increasing reliance on external partners. - The Key Security and Safety Challenges in Adopting GenAI
An accessible overview of the main risks associated with GenAI systems, emphasizing the need for robust security, safety, and accuracy frameworks to ensure trustworthy and responsible implementation.
These initiatives reflect CRIF’s ongoing commitment to expanding financial understanding and supporting smarter, more responsible decision-making across the entire ecosystem.
