Gen Z Uses Mobile Apps and BNPL to Build Financial Discipline

Research from PYMNTS Intelligence and the U.S. Federal Reserve indicates that Gen Z is not a generation of impulsive spenders. Young consumers combine mobile banking, digital wallets, debit cards and buy now, pay later services as tools for budgeting, managing installments and building credit. They also save a slightly larger share of their income than other generations, accelerating the digital transformation of retail and financial services.

On March 30, 2026, PYMNTS Intelligence released a survey of 2,108 U.S. adults showing that Gen Z’s use of digital wallets for its most recent retail purchase rose from 15% in March 2024 to 36% in November 2025. Among consumers under high financial stress, the most recent grocery and retail purchases averaged $109 and $111, respectively. A separate March 20 report found that 56% of Gen Z consumers struggled to track when installments on store cards were due.