A growing number of people are open to professional help:
31 percent of Dutch households face immediate financial problems if the cost of living or fixed expenses increase unexpectedly. This is the outcome of a study by Ipsos I&O commissioned by ABN AMRO Helps, a division of the bank that provides free support around finances and banking. These results highlight a harsh reality: more than half of Dutch households are not financially healthy and lack sufficient buffers.
The study also shows that people don't always see asking for help as an obvious step. Although 77 percent indicate they could use assistance with banking and financial matters, the vast majority of these people (91 percent) do not seek it. Dutch people often find it difficult to ask for help and mainly turn to their partners or families. On top of that, a quarter put this off for as long as possible and don't reach out until it is in fact too late, while the bank says early support can be preventive and can enhance financial health. 'Do not hesitate to ask for help; support is often closer than you think,' says Laura Wetser, Director of
Seeking help makes things better
Whether you need to get control over your finances or have questions about paying with the app, Wetser advises proactively seeking support if you're unsure about anything - either from the bank or from the people around you. 'It's quite normal to feel uncertain about your finances at times, especially when you're entering a new phase of life and your needs change.' With this in mind, the bank also tries to anticipate the need for help by reaching out to people who are struggling for any reason. 'We are already seeing this approach yield results: In May, nearly five times as many clients came forward with questions about their finances,' says Wetser.
The bank is encouraged by the recent increase in openness to professional support. Advisers at ABN AMRO Helps now see people of all ages seeking support with their banking or finances. Wetser explains: 'Knowing that most people prefer to manage their banking online, we help them move forward with a personal meeting or online tips and tools when they get stuck.' To accommodate the increase in requests for help and assist more people in the way that suits them best, the bank is doubling the number of advisers in
Why don't we always ask for help?
Behavioural psychologist
1 in 4 Dutch people only ask for help when it's actually too late
A quarter feel ashamed to ask for help
A third don't want to show that they don't understand or can't do something
A relatively large proportion of Dutch people aged 18-34 indicate that they only ask for help when it's actually too late and don't want to show that they don't understand something
In more than half of cases (55 percent)
END OF PRESS RELEASE
About 'ABN AMRO Helps - when you need a hand'
About the Ipsos I&O study
The study was conducted by Ipsos I&O on behalf of
*About the study:
The study was conducted online, which excluded people with limited reading skills, digital skills, or limited internet access. People who assist others with their financial and banking affairs were included. Additionally,
(C) 2024 Electronic News Publishing, source