In a world of financial uncertainty, crowded digital feeds, and increasingly tight privacy regulations, fintech brands have their work cut out for them. The pressure is on to drive adoption, establish trust, and differentiate in a saturated landscape. But there’s one creative lever that’s still wildly underutilized in this space, and it’s tailor-made for today’s mobile-first user:

Interactive ads.

From playable formats to interactive end cards, gamified ads might be fintech’s best tool for turning attention into action while keeping brand trust intact.

Let’s break down the opportunity.

Fintech Adoption Is Rising, Especially Among Digital Natives

Rather than being niche, today, fintech products are the default. According to CoinLaw:

• As of Q1 2025, 74% of U.S. consumers use at least one fintech service monthly.

• Globally, adoption is even higher, with 78% of internet users relying on fintech tools.

• Among Millennials, that number jumps to a staggering 91%, with usage spanning everything from investing to budgeting.

• Gen Z is close behind: 68% now choose fintech over traditional banks for their core financial services, and 89% of urban youth under 25 prefer mobile-first finance to physical banking.

  
  

This level of engagement presents a massive opportunity for brands as well as a new creative challenge.

If everyone’s using fintech, how do you stand out?
If younger audiences are flocking to apps, how do you retain them?
And, if trust is the most important brand currency, how do you protect it while experimenting with new formats?

Interactive Ads: Built for Engagement and Trust

Interactive ads flip the script on traditional marketing. Instead of asking users to watch, they invite them to act: to tap, swipe, solve, and explore.

That shift matters, especially when it comes to breaking through the noise in today’s marketplace.

Whether you’re a budgeting app, investing platform, or payments tool, interactive ads can:

• Boost engagement by offering something to do, not just something to see.

• Humanize your brand with playful mechanics, approachable language, and real-time feedback loops.

• Build trust by demonstrating value clearly and instantly and before asking for any personal data.

In fact, formats like playables are already outperforming static ads across industries. At CRAFTSMAN+, we’ve seen a 24.18% year-over-year increase in interactive ad exports. This is a clear signal that marketers are shifting spend toward formats that actually convert.

For fintech, that’s huge. But it also comes with higher stakes.

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Data Security and Brand Trust

According to Discover’s 2024 report, 55% of Americans still cite safety fears around sharing financial data as their biggest barrier to using fintech services.

That concern is valid, and any ad strategy needs to account for it.

The good news? Interactive ads don’t have to compromise your brand’s perception of trust or professionalism. In fact, they can enhance it if built with clarity, security, and transparency in mind.

Here’s how:

• No data? No problem. Playables don’t need to collect personally identifiable information (PII) to work. You can simulate core product value (like auto-budgeting or investment insights) without asking users to share anything up front.

• Visual storytelling builds trust. Interactive formats give you more room to demonstrate your product flow, explain how security features work, or even highlight customer success stories, all in a way that’s digestible and engaging.

• Empower through education. By teaching users something (instead of just selling to them), you build confidence and foster credibility for your brand; two core drivers of fintech conversion.

So What Does That Look Like? 3 Interactive Ad Concepts for Fintech

Ready to try interactive ads in your next fintech campaign? Here are three game mechanics built to balance engagement, education, and brand trust:

1. Swipe to Learn: Educate Without Overwhelming

Works for: Budgeting apps, crypto platforms, or first-time fintech users.

Design a swipe-based quiz that walks users through a key financial concept, like: “What’s your risk tolerance?” or “How much do you spend on food delivery?” After each swipe, they receive a quick insight and can see how they compare to peers. Finish with a CTA to get a personalized report or download the app.

Why it works: You’re building knowledge, not asking for trust. It’s low-stakes, helpful, and gets users curious about your actual value.

2. Tap to Secure: Highlight Your Safety Features

Works for: Neobanks, savings apps, or platforms handling sensitive data.

Create a mini playable where users tap to “lock” different digital vaults, each representing a feature like two-factor authentication, data encryption, or transaction alerts. As they play, short pop-ups explain how each feature keeps them safe. End with a message: “Feel secure? Let’s get started.”

Why it works: You’re showing—not just telling—that security is built into your DNA. And you’re doing it in a way that’s interactive, which is to say: memorable.

3. Pick Your Financial Persona: Make the Brand Feel Human

Works for: Investing platforms, credit builders, or personal finance coaches.

Let users choose between different personas—like “The Hustler,” “The Saver,” “The Investor,” or “The Newbie”—then walk them through a gamified journey with tips and tools tailored to that financial archetype. The result? A personalized plan or CTA that feels fun and approachable, not intimidating.

Why it works: You’re tapping into Gen Z and Millennials’ desire for personalization and making the brand feel like a partner, not a lecture on financial literacy.

Why Gen Z Especially Responds to Interactivity

Zoomers don’t just like fintech, they expect it.

And when it comes to advertising, they expect more too.

With an average attention span of just 1.3 seconds for ad content, Gen Z requires instant engagement, and interactive ads are one of the only formats built to meet that demand. (We broke this down more in our full blog on 5 Ways to Engage Gen Z with Interactive Ads).

From gamified experiences to personalized journeys, interactivity is what drives clicks, connection, and conversions for younger consumers. And for fintech brands, that kind of engagement could be the difference between a bounce and a loyal customer.

Key Takeaways

🔐 Security matters. Over half of U.S. consumers still fear sharing financial data. Use interactive ads to demonstrate safety not just declare it.

👾 Playables aren’t just for games. They’re for fintech too! Especially when designed around personalization, education, or clear product value.

📱 Younger users demand more. With digital savvy demographics like Gen Z and Millennials leading fintech adoption, interactivity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have.

💡 Engagement is the new currency. If your ad doesn’t spark curiosity or offer value in the first few seconds, it’s likely getting skipped.

Ready to Make Your Fintech Brand More Human?

At CRAFTSMAN+, we specialize in building interactive ad experiences that move the needle, without sacrificing trust, clarity, or compliance. Whether you’re launching a new product or scaling your user base, our team can help you unlock new audiences and growth opportunities through powerful, interactive creative.

👉 Let’s build something that converts.