Every lender shares the same problem: consumers intend to pay, but friction gets in the way. Apps crash, logins are forgotten, and portals require multi-step processes that most customers don’t feel like dealing with.
New data from, ‘The Messaging Evolution: Exploring Consumer Motivation and Behavior in the Age of RCS,’ makes one thing clear: when payment actions are embedded directly in the message, payments skyrocket.
Key Takeaways
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- 76% of consumers would set up auto-pay via RCS.
- 59% want payment reminders delivered through RCS.
- 54% are open to scheduling payments directly inside the message.
- 40% of Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X strongly prefer or prefer RCS for making a payment over using a mobile app.
Why RCS Drives Higher Payment Completion
RCS payments eliminate the most common drop-off points:
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- No portal login
- No app downloads
- No worrying about phishing links
Instead, consumers receive a trusted, verified, branded message with a simple action button to pay, schedule, or confirm.
And the preference shift is notable: 40% of Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X already prefer RCS for making a payment over using a mobile app, which means messaging is quickly becoming the default destination for financial tasks.
RCS also improves upstream engagement with 59% of consumers saying they want their payment reminders delivered through RCS, giving lenders a more visible and trusted channel to reach borrowers before the due date even arrives.
Autopay Enrollment Becomes Effortless
Autopay is the most important lever for reducing delinquency and increasing predictable recurring revenue. RCS drives higher adoption because:
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- Enrollment feels safe
- The action requires one click
- Customers don’t have to navigate to another channel
When 76% of consumers say they will set up autopay via RCS, it represents one of the biggest opportunities for lenders to improve cash flow stability.
RCS Aligns with the Way Consumers Already Manage Their Financial Lives
Consumers want immediacy for critical tasks like payments, but they also want simplicity. RCS payments outperform app-based payment journeys because:
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- Messaging is where consumers already spend their time
- RCS feels more conversational and less transactional
- Verified branding increases trust at the moment of money movement
And critically, RCS enables actions beyond simple “pay now” buttons. The research shows 54% of consumers are open to scheduling payments directly inside the message, enabling lenders to support more flexible repayment workflows, without forcing the user into an app or portal.
When paying, scheduling, or enrolling in autopay is as simple as tapping a button in a message, on-time payments increase. It’s that simple.
