The Most Important Customer Data in Banking – First-, Second-, Third- and Zero-Party Data at a Glance
In modern banking and for credit card providers, precise customer data is the key to successful personalization, customer segmentation, and targeted marketing campaigns. But not all data is created equal. Distinguishing between First-Party Data, Second-Party Data, Third-Party Data, and Zero-Party Data is crucial to using data sources effectively, meeting compliance requirements, and maximizing business value.
This guide provides a clear definition of each data category, shows typical use cases in the financial sector, and gives best practices for banks to optimize data quality and utilization.
1. First-Party Data – Your Own Customer Data
Definition:
First-Party Data is data directly obtained from the bank or credit card provider through the customer relationship. It is generated via your own channels such as online banking, mobile apps, customer service, branch visits, or transactions.
Examples in Banking:
- Transaction history (e.g., payments, standing orders, card transactions)
- Account information (balance, account type)
- Online banking logins and usage behavior
- Responses to email campaigns or push notifications
Advantages:
- Highest accuracy and timeliness
- GDPR-compliant use (with proper consent)
- Direct control over data collection and maintenance
Best Practice for Banks:
Use First-Party Data for customer value analysis (Customer Lifetime Value), churn prevention, and targeted cross-selling offers (e.g., credit card upgrades based on spending behavior).
2. Second-Party Data – Data Partnerships in the Financial Sector
Definition:
Second-Party Data is another organization’s First-Party Data shared via a direct agreement. In banking, this can include partner banks, co-branded credit card partners, or insurance companies.
Examples in Banking:
- Data from co-branded credit card programs (e.g., airline or retail partnerships)
- Payment information from merchant banks (acquirers)
- Customer preferences from partner programs
Advantages:
- Higher data quality than Third-Party Data
- Access to extended customer insights without anonymous mass sources
Best Practice for Banks:
Second-Party Data is suitable for optimizing joint loyalty programs or precisely selecting target audiences for partner campaigns.
3. Third-Party Data – External Market Data
Definition:
Third-Party Data is collected by external data providers and sold to banks or financial service providers. It does not originate from a direct customer relationship.
Examples in Banking:
- Socio-demographic data from market research institutes
- Location and movement data from app networks
- Industry information about merchants
Advantages:
- Rapid audience scaling
- Complements First-Party Data with market and environmental information
Risks:
- Lower accuracy
- Higher GDPR compliance risk
- Increasing restrictions due to privacy laws
Best Practice for Banks:
Use Third-Party Data selectively, e.g., for market entry analyses or campaigns in new regions, and always validate with First-Party Data.
4. Zero-Party Data – Voluntarily Provided Customer Information
Definition:
Zero-Party Data is information voluntarily provided by customers via surveys, profile inputs, or interaction tools.
Examples in Banking:
- Product preferences (e.g., “I am interested in sustainable investments”)
- Feedback on banking services
- Self-entered savings goals or financial plans in the banking app
Advantages:
- Maximum relevance for personalized offers
- Direct customer consent
- Valuable complement to transaction data
Best Practice for Banks:
Collect Zero-Party Data purposefully during onboarding and in existing customer campaigns to tailor offers to individual life situations.
Table: Comparison of Data Types in Banking
| Data Type | Source | Accuracy | Privacy Risk | Banking Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-Party Data | Voluntary customer input | Very high | Very low | Preferences, feedback |
| First-Party Data | Own customer channels | High | Low | Transactions, logins |
| Second-Party Data | Partner companies | High | Medium | Co-branded data |
| Third-Party Data | External providers | Medium | High | Market data, location |
The Comprehensive Banking Data List by Category
Abbreviations: ZP = Zero-Party | 1P = First-Party | 2P = Second-Party | 3P = Third-Party
Customer Master Data
- Name, date of birth, gender (1P)
- Contact details including opt-ins (1P)
- Preferred language & contact channel (ZP)
- Preferred branch/advisor (ZP)
Profile & Preferences
- Savings goals (ZP)
- Investment horizon, risk profile (ZP)
- Sustainability preferences in investments (ZP)
- Product interests (e.g., mortgage, securities account) (ZP)
- Travel plans for credit card limits/geoblocking (ZP)
Demographics & Household
- Marital status, household size (ZP/3P)
- Place of residence, ZIP clusters (1P)
- Income range (1P/3P modeled)
- Employment status (ZP/1P)
Transaction Data – The Gold in Banking
- Individual account movements: date, time, amount, recipient/sender (1P)
- Credit card transactions: amount, merchant name, MCC (1P)
- Standing orders & direct debits (1P)
- Cash withdrawals & deposits (1P)
- POS vs. e-commerce usage (1P)
- Foreign transactions (1P)
- Revenue volume per category (modeled from MCC) (1P)
- Credit line usage, overdraft frequency (1P)
- Returned payments & chargebacks (1P)
- Transaction frequency & intervals (1P)
Digital Usage
- Login frequency mobile/app/online banking (1P)
- Features used (e.g., multibanking, transfer templates) (1P)
- Drop-off points in application processes (1P)
- Self-service tools vs. contact (1P)
- Feature wish list (ZP)
CRM & Customer Service
- Consultation appointments & topics (1P)
- Complaints & requests (1P)
- Satisfaction scores (NPS/CSAT) (ZP)
- Reasons for termination (ZP/1P)
- Service channel preferences (ZP)
Partner & Loyalty Data
- Co-brand program participation (1P/2P)
- Points, miles, status level (1P/2P)
- Redemption behavior (1P/2P)
- Partner transactions (e.g., purchases with airline partners) (2P)
Corporate Customer Data
- Industry (1P/3P)
- Company size (1P/3P)
- Payment behavior of business accounts (1P)
- Credit & guarantee volumes (1P)
- Payment flows by region/country (1P)
Risk & Compliance
- Scores from internal models (1P)
- KYC data & identification documents (1P)
- PEP & sanction list checks (1P/3P)
- AML alerts (1P)
- Fraud patterns (1P)
Conclusion – Data Strategy in Banking
A successful data strategy for banks and credit card providers is based on a First-Party-First approach: maximize own data sources, strategically use Second-Party data partnerships, critically evaluate Third-Party data, and integrate Zero-Party Data as a premium addition for genuine personalization.
Banks that use customer data in a structured and compliance-compliant way not only gain more customer trust but also significantly increase the ROI of their marketing and CRM efforts.
Do you feel like you could use your data more effectively? Contact us for a free consultation!