SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2025--
A new Wells Fargo survey released today finds younger generations are driving a major shift toward digital cash gifts and holiday tips — favoring convenience and choice over traditional wrapped presents. Insights from the consumer survey look into the ways people give holiday gifts to family and friends, and holiday tips to service workers. The findings highlight gift giving and receiving preference. The study also reveals the median gift/tip to service workers is $50.
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Key insights from the survey:
Steve Selfridge, Product Management Director at Wells Fargo, says, “Zelle ®1 users appreciate the convenience, safety, and reduced risk when compared to sending cash or checks — both of which can be lost, stolen, or delayed in the mail. More people are seeking the convenience of Zelle ®1 because the cash is delivered directly into the account of the person you’re gifting or tipping. The money is ready for the receiver to use however they wish.”
Digital gifting opportunity
The study found that while consumers do like receiving physical gifts, they also appreciate money. It also found that people are more comfortable receiving money than givers may realize.
“Many consider it to be a convenient gift option and takes the guesswork out of gift giving. People appreciate receiving a digital cash gift so they can spend the money on something they want, or even need. And, the study found that 36% appreciate digital cash because they actually do not like most of the physical gifts they receive. This is an easy way to make your friends and family happy this holiday season,” said Selfridge.
Saying thank you
In addition to gifting, the holidays are also a time to express gratitude to service workers by giving them a bonus or tip. 60% of consumers tip their service workers, such as their personal trainer, hair stylist, dog walker, babysitter, tutor, and delivery person. The survey found the median amount given to service workers is $50 and the average of holiday tips are highest in the South. Gen Z and Millennials are again most likely to provide tips via a digital payment app.
How holiday tips are given:
1 Enrollment with Zelle ® through Wells Fargo Online ® or Wells Fargo Business Online ® is required. Terms and conditions apply. To send or receive money with Zelle ®, both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account enrolled with Zelle ® through their bank. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. For your protection, Zelle ® should only be used for sending money to friends, family, or others you trust. Neither Wells Fargo nor Zelle ® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle ® - for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected. Payment requests to persons not already enrolled with Zelle ® must be sent to an email address. For more information, view the Zelle ® Transfer Service Addendum to the Wells Fargo Online Access Agreement. Your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. Account fees (e.g., monthly service, overdraft, Small Business Account Analysis fees) may apply to Wells Fargo account(s) with which you use Zelle ®.
Zelle ® and the Zelle ® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
About the survey
The findings are from a Wells Fargo survey, with data collection provided by Ipsos, conducted between October 30 - November 3, 2025. A sample of 2,010 American adults, aged 18 and older, were interviewed online in English, as part of Ipsos Omnibus shared survey program. The results of this research have a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for all respondents. Surveys were collected as part of a multi-client Omnibus program, where questions on various topics are included in one interview and clients share demographic information collected.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $2.1 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 33 on Fortune’s 2025 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellsfargo
News Release Category: WF-ERS
(Photo: Wells Fargo)
