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Managing bills hardest part of adulting, says Visa study

By Vriti Gothi

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As more than half a million students prepare to begin their university journey this Autumn, new research from Visa has revealed that managing bills is the hardest part of “adulting” for UK students. The study found that 39% of students struggle more with bill management than with maintaining a clean home, eating healthy meals or even doing laundry.

The findings highlight a broader financial challenge facing students, with nearly nine in ten (88%) admitting they feel overwhelmed by handling their money. Despite 80% believing that their education prepared them for adult life, the research underscores a gap in practical financial skills, particularly in managing recurring bills and subscription payments.

Traditional methods of paying bills through direct debits and bank transfers, which have remained largely unchanged for 60 years, are failing to meet the needs of today’s digital-native students. According to Visa’s research, students frequently face unexpectedly high bills, missed payments due to insufficient funds and little control over when payments leave their accounts. These pressures often spill into daily life, with almost half of students reporting that disagreements with housemates over bills are more common than disputes over cleanliness, chores or noise.

In response, Visa has introduced Visa A2A, a new account-to-account payment technology designed to simplify and modernise bill management. The solution integrates directly into banking apps, giving students and other consumers greater visibility into their outgoings, flexibility to manage payment dates, and protection through advanced security features and a built-in dispute resolution process. In effect, Visa A2A aims to bring the level of reassurance typically associated with card payments to account-to-account transfers.

Nearly three-quarters of students surveyed said they would welcome technology that makes bill management easier, highlighting a strong demand for such innovation.

Mandy Lamb, Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Visa, said,  “By simplifying the way students manage their bills, we can give them greater visibility into how much money is coming out of their account and when, while giving them a way to recover their money if something goes wrong. Bank transfers rely on technology that has been largely the same for 60 years, which is why we’re launching Visa A2A to modernise this form of payment,” she said.

With its UK rollout now underway, Visa A2A is positioned to address the financial anxieties students face when navigating bill payments for the first time. By combining visibility, control and consumer protection, the solution seeks to redefine the account-to-account payment experience and ease one of the most pressing challenges of student life.

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