Ready to switch teams for Brazil 2014?

New research reveals that more than one in four Irish adults will be supporting England in Brazil 2014

#feelingswitchy

Switching teams is set to become a national sport this summer, as new research from permanent tsb reveals that more that one in four (28%) Irish adults will be cheering on England during the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

The research, carried out by Amárach Research on behalf of permanent tsb as part of their Switching Index, shows that while Ireland maybe not be playing this summer, the Green Army will be far from quiet during the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Research highlights revealed that:

• England is the team that most Irish people will be supporting this summer (28%), showing that the ‘Old Enemy’ is well and truly a thing of the past for Irish football fans.
• Spain is the next most popular team for Irish fans, with one in six (16%) indicating their support for the current World Champions.
• Other popular choices include host nation Brazil and other tournament favourites Germany (9% each) – perhaps indicating that Irish football fans are keen to back a winning team this summer!

Commenting on the findings, Gerard O’Neill, from Amárach Research said:

Even though Ireland won’t be taking part in the World Cup this summer, there is a huge amount of consumer interest in Brazil 2014, with a significant ‘feel good’ factor associated with the competition. That feel good factor is also traditionally also associated with a loosening of purse strings and a boost to consumer confidence. The findings also confirm a more modern view on our traditionally competitive relationship with our nearest neighbours - the research was conducted around the time of the State visit to Britain by President Michael D. Higgins, which may also have contributed to that warm and fuzzy feeling.

Based on research conducted by Amárach Research on behalf of permanent tsb, the Switching Index is designed to compare and contrast consumer loyalty and satisfaction across a range of household necessities and to explore the reasons why consumers switch in each area, why they don’t, as well as their overall attitudes to money. The research was carried out amongst a nationally aligned sample in April 2014.

Research released as part of the Switching Index earlier this week shows that just one in ten Irish people switched current bank account provider in the last 12 months.

Last year, permanent tsb bucked the trend of other Irish banks who have started pushing up current account fees, by introducing banking without senseless fees - no quarterly or day to day transaction fees and no minimum balance to be maintained when a customer lodges €1,500 per month. There is a €12 quarterly fee if you don’t lodge €1,500 a month. Other transaction charges may apply.

More than 40,000 customers opened a current account with permanent tsb in 2013 and more than 20,000 customers have joined permanent tsb since the beginning of 2014.

Find out if you are a ‘Power Switcher’ and how much you stand to save by taking the online test. Tweet us your switching stories at @askpermanenttsb or using #feelingswitchy

About the permanent tsb Switching Index

The permanent tsb Switching Index is a new report designed to compare and contrast consumer loyalty across a range of household necessities and to explore the reasons why consumers switch in each area, as well as their overall attitudes to switching, spending and saving.

Amárach Research has worked with permanent tsb to design a measure of just how ready, willing and able Irish consumers are to switch suppliers across a range of household necessities. The sectors covered are electricity, broadband, car insurance, mobile phone providers and banking.

The permanent tsb Switching Index is based upon consumer responses to the following questions:

• Level of customer satisfaction / frustration with their current provider
• Range of choice available in each category
• Positive / negative sentiment about a provider / sector
• Whether bills / charges are rising or falling in that category
• Likelihood of changing provider in the next 12 months

The answers to these questions are then combined to create the permanent tsb Switching Index for each category. The Index ranges from 0 to 100 - the closer the Index is to zero then the lower the probability that consumers will switch in a particular category, while the closer it is to 100 then the greater the likelihood they will switch.

Research was carried out by Amárach Research, through an online survey, conducted amongst 1001 adults aged 15+. Quotas were set on gender, age, social class and region to achieve a sample aligned with the national population. Interviewing fieldwork was conducted in April 2014.

About permanent tsb

With permanent tsb’s current account, customers can avoid quarterly fees, direct debit fees and day-to-day transaction fees. Details as follows:

• No quarterly fees or day-to-day transaction fees when you lodge €1,500 a month (if you don’t lodge €1,500 every month, you’ll have to pay €12 a quarter).
• Other transaction charges may apply eg: unpaid items or ATM usage outside the EU. See our fees & charges booklet for more info.
• You don't need to maintain a minimum balance on the account.
• 1% Annual Equivalent rate (AER) (variable) Credit Interest on balances up to €1,500.
• A Switch Buddy to make switching hassle-free.
• eStatements only with this account.
• Available to personal customers only.

Terms and conditions apply. Generally interest is subject to Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) at the prevailing rate but is subject to change.

Award winning switcher team refers to our Contact Centre Management Association award. Details can be found on www.ccma.ie

For more information on how to avoid senseless current account fees – visit the Switch Centre, tweet us @askpermanenttsb or call 1890 500 188.