Lloyds Highlights Investment Confidence Gap Despite Strong Engagement Among Young Women

Lloyds Highlights Investment Confidence Gap Despite Strong Engagement Among Young Women

(IN BRIEF) Lloyds data shows that young women using its Invest Wise platform are building average investment portfolios of £14,040, which is 49 percent larger than the average £9,450 portfolio held by young men, despite women representing only 32 percent of investors aged 18 to 25 on the platform. The data also shows that 69 percent of young female Invest Wise account holders are classed as active investors, compared with 56 percent of young male investors, suggesting that lower participation rather than lower engagement may be the key issue among younger women. Separate analysis of new Lloyds investment customers across all age groups found that women often take a more measured approach when starting to invest, taking 17 days on average to fund accounts compared with 13 days for men, making fewer trades in the first 90 days and initially funding slightly smaller amounts. Lloyds Investment Specialist Lauren Gradys said the findings indicate the need to help more young women feel confident taking the first step into investing by making the process simpler, easier to understand and more accessible.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 19-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Lloyds data shows that young women who invest are building significantly larger portfolios than young men and are more likely to actively manage their investments, despite remaining underrepresented among younger investors.

The findings come from Invest Wise, Lloyds’ investment platform that offers no account fees to customers aged 18 to 25.

According to the data, young women account for less than a third, or 32 percent, of Invest Wise investors.

However, women aged 18 to 25 who use the platform hold an average investment portfolio worth £14,040.

This is 49 percent more than the average portfolio held by young men, which stands at £9,450.

The difference represents almost £4,600 more on average in portfolios held by young female investors.

Young women using the platform are also more active in managing their investments.

Lloyds said 69 percent of female Invest Wise account holders are classed as active investors, compared with 56 percent of male account holders.

The findings challenge common assumptions about investing and suggest that, among younger women, the issue may be participation rather than engagement.

Women take a more measured start to investing

Separate analysis of new Lloyds investment customers across all age groups suggests that women often take a more measured approach when beginning their investment journey.

Women who opened a new investment account during 2025 typically took longer than men to fund their accounts, made fewer trades in their first 90 days and initially invested slightly smaller amounts.

According to Lloyds, women took an average of 17 days from account opening to first funding, compared with 13 days for men.

Women made an average of 1.22 trades in the first 90 days, while men made 1.94 trades.

Average funding in the first 90 days stood at £12,110 for women and £13,180 for men.

After 90 days, the average portfolio value was £10,550 for women and £14,260 for men.

Women held 89 percent of their portfolio in securities, compared with 92 percent for men.

Lauren Gradys, Investment Specialist at Lloyds, said one of the most striking findings is that while young women are less likely to invest than men, those who do are often highly engaged and building larger portfolios.

She said the data suggests that the challenge is not a lack of interest in investing, but helping more young women feel confident about taking the first step.

Gradys said investing can sometimes feel complicated or intimidating, particularly for first-time investors.

She added that getting started does not have to mean investing large sums of money or becoming an expert immediately.

Making investing simpler, easier to understand and more accessible can help more people feel comfortable beginning their investment journey, she said.

Lloyds outlines steps for first-time investors

Lloyds also highlighted several points for people considering how to begin investing.

The bank said investors do not need a large lump sum to get started and can begin from as little as £20 a month, with the focus on building a regular habit.

It also pointed to the use of a Stocks and Shares ISA as a tax-efficient way to invest, with the current tax year allowance standing at £20,000.

Lloyds said investors should avoid trying to time the market and should instead focus on time in the market.

Investing smaller amounts regularly, known as pound-cost averaging, can help smooth out market volatility.

The bank also said investing is generally suited to goals that are at least five years away, giving money time to grow and helping investors ride out short-term market fluctuations.

Lloyds encouraged investors to consider their own risk appetite before investing, including whether they are comfortable with the value of investments rising and falling in exchange for the possibility of higher returns.

The bank also highlighted the importance of diversification, noting that spreading money across different investment types, industries and geographic regions can help reduce risk.

Ready-made funds can provide one route to diversification without requiring investors to select individual stocks.

The findings underline the importance of improving participation among young women investors while also showing that those who do invest through Invest Wise are active, engaged and building larger portfolios than their male peers.

Notes to Editors

Methodology

Figures are based on analysis of Lloyds Banking Group investment customer data.

Invest Wise analysis is based on customers aged 18 to 25 holding an Invest Wise account as at 30 April 2026.

The wider customer analysis refers to customers who opened a new investment account with Lloyds Banking Group during the 2025 calendar year. 

SOURCE: Lloyds Bank plc