Jazz Gakhal, Skipton Building Society’s CEO of money, claimed new icons would make conversations about money feel more natural for young adults.
Currently, most money-related emojis feature generic or dollar-led designs, including icons such as the money bag, flying cash and face with money-sign eyes.
With more than 10 billion emojis sent every day worldwide and around 92 per cent of online users using them regularly, emojis have become a mainstream part of modern communication.
But as it stands, the only emoji to feature the pound sterling symbol is the stack of cash emoji, leaving British users without an everyday way to represent their own currency in digital conversations.
She believes the lack of symbols reflecting everyday financial experiences make conversations about money feel less relatable, particularly for younger audiences navigating spending, saving and other day-to-day financial decisions.
According to Jazz, familiar cues can play a role in encouraging people to speak more openly about money, helping to normalise conversations about finances and break down the stigma that still surrounds the topic for many people.
As part of the campaign, the building society has created and submitted a series of new emojis for consideration to help bridge the gap.
The proposed suite includes a pound sign coin, piggybank, money tree, rainy day fund, money on the mind and money talks emojis.
These have been submitted to the Unicode Consortium, the organisation responsible for reviewing and approving new emojis used across digital devices and platforms worldwide.
Jazz Gakhal, who has called for the change ahead of Emoji Day on 17th July, said: “Emojis are no longer just a fun add-on to conversations – they have become a core part of how people communicate and make themselves understood.
“Yet when it comes to talking about money in the UK, there are surprisingly few emojis that reflect the currency and financial experiences that are part of everyday life for millions of people.
“We’re calling for more everyday money and saving emojis to help people feel more comfortable talking about money, and to make money conversations feel fairer and more accessible for everyone.
“As digital communication continues to evolve, it’s important that the symbols people use reflect the experiences and situations they encounter in real life.
“Money conversations can be a social taboo, with many people still feeling uncomfortable discussing their finances, whether that’s saving for the future, managing household budgets or seeking support when times are tough.
“We believe that anything which encourages people to start those conversations is a positive step forward.
“The language and symbols we use play an important role in shaping how comfortable people feel discussing different topics, and emojis are now a key part of that everyday language
“Creating more recognisable and relatable ways to talk about finances could help make those conversations feel more natural, accessible and easier to start.
“If a simple emoji prompts someone to talk about their savings goals, seek advice, or feel more confident discussing their finances with friends, family or experts, then it has the potential to make a meaningful difference.”
Research of 2,000 adults also found that the majority of Gen Z have at least one financial topic they find awkward to discuss.
This ranges from talking about savings (47 per cent), to asking someone to pay them back (38 per cent) and discussing splitting the bill (30 per cent).
With 17 per cent of this younger generation admitting they are not confident discussing any aspect of money and finances, 38 per cent said having such conversations over text makes them feel more comfortable broaching the subject.
When asked about the current state of money-related emojis, 43 per cent of Gen Z believe more emojis representing British currency would make it easier to talk about money in everyday digital conversations.
Four in 10 (41 per cent) added it would make conversations about money feel more relatable, while 36 per cent think it would help people express financial matters more clearly.
Another 47 per cent revealed more emojis representing common money moments and phrases would also help bridge the gap, according to the survey carried out by OnePoll.
While younger adults were most likely to say emojis could help make money conversations easier, financial confidence isn’t solely a concern for Gen Z.
One in six (16 per cent) adults are not confident talking about money and finances, with this rising to 23 per cent of 45 to 54-year-olds
Almost half (47 per cent) of those aged 55 to 64 feel awkward talking about how much they have in savings, suggesting the challenge spans generations.
Overall, among all Brits polled, the emojis they would most like to see introduced include a piggy bank (22 per cent) and an emoji representing payday (21 per cent).
Others believe a digital representation of empty pockets (17 per cent), a rainy-day fund (14 per cent) and grabbing a bargain (14 per cent) would be worthwhile additions.
Jazz Gakhal from Skipton Building Society added: “Young adults today are among the first generations to have grown up entirely in a digital world, giving them unprecedented access to information, tools and ways to manage their money.
“But being digitally confident doesn’t automatically translate into feeling confident about financial decisions, particularly when money can still feel like an awkward subject to discuss.
“While younger adults are often at the forefront of digital communication, the reality is that money remains a difficult topic for people of all ages.
“Whether someone is saving for their first home, managing household budgets, building a rainy-day fund or planning for retirement, financial conversations can still feel uncomfortable or difficult to start.
“That’s why it’s important to create more opportunities for open, relatable conversations about finances and to help people build knowledge and confidence over time.
“For those looking to take the next step, seeking trusted guidance and making use of practical tools, savings products and educational resources can help turn good intentions into positive financial habits.
“And whenever those money conversations begin, Skipton is here to provide the support, guidance and resources people need to take the next step with confidence.”
