The Cognitive Minimization Bias

The Digital Overload Effect
Users receive dozens of notifications every day: messages, alerts, promotions, updates… Bank SMS messages become background noise. They are perceived as a formality, not an alert. This saturation reduces the attention paid to each message, even if it concerns money.

The Cognitive Minimization Bias
Psychologically, an isolated expense seems harmless. A €3 coffee, a €10 subscription, a €50 withdrawal… taken individually, these amounts don't trigger an alarm. The brain minimizes their impact, especially when the remaining balance still seems “acceptable.”

Habit and Routine
Receiving an SMS after each transaction becomes a routine. The user gets used to it, sometimes reads it without really reading it, or deletes it automatically. This conditioned behavior prevents a real awareness of the accumulation of expenses.