Measuring customer loyalty to financial institutions (FIs) differs from measuring customer loyalty to most other institutions, products or services. Banks sometimes keep customers because of the perceived hassle factor associated with switching to a new FI. Slightly more than two-thirds (68 percent) of FI customers agree that “switching my primary checking account to a different financial institution is more hassle than it’s worth.” But our research with 3,000 consumers shows that customers who merely stick with their FIs due to inertia aren’t loyal and don’t keep a large share of their deposits and/or loans with their primary checking account provider. A long-term customer doesn’t necessarily equal a loyal customer. And, a loyal customer is not necessarily a profitable one.