Translation vs localization: What banks need to know
The ever-changing world of global banking demands more than simple content translation. Banks need to understand the significant difference between translation and localization to connect with international customers. Both elements play a vital role in financial success. Many institutions now rely on advanced AI tools like the deepl pro subscription to streamline multilingual communication and ensure accuracy across markets.
How translation is different from localization
Translation represents just one part of the broader localization process. Text conversion from one language to another defines translation. Localization includes adapting the entire banking experience to line up with cultural, linguistic, and regulatory aspects of specific markets. Financial institutions expanding globally must understand this key difference.
Language barriers get solved through translation, but cultural nuances often get missed. A properly localized banking experience makes every element appeal to local customers authentically. This includes website interfaces and marketing campaigns. To cite an instance, translating mortgage application forms counts as translation. The process becomes localization when these forms adapt to local address formats, currency symbols, and regulatory requirements.
Why localization matters in financial services
Customers trust banks more when they communicate in their native language and understand their unique needs. Financial services create deep personal connections. Recent data shows that 21% of the US population over age five—more than 65 million people—speaks a language other than English at home.
Local needs get addressed through localization in several ways:
Regulatory compliance: Financial regulations vary by country. Local laws get followed through a localized approach, which prevents legal issues.
Market relevance: Banks stay competitive in a variety of markets by offering products and services that line up with local financial behaviors and expectations.
Improved customer engagement: Customer engagement grows when banks communicate in their first language and respect cultural norms. Research proves that localized marketing campaigns and user experiences lead to higher customer acquisition rates.
Examples of localization in banking content
Banking localization shows up in many forms:
- Date and number formats: Most European countries use commas to separate numbers. The United Kingdom uses decimals. Users see the correct format based on their region in a properly localized banking app.
- Payment methods: Local payment systems need proper adaptation. Wells Fargo, TD Bank, and Truist Bank offer localized online services in Spanish, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Chinese. This strategy ranks them higher than competitors both domestically and internationally.
- Visual elements: Localized banking materials adapt to different cultural perceptions. This includes font choices and layout designs that work with different reading directions.
Local customers feel understood and valued by their financial providers through localization. This transforms banking from a simple transaction into a relationship.
Why DeepL Translate is a game-changer for banks
Financial institutions worldwide face unique challenges when they communicate across languages. AI translation tools are now essential solutions, and DeepL Translate has become especially powerful in the banking sector.
DeepL AI vs Google Translate: Which is better?
The Association of Language Companies (ALC) published a new study in 2024 that shows 82% of language service companies use DeepL. This number is nowhere near what other providers achieve - Google Translate (46%), Microsoft (32%), and Amazon AWS (17%). Language experts conducted blind tests that proved DeepL translations are 1.3x more accurate than Google and 2.3x more accurate than Microsoft.
DeepL's market share has jumped 44% in just one year. The platform now serves as the go-to translation tool for 50% of Fortune 500 companies. Google Translate covers more languages - 249 compared to DeepL's 30+. However, banks and financial institutions value accuracy over quantity for their target markets.
Speed and accuracy in financial translations
Banks cannot compromise on the precision of financial terminology. DeepL's advanced neural networks create natural, accurate translations that keep the original meaning of complex financial documents intact.
A newer study, published in 2024 by Forrester, reveals organizations using DeepL cut their translation time by 90% and achieved 345% ROI over three years. The core team's workload dropped by 50%, which saved multinational organizations €2.79 million.
KBC Bank, Belgium's largest banking and insurance company, boosted their in-house translation teams' productivity by 20% after they started using DeepL. They now safely translate up to 70 million words every month across operations in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Ireland.
Glossary support and brand consistency
DeepL's glossary feature is a great way to get consistent terminology across languages. This tool helps financial institutions:
- Keep their brand voice and specialized terminology consistent
- Build custom translation glossaries for financial products
- Use technical terms uniformly across all materials
On top of that, it recently launched a glossary generator that automatically spots important terms from previously translated documents. This saves translation teams countless hours.
Data privacy and compliance with DeepL Pro
Data security is crucial for financial institutions that handle sensitive information. DeepL Pro keeps data safe through:
- ISO 27001 certification and compliance with SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR
- Strong encryption for all data transmissions
- Immediate deletion of text after translation
- "Bring Your Own Key" encryption for enterprise clients
This strong security setup explains why 65% of UK finance professionals choose DeepL and why institutions like KBC Bank trust the platform with their sensitive communications.
DeepL Translate has become essential for forward-thinking financial institutions operating globally. Its superior accuracy, productivity benefits, terminology management, and industry-leading security features make it stand out from the competition.
How banks save 60% time with DeepL Translate
Banks worldwide can optimize their operations by turning manual translation work into efficient processes. Several financial institutions have already seen remarkable results after adding DeepL Translate to their localization strategy.
Before DeepL: Manual workflows and bottlenecks
Banks used to struggle with time-consuming translation processes that needed multiple handoffs between departments. Translation teams wasted countless hours on repetitive content. Each project needed extensive coordination between subject matter experts, translators, and reviewers. This manual approach created major bottlenecks, especially for high-volume content like help centers and support documentation. Financial institutions reported that translation cycles took weeks or even months to complete. These delays slowed down their international market expansion.
After DeepL: Integrated, automated localization
Banks have created smooth workflows that reduce manual work by connecting DeepL with translation management systems (TMS). These systems link content management directly to DeepL's API. The automated translation process maintains brand-specific terminology through custom glossaries. Translation teams can now focus on high-value content while routine materials process automatically. This improves both efficiency and output quality.
Case example: Help center and customer support content
A financial institution revolutionized its help center translation process. Their original process took about 112 hours of work monthly. After setting up an automated workflow with DeepL's glossary feature, the same work took less than 30 seconds. Delivery times dropped from 29 days to just 10 minutes. This made multilingual support almost instant.
Quantified results: Time, cost, and output volume
The numbers show DeepL's remarkable effect:
- Time savings: Total translation time dropped by 99.9% in documented cases
- Cost efficiency: Monthly translation expenses fell from €2,475 to just €0.18
- Productivity boost: Banks report 20% improved productivity for in-house translation teams
- Volume capacity: KBC Bank now safely translates up to 70 million words monthly
- Overall ROI: Organizations using DeepL achieve 345% return on investment over three years
These efficiency improvements help financial institutions serve international customers better while meeting regulatory requirements in all markets.
How to implement DeepL Translate in your bank
Banks need careful planning and execution to implement DeepL Translate well. Here's a practical guide to deploy this AI translation tool in your banking operations.
Choosing the right content to automate
A full workflow analysis will reveal translation bottlenecks in your organization. Rather than trying to automate everything at once, start with content that repeats often and offers clear returns:
- Customer-facing documentation like account forms and loan applications
- Help center articles and FAQs (which cut processing time by 99.9%)
- Internal communications between teams speaking different languages
Pick one area to start—like mortgage processing or account opening. Test how it works in a controlled setting before you expand to other departments.
Integrating DeepL API with your CMS or TMS
DeepL's API connects your content systems to its translation engine. Here's how to set it up:
- Get a DeepL API key with a Pro subscription
- Set up your API connection by choosing either:
- https://api.deepl.com/v2 for Pro accounts
- https://api-free.deepl.com/v2 for Free Tier
Next, create custom glossaries for banking terms to keep financial translations consistent. You'll get the best results by combining DeepL with a Translation Management System (TMS) that keeps formatting intact and helps automate workflows.
Training localization teams and stakeholders
DeepL Academy offers a complete set of resources that help new team members learn faster. The platform includes video guides, custom learning paths, webinars, and quick lessons based on what customers need.
The goal is to strengthen teams, not replace them. Your staff can earn DeepL certification to boost their confidence and highlight their skills on professional networks.
Monitoring quality and refining workflows
Set up multiple safety checks that give users, admin teams, and managers direct control over translations. You'll need:
- Tools to track tasks immediately
- Options to pause and review critical content
- Human review for important translations
Create ways for localization teams to improve glossary terms based on real usage. This ongoing process will make translations more accurate and efficient over time.
Conclusion
Banks today must deal with global communication challenges that make localization a necessity. This piece shows how DeepL Translate emerges as the best solution for financial institutions. It helps them connect with international customers in meaningful ways.
Simple translation differs greatly from detailed localization. This difference matters to any bank with global goals. DeepL tackles this need by offering more than basic language conversion. It keeps the nuance and context that financial communications need.
Tests show DeepL outperforms competitors like Google Translate with 1.3x more accurate translations. This accuracy helps banks handle complex financial terms and regulations that change across markets.
The time savings make DeepL worth the investment. Banks have seen amazing results - translation times dropped by 99.9% in some cases. Delivery times went from 29 days to just 10 minutes. These improvements let banks serve international customers faster while following regulations in all markets.
Security remains the top priority for financial institutions. DeepL Pro meets these needs with ISO 27001 certification and SOC 2 Type 2 compliance. It uses strong encryption protocols. These security features explain why 65% of UK finance professionals trust DeepL with sensitive data.
Setting up DeepL needs careful planning but pays off well. Banks should start with high-volume content and merge the DeepL API into their systems. Teams need proper training and quality monitoring systems to get the best results.
Financial institutions that use advanced tools like DeepL set themselves up for success in the global market. They save money and learn how to build real connections with customers worldwide. This approach turns regular banking into lasting relationships based on understanding and trust.
