More smartphones in more hands add up to a looming explosion inmobile banking. That is the vivid conclusion of a new report issuedby Intuit Financial Services, the Intuit group that developsproducts to get credit unions and banks online and mobile.

An important finding in the research is that generations matterwhen it comes to mobile banking: 18-32 year olds are three timesmore likely to adopt mobile banking than older users are.

But Intuit spokesperson Tobin Lee stressed Wednesday that the realfinding of the report is that all of us, regardless of age, justare increasingly comfortable using mobile devices in many parts ofour lives.

“Folks are doing a lot more from the palm of their hands,” saidLee.

Another key Intuit metric: “Nearly one in four Americanscurrently uses mobile banking, and another 17% plan to try it in2012,” said Lee.

The survey also found:

64% said that tracking account balancesis the most important feature they use while banking online,followed by paying bills (34%) and transferring funds (28%). Meantime, 65% access account info via the Internet, while 28% use amobile app issued by their financial institution.

Lee insisted in an interview that it is not necessarilyeither/or – that is, not a choice between mobile banking or onlinebanking.

“People are using multiple devices – it's not just mobile oronline. People manage their lives on these devices and they areusing many types in many places,” he said. “Institutions have tobuild this into their strategies.”

Intuit said it plans to hold a Twitter TownHallon Thursday to discuss the survey results in detail.