Digital-only banks are set to launch in the UK this year, and consumers are set to quickly accept them as part of their daily life, according to new research.

The first digital-only banks, including Atom and Starling, will launch this year with no retail branches on the high street or telephone services - instead all transactions will take place online or via mobile devices.

According to research from digital financial services software provider Intelligent Environments, one in three believe that such accounts will outnumber traditional ones within five years.

However, the uptake may be slow at first, as while consumers seem willing to acknowledge the move online, only one in eight said they would switch this year, and more than half those surveyed said they wouldn't switch because they didn't like the idea of not being able to speak to someone in person when they had a problem.

David Webber, managing director of Intelligent Environments, said: "Digital-only banks are in a strong position to cause major disruption to traditional providers when they launch in the UK later this year.

"Our research shows that people believe these new providers will offer superior online and mobile services. When taken together with the lower operating and efficiency costs naturally incurred by not having any branches, digital-only banks will be in a very competitive position indeed."

The firm's research suggested that the rise of mobile and internet banking has made people more open to the idea of digital-only banks.

When the Apple Watch launched last week, it did so with a banking app from Barclays, and Apple Pay - the technology giant's own mobile payment system that turns the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch into contactless payment cards linked to a bank account - is set to launch in the UK later this year.

Apps like Barclays Pingit already enable users to transfer money using a mobile phone number, while Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat all have various systems in place that enable mobile or digital transactions between users.

"However, digital-only banks do not spell the end for traditional branches," added Mr Webber.

"As our research shows, many of the UK's banking customers still like the personal touch. In-branch services are still highly valued by a significant proportion of the population, while others have voiced concerns about not being able to speak to a customer service representative in person if they had a problem.

"In fact, traditional providers have a fantastic opportunity now to improve their digital and mobile services, and to focus on providing a superior in-branch experience for customers."