> all felt a few years behind as well

A few years behind whom, though? Consumer banking in the UK is eons ahead of America, and the UK has had a very dynamic and competitive consumer phone sector for years.

US banking is possibly the most backward in all of the world. Even most (all?) of Africa has a leg up.

Having lived in both the England and the US, I'd say that England's cities feel a few years behind American cities in terms of tech, but their rural areas seem a few years ahead of America's rural areas. I can't speak to other parts of the UK, but the gap in America is absolutely huge.

In which way is banking behind? Within EU, you can transfer money for free. You can automate your monthly payments or let companies draw the money. What else is there to offer?

Try to get a French company (take its largest insurer for instance) to send a transfer to elsewhere in the EU. They'll insist on sending cheques (which can't be cached outside of France). I'm still waiting on my refund two years later.