Moneypenny finds most Texans still answer unknown calls

Moneypenny’s survey of 1,001 Texans found that 89% still pick up calls from numbers they do not recognize, even as responses at the start and end of calls remain largely conventional. The research also points to clear age, gender and city differences in how Texans greet callers, say goodbye and think about AI receptionists.

Why it matters: - Moneypenny’s findings suggest phone calls remain a durable communication channel in Texas, even as people become more selective about who they talk to. - The survey also shows that age, gender and city still shape everyday phone habits, which matters for businesses using phone-based customer service. - Attitudes toward AI receptionists could affect how quickly automated phone tools gain acceptance if they feel too human or too localized.

What happened: - Moneypenny surveyed 1,001 Texans about how they answer and end phone calls. - The company released the research on October 8, 2026, after an earlier study on Texas language trends. - The survey found that 89% of Texans answer calls from numbers they do not recognize. - Eric Schurke, CEO North America at Moneypenny, said the result was surprising and showed the strength of the phone channel.

The details: - 11% of respondents said they do not answer calls when they do not know the caller. - Among those who do answer, 64% say “hello.” - Other opening responses included “what’s up” at 15%, “good morning/afternoon” at 11%, and “hey” at 11%. - Women were more likely than men to answer with “hello,” at 69% versus 59%. - Men were twice as likely as women to say “what’s up,” at 20% versus 10%. - Texans over 55 leaned heavily toward “hello,” with more than 72% using that greeting. - Younger callers were less likely to use “hello,” at 53% for ages 18-24 and 49% for ages 25-34. - Nearly half of respondents said “bye” when ending a call, at 48%. - 33% said “talk to you later,” and 24% said “goodbye.” - Other farewell phrases included “take care,” “see ya later,” “talk soon,” “thanks for calling,” and “peace.” - Women were 10% more likely to use a simple “bye.” - Men were more likely to say “goodbye.” - “See ya later” was more common among younger adults, at 22% of respondents ages 18-44, compared with less than 14% among adults over 45. - “Talk to you later” was most popular in Houston at 36% and in Dallas/Fort Worth at 35%. - “Talk to you later” was least popular in El Paso at 24%. - “See ya later” was most popular in Austin at 22% and least popular in San Antonio at 14%. - Nearly half of respondents said AI chatbots should not reflect a local accent. - Support for accent-matching was lower among people over 65 than among those in middle age, where only about a quarter opposed it.

Between the lines: - The results suggest Texans may be open to answering unknown calls, but they still expect familiar, conventional call etiquette. - The age split on AI accents hints that older consumers may be more cautious about automated systems that try to sound too local or too human. - Regional differences in sign-offs show that everyday speech patterns remain a strong signal of identity inside a single state. - Schurke said the call-ending habits were more conventional than expected, and that people still seem to want to say goodbye rather than simply hang up.

What's next: - Moneypenny is likely to use the survey to guide its thinking on phone services and AI receptionist design. - The company’s findings may inform how businesses balance automation with local tone and human-like interaction. - The research also sets up further discussion about how regional speech patterns could shape customer experience technology.

The bottom line: - Texans still answer the phone, still say goodbye, and still show clear regional and generational preferences in how they do both.