[the_third_wave]

You're thinking about the 'GAPPS' or Google apps, not Android. Those who run AOSP-derived distributions usually have to consciously install those 'GAPPS' - which includes the Google Services Framework (GSF) which some apps insist they can not run without but which often work just fine after dismissing the annoying popup. If you do not install this package you do not get access to those Google services and Google does not get access to your data - the choice is yours.

I have never installed GAPPS on any of my Android devices. I do have microG installed on one device to see whether it does make those apps which do not work without the GSF useable - it mostly does - but I do not use it on my daily devices because even microG does leak some data to Google by connecting to their services.

Banking apps work on my Google-free phone. The Swedish electronic ID service ('BankID') also works. What am I missing?