Customer-Centric Design in Banking Software

Key Principles of User-Centric Design for Banking Software

The Coronavirus pandemic posed several serious challenges to in-person banking, making clients seek ways for secure and remote money management. In its turn, the banking sector faced the urge to deliver such an experience to their customers while streamlining administrative tasks. 

Banking applications have become a salvation rope that simplifies the life for banking professionals and clients as well due to its integrated environment. However, given the complexity of banking sector, how do you design a software that leads and aids rather than confuses. Here are the 5 key principles of a successful banking software to follow to craft a platform your users will enjoy!

Use Design for Transparency

Transparency is all about letting your users know the consequences of their actions – what will be done when a certain action is complete. It helps to build trust in your service, especially when it comes to first time users. Use proper and clear messaging, utilize communications channels like SMS or WhatsApp, and show whatever is in progress – whether this is a simple transaction or a complex KYC procedure.

Mobile First Approach

For most banking services, mobile user experience is taken into account last time and is often rushed. This is a huge mistake considering that the number of mobile users is growing annually, and mobile phones remain a key touchpoint with Internet banking services. 

First of all, focus on fast load on mobile phones. Statistics say, almost half of users will abandon a website or application if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. The simplest way to optimize the speed of your banking app on mobile is to only allow large visual elements on large screens.

Keep it Simple

Given the complexity of digital finance, online banking solutions will profit from minimalistic and user-friendly design. The point is not to overload the app interface and help users concentrate on the most important features. It is better to place on the home screen only essential content like operations history, cards, balance information, transfer history, etc. Besides, simplicity in design will give extra space for aesthetically pleasing design.

Make it Intuitive

Users should not be repelled by the complexity of your app when managing their money. One of the keys to creating a user-centric design in banking software is to give your audience a sense of predictability and clarity while using their app. For this purpose, apply elements that are already used in other applications to create an impression of something familiar – something people have already used before. For iOS applications, you should follow the Human Interface Guidelines while for intuitive Android applications Google Material Design for Android

Design Inclusive

Digital finance should remain accessible to people regardless of their differences or disabilities. The World Health Organization reports of 2.2 billion people with visual impairment and 1.5 billion with hearing loss. Regarding these whopping numbers, the need to design an all-inclusive financial system must remain a priority. Microsoft and Apple’s experience confirms that. A few design suggestions that make your banking app accessible to people with visual impairments may include using high-contrast colors and large fonts, implementing a screen reader to listen to the content, and providing alternative text descriptions for all no-text elements. The key to addressing auditory-impaired people, provide captions and transcripts for audio and video. 

To sum up, the Coronavirus pandemic boosted the development of banking software that integrates both a convenient money management environment for customers and an effective administrative hub. Regarding the complexity of finance management, the key task of banking software is to aid users regardless of their race and physical abilities to perform financial operations adding a sense of simplicity, and intuitiveness. 

With S-pro specialists this task is more than achievable. Reach out to learn how your banking software can benefit from their dedicated team of passionate designers!