Fintech App Design - Skana App MVP

A mobile payment platform that enables instant, cashless transactions using QR codes, usernames, or store names without requiring traditional bank details.

The goal was to create an MVP for the Skana app, a mobile application to help businesses and users perform fast, cashless transactions. The app would utilize easy onboarding, intuitive structure, and smooth & seamless flows, to help users carry out their transactions stresslessly.

Businesses and their customers need money to move instantly and without stress. However, many existing payment and banking tools slow this down with delays, unclear processes, and unnecessary steps that get in the way of everyday transactions.

Speed breaks down at critical moments: For businesses, slow transfers mean delayed sales, unhappy customers, and disrupted operations. Customers also feel this delay when payments don’t go through instantly or when they’re left waiting without clear feedback.

Too many steps for fast payments: Simple actions like paying a business or confirming a purchase often require multiple screens, repeated inputs, or extra approvals. These steps slow users down and reduce the feeling of instant payment.

Cash handling is risky and inefficient: Many businesses still rely on cash for speed, but cash comes with safety risks, record-keeping issues, and inconvenience. Digital payments should replace cash, but only if they are just as fast and more reliable.

Sharing bank details creates friction and concern: Asking customers to manually share bank details or move between apps slows down transactions and raises security concerns, especially in busy business environments.

Money-related stress affects confidence: Delays, failed payments, or unclear flows increase anxiety around money. For businesses, this affects revenue. For customers, it affects the overall purchase experience.

The challenge wasn’t only to build a better payment option, but also removing anything that slowed people down, and creating a fast, clear, and reliable way for businesses and their customers to move money confidently.

Before designing Skana, I reviewed how people currently send money, pay businesses, and handle fast transactions, especially in everyday, real-life situations.

How people pay businesses today (bank transfers, POS, cash)

Where customers lose patience during payments

How people feel about new financial applications.

I also carried out a SWOT analysis and UX analysis on some like-products in the market like; UBA, Chipper Cash, Cashapp, Moneypoint, Palmpay.

People want speed, but they also want certainty (they need to know the payment went through)

Customers hate being pushed through too many screens

Users dread rigid onboarding processes.

Typing bank details is slow and creates friction

This research made it clear what Skana needed to prioritize.

The insights I got from the research, helped guide the design strategy for the product.

"Scan-and-pay" was treated as a primary flow, not a secondary feature

Payment confirmation and status screens were prioritized

Bottom sheets were used to reduce screen-hopping

The onboarding process was made light to eliminate frustration

Entry points were made clear: scan and pay, pay a store & pay a user (no second guessing).

This gave me a clear direction for the screens, flows and experience that needed to be designed.

After building the flows, I shared the prototype for quick user testing and feedback to gain informed user insights and iterate/improve where necessary.

From an AB testing done, it was clear that a lot users preferred clearer entry points "Pay a User" & "Pay a Store" instead of one “Send Money” button.

Testers shared how the flow felt faster as fewer screens are involved.

Testers also shared how easy the onboarding felt.

The final solution focuses on speed, clarity, and trust, to help businesses get paid faster and help customers pay without stress.

Shorter time to complete a payment (start to success)

Reduced percentage of opened complaint tickets or failed/abandoned transactions