Empowering users: Redesigning UBCI Banking App for a Modern era

Visual Designer

UX Designer

Product Designer

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Figma

Project Overview

Client: UBCI Bank

Timeline: February 2024 – March 2024

Role: Product Designer

Business Need: UBCI Bank recognized the need to modernize their mobile banking app to meet the evolving needs of their customers. The existing app presented challenges such as a dated interface, limited functionalities, and a user experience that wasn't intuitive or user-friendly. These factors were hindering user engagement and overall satisfaction with the mobile banking experience, potentially leading to a decline in mobile banking adoption and customer frustration.

Problem Statement

The current UBCI banking app lacked an intuitive and user-centered design. The outdated interface and limited functionalities made it difficult for users to navigate, find specific features, and complete tasks efficiently. This resulted in a confusing and frustrating user experience that could potentially lead to user abandonment, decreased mobile banking adoption, and a reliance on traditional banking methods.

Project Goals

Enhance User Experience: Redesign the mobile app with a focus on usability and user-centered design principles. This will improve user satisfaction, encourage mobile banking adoption, and streamline user interaction with features and functionalities.

Increase Functionality: Expand the app's functionalities to include features that cater to modern banking needs. This could encompass money transfers, bill payments, expense tracking tools, loan and savings simulators, and more.

Boost Security and Trust: Implement robust security measures and prioritize user privacy. Clearly communicate these features to build trust and encourage users to confidently manage their finances through the mobile app.

User Research & Insights

Glimpse of the old version

Current version of the app

Potential user and their motivations

User personas & empathy maps

Research findings

Interview data results

Defining the Strategy & Solution

Visualizing the current-state user journey, highlighting the frustrations or obstacles identified by our users.

Breaking down the solution into small, specific tasks from the user's perspective

The following sitemap illustrates the core structure of the redesigned UBCI mobile app. It visually represents the hierarchy of information and navigation flow within the app.

the new IA prioritizes a more streamlined approach. Key functionalities are now readily accessible from the nav bar.

This simplified IA empowers users to quickly locate the features they need, minimizing frustration and wasted time. The logical grouping of functionalities based on user tasks promotes intuitive navigation and a seamless user experience.

Wireframes and User flows

Fews of the early wireframes sketches

Simplified User flows examples

Solution and final product

Glimpse of the app

Style guide Design system foundations

Design system components

Impact and Results

Our redesigned App for UBCI bank aimed to address user cofusion and elevate the brand's online presence. Let's see how we achieved the project goals:

Positive User Feedback: To ensure the redesigned UBCI mobile app met user expectations, we conducted usability testing with over 20 bank clients. The results were overwhelmingly positive. Users consistently described the app as:

Smoother: The intuitive navigation and streamlined interface facilitated a more seamless user experience.

Easier to Understand: Clear labeling and logical functionality organization made it easier for users to find what they needed and complete tasks efficiently.

Modern: The updated design aesthetic conveyed a sense of modernity and aligned with user expectations for a contemporary banking app.

Secure: The app's robust security features and clear communication of those features instilled a sense of trust and confidence in users when managing their finances through the mobile app.

This positive user feedback validates the effectiveness of the redesigned IA and its focus on user-friendliness. It paves the way for increased mobile banking adoption and user satisfaction within the UBCI customer base.

Next Steps: A Glimpse of Future Releases

The redesigned UBCI mobile app has been met with positive user feedback, but our commitment to user empowerment doesn't stop here. We're constantly exploring ways to enhance the app's functionality and cater to evolving user needs. Here's a glimpse into some exciting features we're considering for future releases:

On-the-Go Loans: Streamlining loan applications! User feedback highlighted a desire to access small loans directly through the app. We're exploring the integration of a secure loan application process within the app, potentially simplifying the process and increasing loan adoption rates.

Mobile Check Deposit: Banking at your fingertips! Based on user requests, we're investigating the implementation of a secure and user-friendly check scanning feature. This would allow users to conveniently deposit checks directly through the app, further enhancing functionality and catering to users who prefer check-based transactions.

Financial Management Powerhouse: Expanding beyond basic banking! As user needs evolve, we're looking into integrating advanced financial tools like budgeting and investment tracking functionalities. This would position the UBCI app as a comprehensive financial management platform, promoting user engagement and loyalty by empowering them to manage all aspects of their finances in one convenient location.