Mobile banking, even online banking revolutionized how balancing the checkbook was done. But what happens when balancing the checkbook in todays age is more painful than the old fashioned way, after all technology is supposed to aid in our productivity not inhibit our ability.

In this design of the West Coast Bank webpage I strove to see what the pain points were in the current balance transfer process and aimed to correct those issues. Through user research I discovered that there was difficulty in locating the balance transfer feature. Such a critical function should be so apparent to this platform. Another issue that the research revealed was the lack of clarity in the transfer process. Previously, customers had to go through a convoluted process involving multiple screens and confusing language. This not only prevented a successful transaction process but the lack of confidence instilled by this platform would leave customers, users, feeling insecure and frustrated.

During the process of conducting user interviews and usability studies, my main objective was to ensure that all relevant pain points were addressed and that the designs were aligned with user-centric principles. In order to achieve this, I designed and executed various tests, analyzed the results, and incorporated user feedback into the design process. To recapitulate, the main issues with the banking platform under redesign, was the lack in clarity as to how to initiate the balance transfer process. Second, once started there were too few and vague guides on what to do. This was leaving many to feel unsure about where there money was going. Thirdly, users had a challenging time locating extra information about their account such as Account and Routing numbers. To address these hurdles..

• By placing a “Transfer” button prominently on the homepage, customers can now easily transfer their balances without the need to navigate through multiple pages.

• The new design streamlines the transfer process by providing clear instructions at every step. Allowing for the user to confidently know, with a peace of mind, that they can transfer funds easily and efficiently.

• Instead of hiding important account information underneath submenus, displaying the account and routing numbers underneath the respective accounts empowers the users.

• Additionally, I conducted thorough research to identify potential areas of improvement and incorporated these findings into the design strategy. Overall, my approach was to prioritize user needs and ensure that the final product would provide a seamless and intuitive experience for users.

Organized and lead user research from a pool of 5 participants. These 5 satisfied these criteria:

• Age 18-60

• Male or Female

• In College or Graduated

• Open racial profile

• Open residential location (City, suburban, rural)

After successful research, I compiled them into one persona; Amy Vaugn

Utilized standard tools and practices:

• Figma

• Lo Fi Mock up

• Hi Fi Prototype:

• Usability Studies

Of course, there were some major design iterations and tailoring that were made. Listening to user feedback and usability studies I wanted to incorporate the user needs as much as possible.

• This was the first major iteration. With some many possible avenues a user can go, I wanted continuity to be maintained a prioritized throughout the process. So when the user clicked on “frequency” instead of having all options still visible, I wanted to take away the other options so that the user is not confused moving forward. 👇

• The second major iteration was to incorporate a calendar pop-up and when the user clicked in the calendar icon, the following calendar would pop up for interaction. When the user then clicked on the desired date, it would translate into the next frame. This added a level of depth and interaction that would help the user feel comfortable and in control, “It was just there, I did not even realize what happened until I was asked about it.” Anthony Bardis 👇

• The last a final major design decision was actually a no brainer once it came to my attention. Whenever you accomplish a task it feels good to be recognized for it. I wanted to call out that the user came to the completion of the transfer process and that there transfer has be received to the bank. To let their mind at ease, there would be a confirmation email sent to them so that they know there is nothing else for them to do. 👇

🧐 During this project it was difficult to not want to overdesign. There are so many aspects to truly functional and interactive bank website. It was a challenge not to make every button take you somewhere or to be able to type in any number you wanted for the transfer amount. This taught me restraint and ultimately helped me stay focused on who and what I was designing for. This project was to improve the develop and perfect the transfer process. Keep it simple, yet immersive was the goal. Due to the effectiveness of the peripheral designs, the environment was set to mimic an actual website and then the user was led through the process by the hand.

👏 The final product successfully accomplished the tasks I set out to complete! Simplifying the web flow experience not only enhanced user satisfaction but helped lead me to other avenues where a similar, simpler design could be implemented to further improve functionality as well as accessibility. Such avenues could be in the handling of digitally depositing checks, analyzing a spending report, developing a budget and other financially helpful features.