Fintech UX: How to Make Finance Apps More User-Friendly

March 25, 2025

Design

‍Introduction: Why Are Most Finance Apps So Frustrating?

Ever tried using a finance app and felt like you needed a degree in accounting just to transfer money?

πŸ’° Finance apps should make money management easyβ€”but many create more confusion instead.

From complicated sign-up processes to cluttered dashboards, poor Fintech UX leads to frustrated users, abandoned accounts, and lost customers.

πŸš€ In this guide, we’ll explore how to design finance apps that are secure, simple, and easy to use.

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1️⃣ Simplify Onboarding: Reduce Friction, Increase Sign-Ups

πŸ’‘ What It Is:
The onboarding process should be quick and effortless. If users struggle to sign up, they’ll leave before they even start using the app.

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πŸ”₯ Real-Life Example:

πŸ‘Ž Bad UX: A banking app requires users to upload multiple documents, verify identity in person, and complete 10+ form fields just to create an account. Many give up before finishing.

πŸ‘ Good UX: Revolut and Chime let users sign up in minutes with a simple form and instant ID verification via their phone camera.

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βœ… How to Design for Better Onboarding:

  • Reduce the number of fields required for sign-up.
  • Offer biometric verification (Face ID, fingerprint) for faster logins.
  • Use progress indicators to show users how close they are to completion.
  • Allow users to explore the app before requiring full registration.

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2️⃣ Improve Security Without Frustrating Users

πŸ’‘ What It Is:
Users want their money to be secure, but they also hate slow, frustrating security steps.

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πŸ”₯ Real-Life Example:

πŸ‘Ž Bad UX: A crypto wallet requires password, 2FA, CAPTCHA, and a security question just to log in. Users get locked out too easily and struggle to recover their accounts.

πŸ‘ Good UX: Apple Pay and Google Pay allow fast biometric authentication, keeping security strong without frustrating users.

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βœ… How to Design Secure Yet Seamless UX:

  • Use biometric authentication instead of forcing long passwords.
  • Allow push notifications for 2FA instead of slow SMS OTPs.
  • Let users save trusted devices to skip repeated security checks.
  • Provide a clear, fast account recovery process for lost passwords.

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3️⃣ Optimize Transaction Flows: Make Payments Effortless

πŸ’‘ What It Is:
Sending and receiving money should be fast, intuitive, and free of unnecessary steps.

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πŸ”₯ Real-Life Example:

πŸ‘Ž Bad UX: A money transfer app makes users enter recipient details manually every time, confirm twice, and review multiple pop-ups. It feels like a hassle.

πŸ‘ Good UX: Venmo and Cash App allow one-tap payments to saved contacts, making transactions feel instant and seamless.

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βœ… How to Design Better Transaction UX:

  • Offer one-tap payments for frequent transactions.
  • Use smart autofill to suggest recent or favorite recipients.
  • Provide real-time status updates (β€œYour payment has been sent”).
  • Reduce confirmation steps unless necessary for high-value transfers.

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4️⃣ Data Visualization: Make Numbers Easy to Understand

πŸ’‘ What It Is:
Users don’t want to decode spreadsheetsβ€”they want quick insights into their finances.

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πŸ”₯ Real-Life Example:

πŸ‘Ž Bad UX: A budgeting app only shows raw transaction data in a long list, making it hard to track spending trends.

πŸ‘ Good UX: Mint and YNAB use color-coded charts, graphs, and spending breakdowns to make finance visual and easy to understand.

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βœ… How to Improve Finance Data Visualization:

  • Use simple graphs and charts instead of text-heavy reports.
  • Highlight key insights (e.g., β€œYou spent 20% more on dining this month”).
  • Categorize expenses with icons and colors for clarity.
  • Provide real-time spending notifications to keep users informed.

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5️⃣ Build Trust with Transparent Fees & Policies

πŸ’‘ What It Is:
Users feel frustrated when they discover hidden fees or don’t understand financial policies.

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πŸ”₯ Real-Life Example:

πŸ‘Ž Bad UX: A banking app charges hidden transfer fees that only appear after users enter payment details.

πŸ‘ Good UX: Wise (formerly TransferWise) displays all fees upfront, so users always know exactly what they’ll pay.

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βœ… How to Design for Financial Transparency:

  • Show fees upfront before users initiate a transaction.
  • Use plain language (avoid complicated banking jargon).
  • Provide real-time exchange rates for currency conversions.
  • Allow users to see detailed fee breakdowns before confirming payments.

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6️⃣ Dark Mode & Accessibility: Design for Everyone

πŸ’‘ What It Is:
Finance apps should be comfortable to use in all conditions and accessible to all users.

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πŸ”₯ Real-Life Example:

πŸ‘Ž Bad UX: A finance app only has a white background and small text, making it difficult to use at night or for users with visual impairments.

πŸ‘ Good UX: Robinhood and PayPal offer dark mode, large text options, and voice navigation for a more inclusive experience.

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βœ… How to Make Finance Apps More Accessible:

  • Add dark mode options for better readability at night.
  • Ensure text is large and high-contrast for accessibility.
  • Use alt text for icons and buttons to support screen readers.
  • Allow voice commands for hands-free navigation.

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Final Takeaways: Better Fintech UX = More Happy Users

πŸš€ If you want users to love your finance app, focus on:

βœ… Frictionless onboarding to increase sign-ups.
βœ… Strong security without slow login processes.
βœ… Simple, fast transaction flows.
βœ… Clear, easy-to-read data visualization.
βœ… Transparent fees and policies to build trust.
βœ… Accessibility and dark mode for all users.

By prioritizing user-friendly UX, Fintech apps can boost customer retention, increase trust, and create a stress-free financial experience.

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Next Steps: Need a User-Friendly Fintech App?

πŸ”Ή Want to design a finance app that users love? Let’s build an intuitive and seamless experience!
πŸ“© Get in touch with Revverco: hello@revverco.com
🌐 Visit us at www.revverco.com

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