Fintech UX: How to Make Finance Apps More User-Friendly
March 25, 2025
Design

βIntroduction: 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?
π° Finance apps should make money management easyβbut 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.
π In this guide, weβll explore how to design finance apps that are secure, simple, and easy to use.
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1οΈβ£ Simplify Onboarding: Reduce Friction, Increase Sign-Ups
π‘ What It Is:
The onboarding process should be quick and effortless. If users struggle to sign up, theyβll leave before they even start using the app.
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π₯ Real-Life Example:
π 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.
π 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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β 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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2οΈβ£ Improve Security Without Frustrating Users
π‘ What It Is:
Users want their money to be secure, but they also hate slow, frustrating security steps.
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π₯ Real-Life Example:
π 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.
π Good UX: Apple Pay and Google Pay allow fast biometric authentication, keeping security strong without frustrating users.
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β 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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3οΈβ£ Optimize Transaction Flows: Make Payments Effortless
π‘ What It Is:
Sending and receiving money should be fast, intuitive, and free of unnecessary steps.
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π₯ Real-Life Example:
π 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.
π Good UX: Venmo and Cash App allow one-tap payments to saved contacts, making transactions feel instant and seamless.
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β 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 (βYour payment has been sentβ).
- Reduce confirmation steps unless necessary for high-value transfers.
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4οΈβ£ Data Visualization: Make Numbers Easy to Understand
π‘ What It Is:
Users donβt want to decode spreadsheetsβthey want quick insights into their finances.
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π₯ Real-Life Example:
π Bad UX: A budgeting app only shows raw transaction data in a long list, making it hard to track spending trends.
π 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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β How to Improve Finance Data Visualization:
- Use simple graphs and charts instead of text-heavy reports.
- Highlight key insights (e.g., βYou spent 20% more on dining this monthβ).
- Categorize expenses with icons and colors for clarity.
- Provide real-time spending notifications to keep users informed.
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5οΈβ£ Build Trust with Transparent Fees & Policies
π‘ What It Is:
Users feel frustrated when they discover hidden fees or donβt understand financial policies.
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π₯ Real-Life Example:
π Bad UX: A banking app charges hidden transfer fees that only appear after users enter payment details.
π Good UX: Wise (formerly TransferWise) displays all fees upfront, so users always know exactly what theyβll pay.
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β 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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6οΈβ£ Dark Mode & Accessibility: Design for Everyone
π‘ What It Is:
Finance apps should be comfortable to use in all conditions and accessible to all users.
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π₯ Real-Life Example:
π 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.
π Good UX: Robinhood and PayPal offer dark mode, large text options, and voice navigation for a more inclusive experience.
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β 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
π If you want users to love your finance app, focus on:
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Frictionless onboarding to increase sign-ups.
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Strong security without slow login processes.
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Simple, fast transaction flows.
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Clear, easy-to-read data visualization.
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Transparent fees and policies to build trust.
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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?
πΉ Want to design a finance app that users love? Letβs build an intuitive and seamless experience!
π© Get in touch with Revverco: hello@revverco.com
π Visit us at www.revverco.com