Remember how, just a few years ago, you had to crawl to a bank branch to make a foreign transfer? Today? Two taps on the screen and it’s done! Mobile banking has undergone a revolution before our very eyes – but how do you design an app that will truly delight modern customers?
Let’s face it – mobility has completely changed the rules of the banking game. What used to be just a cool addition to traditional service has now become the heart of financial management. Both regular users and companies do almost everything through apps.
Interestingly, dedicated apps for iOS or Android have long ceased to be just a convenient tool – they have also taken over the identity verification function! And that’s just the beginning. Thanks to them, the bank can be in constant contact with the customer, provide personalized offers, and even track user behavior to quickly detect potential cyberattacks.
According to data from the Polish Bank Association, over 60% of customers regularly check mobile apps, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this trend. In 2020, the number of logins to banking apps shot up by a whole 40%! Tere’s no better proof of the key role that mobile solutions play today.
Did you know that…
… more than ¾ of users abandon an app if the first 3 minutes of their contact with it are frustrating? That’s why User Experience is not a fantasy – it’s a make or break for your app! And while we’re on the subject – introducing biometric verification (via fingerprint or Face ID) can increase login conversion by as much as 30%. Impressive, right?
Steps to creating a mobile app – a guide
Creating a mobile app is no small feat, but with a clear plan, anything is possible. Here’s the gist of the process of designing a banking app for 2025:
Identify the problem you want to solve
Start with a fundamental question: what problem is your app supposed to solve? Fast transfers? Easy budget management? Whatever it is, it has to be a real problem that users actually struggle with.
AI can help encourage customers to use mobile apps
Fun fact: In 2024, over 3/4 of banks in Europe planned to implement AI features such as intelligent chatbots or personalized spending forecasts. Why? Because as many as 80% of users expect banking apps to provide an experience similar to… scrolling through social media! Yes, you read that right – banking is supposed to be as engaging as Instagram!
Market and competition analysis
Taking a look at apps like Revolut, mBank or ING Bank Śląski can be a goldmine of inspiration. What works great for them? What can be done better? How can you stand out?
It will also be crucial for the technical team to decipher what technologies are driving competitive solutions – be it containers (Docker), microservices or perhaps Progressive Web Apps.
Sample insight into competitors’ activities
Example: Revolut has introduced scheduled recurring payments with automatic recognition of the transaction purpose. Such seemingly minor details can be game-changers for users. Observe, analyse, get inspired – but don’t copy!
Know your target group
Key question: are you building an application for regular users or for businesses? These groups have completely different needs and expectations.
From an IT perspective, it is worth considering a layered or distributed architecture (e.g. a back-end based on event-driven architecture), which will allow for flexible scaling depending on the customer segment.
Create personas – i.e. know your users better than they know themselves
Developing detailed user profiles is not a whim – it is a recipe for functionalities that will hit the mark!
Design an interface that will captivate the user
A good interface is the key to success. It should be intuitive, aesthetic and allow for quick execution of basic operations.
It is worth focusing on cooperation between UX/UI teams and developers already at the prototyping stage – e.g. through tools such as Figma with integration into the development environment or design tokens systems.
Test, test and test again!
Alpha and beta testing with real users is a treasure trove of valuable tips that will help you refine your app before the official launch.
IT specialists should take care of test automation (e.g. Selenium, Appium) and security and performance tests (e.g. JMeter, OWASP ZAP).
Fun fact from the market
Polish customers love banking innovations – use it! Engage selected customers to test new solutions. Combine this with a competition and you will create a sense of elitism among users, increasing their loyalty and collecting invaluable feedback at the same time.
Think of development as a marathon, not a sprint
After the premiere, the application requires continuous work and updates – it is a process, not a one-time project. Collecting and analyzing user data is the key to continuous improvement.
The use of DevOps and CI/CD methodologies (e.g. GitLab CI, Jenkins or Bitrise) will be key – thanks to this, you will react to errors and implement updates immediately.
The Perfect Mobile App for Individual Users – 5 Essential Features
What makes a banking app win the hearts of individual users? Here are five key features:
1. Easy to use (even a grandma can handle it)
Users love apps that minimize the number of clicks. Revolut is a master here – payment processes reduced to an absolute minimum.
2. An interface you want to look at
ING Bank Śląski has gained recognition thanks to its simple interface, instant access to transaction history and biometrics, which makes using the app a pure pleasure.
3. Speed and reliability like a Swiss watch
Instant transfers and hassle-free view of the account balance – the PKO Bank Polski IKO app has been winning awards for years for its reliability.
4. 24/7 availability – bank in your pocket, not by appointment
The app should completely replace the hotline or a visit to a branch. mBank sets the highest standards here.
5. Security that lets you sleep soundly
Fast card blocking, biometric authorization and alert notifications about suspicious transactions are an absolute must-have. The Alior Bank application has introduced advanced protection systems that give users peace of mind.
It is worth adding that security should be built into the application’s DNA (secure by design) – end-to-end encryption, smart session management, regular code audits and protection against MITM (Man-in-the-Middle) attacks.
What do individual users care about?
Research on the user experience of banking applications shows that individual users value the most:
- logging in with a fingerprint or Face ID (because who remembers all those passwords?);
- instant access to the most important functions – account balance, transfers, etc.;
- live transaction preview;
- push notifications (but not too many, because it’s irritating!);
- quick contact with a consultant without re-verification of identity.
Banking app for business – a completely different story
Apps for companies are in a completely different league – stability, security and predictability are more important here than impressive appearance.
1. Simplicity despite the complexity of functions
The interface of the Santander Bank Polska application for companies is an example of how to manage complicated functions in an accessible way. The application is not overloaded, and subsequent updates do not turn the way you use it upside down.
2. Top-shelf cybersecurity
Security compliant with OWASP standards, mobile tokens and multi-level authentication, used e.g. by Citi Handlowy, are an absolute foundation for business.
3. Time-to-market and flexibility
The agile approach to development presented by applications from fintechs such as TransferWise (Wise) allows for quick adaptation to regulatory and market changes.
For IT teams, this means modular architecture, rapid implementation via CI/CD and API-first development approach.
4. Functionality tailored to business
Solutions supporting factoring, credit management and access to accounting and ERP tools are a must-have. BNP Paribas offers comprehensive businss solutions that integrate with popular ERP systems.
Integration with external systems should be based on a stable API with solid documentation (e.g. OpenAPI) and test environments.
What do corporate users care about?
Business users focus primarily on:
- advanced user authorization and management methods (because not everyone in the company has access to everything);
- high level of security and full compliance with regulations such as PSD2, RODO or NIS2;
- a wide portfolio of additional services – loans, leasing and currency accounts in one panel;
- seamless integration with ERP systems and dedicated API;
- extensive reporting and data analysis with easy export to XLS, CSV or Power BI.
The Future of Mobile Banking – What’s in Store?
The mobile banking industry is racing like crazy! What trends will shape its future in the coming months?
- Artificial intelligence in every aspect – applications that truly understand you.
- Hyper-personalization based on behavior analysis – a bank that knows you better than you know yourself.
- A universal application for all financial services – no more dozens of apps on your phone.
- Passwordless authentication – because life is too short to invent passwords.
- Smooth integration with external services – the bank as the center of your digital life.
- Financial hub – all your finances in one place.
Mobile banking is heading towards total accessibility, personalization and security. Soon, the application will “think” for the user, analyzing data, suggesting decisions and ensuring security. In a world where an account can be set up in 5 minutes on a smartphone, simplicity and technology are becoming the new standard.
Summary: The recipe for a successful app
When creating the perfect mobile app, you need to precisely define who you are designing it for and what problems it is supposed to solve. The differences between regular users and businesses determine the scope of functions and how they are presented. However, regardless of the target group, the foundations remain the same: security, simplicity, personalization and reliability.
From a technical perspective, implementing modern practices is key: DevSecOps, microservices, containerization, API management and continuous monitoring (e.g. via Prometheus + Grafana). With them, you can not only create a great app, but also effectively develop it in a secure and scalable way.
A conscious, data-driven approach to design and continuous improvement is the recipe for building a loyal customer base and effectively attracting new users in the competitive mobile banking market.
Remember – in a world where banking apps are as common as social media, those that best combine technology with the human experience win!
See also: How to Create the Perfect Banking App? A Practical Guide in Few Steps!
