Bancos Brazil: Simplifying Banking Access for Brazilians

Bancos Brazil: Simplifying Banking Access for Brazilians

Bancos Brazil: Simplifying Banking Access for Brazilians

Cenario Capital

Cenario Capital

Cenario Capital

8 Weeks

8 Weeks

8 Weeks

Jan 2021

Jan 2021

Jan 2021

Role: UX/UI Designer

Role: UX/UI Designer

Role: UX/UI Designer

Project description

Bancos Brazil is a digital platform designed to provide Brazilian users with easy access to essential financial services such as loan calculators, agency locators, and FGTS (Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Serviço) balance checkers. The platform acts as a search tool, not a bank itself, but helps users find the right services for their financial needs. As the product designer and frontend developer, my goal was to design a solution that is intuitive, secure, and scalable, catering to the unique requirements of Brazilian users.

Bancos Brazil is a digital platform designed to provide Brazilian users with easy access to essential financial services such as loan calculators, agency locators, and FGTS (Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Serviço) balance checkers. The platform acts as a search tool, not a bank itself, but helps users find the right services for their financial needs. As the product designer and frontend developer, my goal was to design a solution that is intuitive, secure, and scalable, catering to the unique requirements of Brazilian users.

Timeline

Week 1-2: Research & Planning

Week 3-4: Design & Prototyping

Week 5-6: Development & Security Integration

Week 7-8: Testing & Launch

Background

In 2020, the demand for digital financial tools surged across Brazil. According to Thunes, 82% of Brazilians adopted digital payments, and a 63% preference for mobile a was reported (PagBrasil). These numbers underscored the need for a centralized tool to simplify financial service access.

The vision for Bancos Brazil was to create a search tool, not a bank, where users could compare, evaluate, and locate banking services easily, with features tailored to their needs.

Research & Planning

Research & Planning

Research & Planning

Persona Development

Before beginning the design process, I conducted research to define the platform’s core users. The personas I created helped shape the platform's functionality and design:

Market Research and Insights

Research from 2020 highlighted several key statistics that informed the project:

  • Digital Payments in Brazil: By 2020, 82% of Brazilians were using digital payments, highlighting a shift toward online financial services (Thunes, 2020).

  • Mobile Usage: 63% of Brazilian users preferred mobile platforms for banking services, underscoring the need for a mobile-optimized solution (PagBrasil, 2020).

  • Digital Payment Growth: 50% of Brazil's transaction volume was expected to be digital by 2022, a trend that demanded a secure, scalable platform (ACI Worldwide, 2020).

Design & Prototyping

Utilizing Figma, I fashioned the inicial version a sleek, intuitive layout that catered to novices and experts alike. My goal was to make intricate financial tools like loan analyzers and FGTS balance inspectors understandable via a clear, direct design.

Simplicity: Prioritized user-friendly interfaces with minimal text and straightforward navigation.

Simplicity: Prioritized user-friendly interfaces with minimal text and straightforward navigation.

Simplicity: Prioritized user-friendly interfaces with minimal text and straightforward navigation.

Mobile-First: Given that 80% of Brazilian internet users access services via smartphones, mobile optimization was a key focus (PagBrasil, 2020).

Mobile-First: Given that 80% of Brazilian internet users access services via smartphones, mobile optimization was a key focus (PagBrasil, 2020).

Mobile-First: Given that 80% of Brazilian internet users access services via smartphones, mobile optimization was a key focus (PagBrasil, 2020).

Security: Ensured that sensitive information, such as FGTS balance details, was protected with two-factor authentication.

Security: Ensured that sensitive information, such as FGTS balance details, was protected with two-factor authentication.

Security: Ensured that sensitive information, such as FGTS balance details, was protected with two-factor authentication.

Key Features and Tools

Key Features and Tools

To address user needs, the following tools were designed:

Fee Comparator

Compare banking fees across services

Agency Locator:

A search tool to help users find nearby bank branches and ATMs.

Bank Reviews :

View user reviews for banks to inform decisions.

Bank Codes

A searchable database for bank codes.

Bank Ranking

A ranking tool that lists banks by performance and customer satisfaction.

Customer Service Centers

Find all customer service contact information.

Service Comparator

Compare banking services in-depth.

Digital Banks:

Explore a list of digital-only banks.

Loan Calculator:

Estimate loan eligibility and rates in a few simple steps.

Results

Results

Increased Engagement

User activity increased by 45% within 3 months of the platform’s launch.

Positive User Feedback

Senior users particularly appreciated the Centrais de Atendimento tool for its simplicity.

Time Savings

Users reported saving an average of 10 minutes when locating agencies or comparing fees, compared to prior methods.

Try It Yourself!

Key Learnings

Throughout the development of the Bancos Brazil platform, several important lessons were uncovered that will shape future enhancements and similar projects:

User-Centered Design is Crucial

Prioritizing user needs—such as intuitive navigation, straightforward content, and personalized tools—is essential to creating a successful search tool for financial services.

Collaboration Across Disciplines Strengthens Outcomes

Working closely with stakeholders, developers, and researchers ensured the platform's features aligned with user expectations and technical feasibility.

Conclusion

Bancos Brazil successfully meets the growing demand for mobile-first, secure digital platforms in Brazil's financial landscape. By focusing on simplicity, mobile optimization, and security, the platform has become a trusted tool for Brazilians seeking financial services. As the platform grows, it will continue to evolve, incorporating user feedback and expanding its feature set to meet the needs of the digital-first population.

Conclusion

Bancos Brazil successfully meets the growing demand for mobile-first, secure digital platforms in Brazil's financial landscape. By focusing on simplicity, mobile optimization, and security, the platform has become a trusted tool for Brazilians seeking financial services. As the platform grows, it will continue to evolve, incorporating user feedback and expanding its feature set to meet the needs of the digital-first population.

Feedback Mechanism: Regular team surveys to evaluate migration success and identify improvement areas.