Together, Sydbank, one of Denmark’s leading banks, and Designit created one of the most distinctive banking apps on the market. Giving the user the possibility to personalise images, functions and text, the Sydbank app gives the user much more than just a banking experience.
Customisation for the masses
In January 2011, Sydbank and Designit got together to discuss the possibility of an exclusive mobile banking app. Sydbank is one of the 14 banks that owns Bankdata, with whom Designit was also working with to create a banking app.
The banking app for Bankdata was to be a generic frame that could be used for each of the remaining 13 banks using the bank’s own colours in order to differentiate them. While the functions of the Bankdata app and the Sydbank app would remain the same, Sydbank wanted their app to stand out from other banking apps, so Designit aimed to really push the idea of customisation to the limits.
Creating customisation
The fact that Sydbank had such a detailed idea of what they wanted the app to include and resemble meant that we were able to get together with their team immediately and begin the design process.
We started the project with an internal design workshop, where we challenged ourselves to come up with ideas for a creative concept, additional features and a visual identity for the application. Together, after a pretty hectic but extremely collaborative journey, we landed on the final concept that embraced both Sydbank’s need for a distinctive banking app, and our design proposals for an app that can be fully customised.
The final app can be almost completely personalised; from background image (choose an image from the gallery or take your own), colour theme, welcome message and a personalised start screen.
A positive reception
The final app was released on April 4th 2011 on both the App Store and Android Market, to very positive reviews. Sydbank loved the final concept, as it matched both their values and general marketing strategy thereby ensuring consistency in their communication efforts.
With over 15,000 downloads at time of writing, and users declaring it ‘stylish and handsome’, ‘functional’, ‘elegant’ and ‘cool’, it’s safe to say the app was a hit. The app has sent a clear signal to current customers, and potential customers, that Sydbank is excited about the changes that technology provides both the bank and their customers, and that they’re willing to adopt this technology in their services.
With a second version currently being worked on, which will enable users to transfer money and pay bills from their smartphone, we’re confident this banking app will set new standards for function, as well as customisation.
