Fintech Design Principles
- Trust over novelty. Users are anxious about money. Calm, stable interfaces reduce anxiety.
- Show real numbers. Don't hide balances, fees, or transaction details.
- Explain jargon. APY, ACH, SWIFT — if a term isn't universally understood, define it inline.
- Confirm destructive actions. Money transfers get confirmation screens with full details.
- Show transaction status clearly. Pending, Processing, Completed, Failed — each needs distinct visual treatment.
Patterns
- Balance display: Large, prominent, always visible. Show pending separately.
- Transaction list: Date, description, amount, status. Debit in red, credit in green.
- Transfer flow: Amount → Recipient → Review → Confirm → Success.
- Security: 2FA prompts, session timeout warnings, suspicious activity alerts.
Compliance
- Required disclosures must be visible, not buried in footnotes.
- Consent checkboxes for terms (not pre-checked).
- Accessible design is legally required in many jurisdictions.