Financial Fluency

Build comfort with making financial interactions on a digital device

Principles at a glance

  • 01

    Use familiar mental models and clear language

  • 02

    Surface suggestions at decision moments

  • 03

    Be clear about consequences, good and bad

  • 04

    Allow for consideration before commitment

Principles in action


Use familiar mental models and clear language

Principle 01

Financial terms tend to make sense to bankers but not most other people. Design product language to mirror how your users actually communicate in order to be as accessible, clear, and transparent as possible. This not only increases understanding but can build relatability and trust.

Principle 02

Surface suggestions at decision moments

Users can struggle with digital financial decisions because the experience can feel abstract and there’s often no one to ask for advice like an agent. Good design offers both guidance and guardrails at key moments: education about the benefits and consequences, error-prevention features, and insights that help users make informed choices.

Be clear about consequences, good and bad

Principle 03

Help users understand the link between their actions and changes to their financial standing. Lift up positive behaviors in the near term, and point to financial health outcomes they can achieve with sustained behaviors over the long term. Leverage the digital benefit of frequent or real-time updates to be able to track their financial status.

Principle 04

Allow for consideration before commitment

One tap can complete an action, but what if that tap happens by mistake? Especially on lower cost phones with smaller screen sizes, mistakes can be all too common. Designing for an intentional final confirmation moment gives users a helpful pause to evaluate their decision with confidence.

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