Ultimate banking design trends in 2025

We asked our team, "What is the current trend in the banking industry?" Here’s what we found out.

In 2025, the top 10 banking design trends are: personalization and contextual banking, unified omnichannel experiences, sustainable “green” banking, super-app mobile services, gamified and friendly UX, social community banking, Zero UI interfaces, silent security (biometrics and trusted devices), crypto-friendly features, and intuitive, mobile-first UI.

What are the ultimate banking trends?

Financial institutions worldwide are investing heavily in such digital innovation in banking sector – over $600 billion is being spent on bank tech globally.

Following these trends in banking industry design is a nice response to rising customer expectations and fintech competition. 

As a design agency, we’ve seen firsthand how using these trends wisely improves customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Below, we’ll break down each trend with examples and tips, so you can apply them to improve the digital banking experience for your clients.

1. Personalization and contextual banking

Personalization in digital banking is when you use customer data to understand preferences and predict behavior, while contextual banking delivers the right help at the right moment. It uses triggers like life events or real-time behavior to provide helpful nudges instead of generic promos.

Banks have already been using AI and analytics to offer customized recommendations and timely advice for quite some time. 

For example, Bank of America’s Erica virtual assistant provides personalized financial guidance based on a user’s transactions and habits. Likewise, Citibank analyzes customer data with AI to suggest relevant products and financial advice.

On the user side, many fintech apps let customers customize their experience – from renaming accounts to setting custom spending alerts – so that the interface feels personal. 

Revolut allows users to create multiple currency wallets and set their own budget categories, while Monzo lets customers round up purchases into savings automatically.

All of this makes banking feel less generic and more “about me,” which, of course, increases engagement and trust.

How to implement personalization:

1. Offer user controls for customization. Let customers adjust features to their needs (e.g., renaming accounts, creating custom budget categories, choosing notification preferences).
2. Use data-driven context triggers. Set up event-based prompts or alerts that help users at the right time. For example, when a user’s paycheck arrives, suggest an automatic transfer to savings, or if they travel abroad, highlight local currency tips.
3. Add AI for proactive insights. An AI assistant can quietly study a user’s behavior and send a friendly heads-up or suggest relevant products when appropriate.

2. Unified digital experience

Customers don’t think in silos – whether they’re on a phone, laptop, or at a partner website, they expect a unified banking experience. 

Banks are therefore focusing on consistent design across devices and building ecosystems that blur the lines between services. 

In practice, this means having the same clean interface and features on mobile, web, and even ATM screens, all following a coherent design system. It also means you can start a task on one channel and seamlessly finish it on another without friction. 

Unfortunately, many legacy banks still have fragmented systems where, say, the mobile app has limited functions and forces you to switch to desktop for certain tasks.

Another aspect of this unified approach is building an ecosystem around the customer. 

Banks now integrate other services and embed their own services into external platforms. Some also integrate third-party services right into their own interface (for instance, showing your investment account from another provider inside your banking app). 

The goal is a one-stop experience for the customer, regardless of who provides which part. This enhanced connectivity is a key digital banking innovation, which makes life easier for users.

3. Sustainable “green” banking

Green banking is rising in recent trends in the banking industry, focusing on sustainability, ethical practices, and transparency about environmental impact.

For example, many banks now offer eco-friendly financial products like green loans (for energy-efficient home upgrades or electric cars) and ESG investment options (funds that invest in environmentally and socially responsible companies).

From a UX perspective, sustainable banking often involves informing and empowering the user. 

We see features in apps that track the carbon impact of your purchases, or that reward you for making eco-conscious choices.

For instance, a fintech might show a little tree icon and “you saved X kg of CO₂ by using electronic statements this year” – these kinds of green insights can gamify positive behavior. Some banks introduce eco-rewards programs: you might earn points or cash-back boosts for buying from sustainable merchants or for using public transit.

According to our UX design experts, integrating these value-based features transforms the bank from just a money handler to a partner in ethical living, which can deepen customer loyalty.

To implement this trend, consider adding features like:

• An ESG investment filter (allow customers to filter out non-sustainable investments), 
• A carbon footprint dashboard (estimate the carbon impact of a user’s spending and show reductions over time), 
• Or green tips and challenges (e.g., “Save paper – switch to e-statements and we’ll plant a tree on your behalf”).

4. Super-app mobile services

In many parts of the world, people are getting used to doing everything in one app. 

Now this concept of the “super-app” is influencing mobile banking trends as well.

Instead of offering a single-purpose app that just does basic banking, fintechs are expanding their app capabilities to become an all-in-one hub for multiple services.

From a design standpoint, super-apps are challenging because you must present a huge range of features without overwhelming the user. Users should still find what they need easily, and the app should feel cohesive even as it does 100 different things. 

Many banks solve this by using a card-based or module-based UI where different services are neatly compartmentalized but accessible. A strong design system (as mentioned in Trend №2) is vital here to keep the interface unified. 

Another approach is progressive disclosure: the app might show the most common options up front, with deeper or less-used services tucked away in menus or an “Explore” section.

The business benefit of super-apps is engagement. If your customers can do everything in your app, they’re less likely to leave your ecosystem.

The benefit for users is convenience: one login, one interface, and a seamless experience across many needs. Given that mobile banking trends show users favor convenience above all, super-apps are a natural evolution.

5. Warm, gamified, and friendly UX

Banking doesn’t have to be boring or stiff. A major improvement in digital banking trends is humanizing the user experience – using warmth, humor, and game-like elements to make finance engaging. This involves two key aspects: friendly, conversational design and gamification.

Friendly UX copy and design

Traditionally, banking language is quite formal. 

“Your transaction has been executed”...

Now, forward-thinking banks use a tone that’s more like a helpful friend: “Done! We’ve sent your payment”. Apps may incorporate emojis, informal language, and even a bit of personality in their text.

This warm approach also extends to visual design – using illustrations or mascots, bright colors, or cheerful animations when you accomplish something.

Gamification

Gamification in Fintech means adding game-like rewards and challenges to encourage positive user behavior. 

In banking, that could mean giving users points, badges, or progress bars for hitting their savings goals, or creating challenges like “Save an extra $100 this month and get 1% extra interest”.

Many apps already do this. For example, Monobank in Ukraine added a game where users earn cashback and badges for completing financial literacy quizzes.

According to recent reports on trends in online banking, more banks are adding such features to attract younger customers. One survey by a fintech firm found that younger users are significantly more likely to use a finance app that has social or gamified elements.

Here’s how to execute this trend:

• Write your app text as if you’re talking to the user one-on-one. Encourage them, celebrate wins, and empathize when things aren’t great.
• Introduce features like achievement badges for milestones (e.g., the first investment made, 6 months of consistent saving), progress bars for long-term goals, or even small rewards.
• Little design touches can go a long way – confetti animations when a goal is met, a friendly cartoon character guiding the user through a tough process (like applying for a loan), or a community feel where users can see uplifting messages.

6. Social and community banking

Money has always been social – think about borrowing from friends, community savings groups, or simply asking a family member for financial advice. 

Now, digital banking is catching up to this reality by introducing social features and community elements into apps. 

The idea is to transform the banking experience from a one-way interaction with a faceless institution into a multi-way conversation that includes other customers.

What might this look like? 

Some innovative banks have added community forums and groups right inside their apps where users can share tips and ask questions.

Another feature is social sharing of goals or achievements – e.g., you could choose to share with friends that you reached 50% of your mortgage payoff, or collaborate on a group savings pot for a trip with friends.

Peer comparisons and insights are another community-driven concept. Some banks will show you how your spending or saving compares to anonymized peers.

We also see collaborative finance tools emerging. Joint or group accounts with chat features so that family members can comment or leave notes on transactions. Or apps like Honeydue, which allow couples to share and comment on each other’s spending in a social feed format.

Social features can greatly increase user engagement and retention, because they introduce a sense of belonging and competition. Users start to feel they’re part of a community, not just a customer of a bank.

All in all, trends in digital banking point toward breaking the isolation of finance. Here’s what you can do:

1. Create spaces for users to discuss topics like saving, investing, or small business finance.
2. Show customers how they stack up with others in their demographic.
3. Gamify learning by letting users share tips and even quiz each other, earning recognition.

7. Invisible interfaces

The next trend in user interfaces is having no visible interface at all. What is that, you ask?

Zero UI refers to interactions that don’t require you to stare at a screen and tap buttons. Instead, you use natural methods like voice commands, gestures, or automated triggers. 

In the context of banking, Zero UI means you could perform banking tasks through a voice assistant like Alexa, a chatbot, or even through devices like smart watches or cars, without opening a traditional app interface.

Why is this happening? 

Thanks to advancements in voice recognition, AI, and IoT, we’re getting comfortable talking to our devices or having them react to our environment.

For banking, this could mean asking your smart speaker, “What’s my checking account balance?” and getting an instant answer, or telling your phone “Pay my credit card bill” while you’re driving and it happens securely via voice authentication.

From a design perspective, Zero UI is challenging because there’s no visual feedback by default. Designers have to think in terms of voice user flows, audio cues, and haptic feedback. 

For example, if a voice command succeeds or fails, the system should respond with a clear confirmation sound or message.

We’re still in early days, but the future of mobile banking may involve far less “mobile” and more ambient computing. Banking tasks will happen wherever and whenever needed, through whichever interface (or lack thereof) makes sense at the moment.

Examples of zero UI:

1. Voice banking. Customers might use voice commands via Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa to do things like check balances, transfer money, or hear recent transactions.
2. Wearables. Smartwatches already allow glanceable banking – you might get a vibration and see “Budget alert: you’re 90% through your dining budget” on your watch face. 
3. Automated, context-aware actions. A truly invisible interface might not even involve user input – the system just knows what to do. For instance, based on your location and calendar, your banking app could auto-suggest relevant actions, or an AI could move money to savings for you when it predicts a surplus.

8. Security without disrupting UX

Traditionally, strong security came with a hassle: frequent logins, SMS codes, security questions, etc., which hurt the user experience. 

In 2025, a clear trend in online banking is toward “silent” or seamless authentication, where security measures happen in the background with minimal input from the user. 

The goal is to keep accounts ultra secure without making users jump through hoops every time they use the app.

How is this possible? 

Thanks to biometrics, device intelligence, and session management, banks can often verify you behind the scenes. Most banking apps already use biometric recognition – for example, you log in with your fingerprint or face scan instead of typing a password. That’s more secure and easier for the user. 

Beyond that, banks are employing device recognition: they can “remember” your device as a trusted environment. 

The first time you log in on a device, you might do two-factor authentication, but after that, the app already knows this phone or laptop is yours. If there’s no sign of unusual activity, it won’t ask you to log in repeatedly.

Another behind-the-scenes security measure is session tokens. 

When you do have to log in, the app issues a secure token to your session that can persist for a while. As long as that token is valid and you haven’t done anything sensitive or stepped away too long, the app doesn’t ask you to log in again for each action.

The result of silent authentication is a feeling of effortlessness for the user. They open the app and it just works, yet they can trust that in the background, the app is constantly watching for fraud and will step up security if something’s amiss. 

Technology in banking industry security has advanced to enable this balance of convenience and protection. 

As a fintech product owner, you should invest in these modern authentication methods.

Users have little patience now for typing passwords or waiting for SMS codes every single time. The best security is that which the user barely notices, yet it’s working 24/7.

9. Crypto integration and digital assets

A few years ago, cryptocurrencies were on the fringe of banking. Fast forward to 2025, and crypto has edged into the mainstream – so much so that many online banking trends now include offering crypto features. 

Crypto-specific features in banking apps can range from simple (letting you buy and hold Bitcoin in your bank app) to advanced (integrating blockchain-based payments or offering interest on crypto deposits). 

The driving force is customer demand, especially from younger and tech-savvy demographics, to have exposure to digital assets alongside their traditional finances.

What does this mean for app design?

Firstly, apps are adding crypto wallets and trading interfaces right next to bank accounts. If a customer can see their checking, savings, and Bitcoin balance in one place, that’s a win for convenience. It also keeps users engaged in the app for more of their financial activities instead of going to external crypto exchanges.

Beyond buying and selling, banks are exploring other digital asset services - custody services (securely holding a customer’s crypto so they don’t have to manage private keys), stablecoins (cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat like USD), and even DeFi (decentralized finance) concepts are creeping in.

Integrating crypto means a user can, say, hold Bitcoin and instantly convert to cash within their banking app for a purchase, or diversify into digital assets without signing up for a new platform.

These users also enjoy things like crypto rewards (cards that give 1% back in Bitcoin) and even NFT integration (a few neo-banks have toyed with letting users view their NFT collectibles in-app.

10. Intuitive, mobile-first interface

Last but absolutely not least, a core trend is an emphasis on intuitive user interfaces and designing for mobile-first usage. 

With the majority of customers primarily using mobile devices for banking (over 74% of Gen Z banked households use mobile as their main banking method, everything from sign-up to daily transactions must be optimized for small screens and touch interactions.

Mobile-first design means you start by designing for the smartphone experience, then scale up to web, rather than the old approach of shrinking web interfaces down. 

It considers things like thumb-friendly layouts (important buttons within easy reach), responsive content that’s readable without pinching or zooming, and offline/low-connectivity scenarios (maybe your app gives a cached balance if you briefly lose signal).

Intuitive UI in banking apps means a clean layout with plain language and also using visual cues like icons and charts more effectively - for example, many apps now provide visualizations of spending: pie charts of expenses, bar graphs of balance over time, etc., because a picture is quicker to grasp than a table of numbers.

Intuitive design also covers features like dark mode for eye comfort, accessibility for users with disabilities, and fast performance.

Another aspect is contextual simplicity: showing users only what they need at that moment. A good app might have many capabilities, but it doesn’t dump them all on the home screen. Instead, it might have a smart dashboard that highlights frequent actions and hides the rest in a menu.

In design communities, fintech UX is often cited as needing to be “so easy your grandma could use it.” 

Many apps have implemented tooltips and friendly prompts for first-time users, a search function for app features (so you can type “statement” and jump straight to your statements section), and personalization in the interface (showing your most-used actions on the top for quick access). 

All these small touches contribute to an intuitive, efficient experience.

To sum up, the future of mobile banking is one where the app feels like an extension of the user’s brain – anticipating needs, presenting information clearly, and never causing frustration due to poor design.

2025 trends in digital banking design - putting it all together

These 2025 trends in digital banking design all point to one theme – making banking easier, smarter, and more integrated in customers’ lives.

The good news is that many of these trends can be adopted incrementally. Even if you’re a smaller financial institution, you can start by implementing a few personalization features, revamping your app’s navigation for consistency, or rolling out biometric login.

As a design agency with lots of Fintech clients, our Merge team has helped clients implement these very trends – and we’ve observed that even small UX improvements (like a friendlier onboarding flow or a gamified savings tool) can make a big difference in user retention. 

If you aim to keep up with recent trends in banking industry innovation, focus on the areas that resonate most with your audience and business goals. Maybe your users crave better mobile functionality – start there with a mobile-first redesign. Or maybe you’re losing young customers – adding some community features or crypto offerings could draw them in.

Remember, successful digital products evolve. The banks leading in 2025 are constantly iterating and listening to user feedback. They treat design as a strategy, not an afterthought, embedding things like design systems and user research in their process.