Birbank mobile banking

About the project

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Birbank is a popular mobile banking application in Azerbaijan, developed by Kapital Bank, one of the largest banks in the country. The app provides a wide range of banking services, allowing users to manage their finances directly from their smartphones.

5,5 mln

As of December 2023, Kapital Bank serves approximately 5.5 million individual clients and 35,000 legal entities.

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Kapital Bank’s Birbank mobile application has been ranked first in Azerbaijan’s 2024 Mobile Banking Rankings by the consulting and research firm “Markswebb.”

1874 year

The bank was founded on July 24, 1874. The first service point of Kapital Bank, which is the legal successor of Savings Bank of Azerbaijan, started to function as from July 24, 1874

Problem

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BirBank needed a modern, scalable mobile banking experience that could support millions of users while simplifying everyday financial tasks. Traditional banking apps often overload users with information, making navigation complex and financial management overwhelming.

Goals

  • Create a clear and structured mobile banking experience

  • Simplify onboarding and first-time user activation

  • Improve money transfer flows

  • Provide intuitive financial overview 

Challenges

  • Simplify core financial flows
  • Improve clarity in money transfers and account management
  • Onboarding for new users
  • Enables advanced features like VAT refund in a clear, trustworthy way

Old designs

Research

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Research focused on understanding how users interact with mobile banking apps in everyday contexts: checking balances, transferring money, reviewing transactions, and managing financial products.

User expects a clear hierarchy, predictable flows, and minimal friction from the app.

Key insights

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1.

Users check balances frequently and expect instant clarity.

2.

Money transfers are high-frequency actions and must be frictionless.

3.

Financial dashboards should reduce anxiety, not increase it.

4.

First-time onboarding significantly impacts trust and retention.

5.

Advanced features (like VAT refund) must feel secure and easy.

User personas

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Usability Studies

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1.

Onboarding Flow

Validate clarity and ease of first-time user setup.

 

Findings:

  • Simplified steps reduced drop-off risk

  • Clear progress indicators increased trust

  • Visual feedback improved perceived security

2.

Money Transfer Flow

Ensure transfer tasks are fast and error-resistant. 

 

Findings:

  • Clear input fields reduced hesitation

  • Prominent confirmation steps improved confidence

  • Reduced cognitive load improved speed

3.

Financial Dashboard 

Test the readability of the “My Finances” section.

 

Findings:

  • Charts improved spending awareness

  • Clear categorization reduced confusion

  • Users preferred summarized over raw data

4.

Feature Discoverability

Ensure users can access and understand VAT refund functionality.

 

Findings:

  • Clear placement improved feature discovery

  • Step-by-step flow reduced uncertainty

  • Visual confirmation increased trust

Onboarding

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Previously, customers had to visit a branch to open an account. With the new approach, that’s no longer necessary. Now, they can choose their desired product, set a credit limit, and upload all required documents from the comfort of their home.

onboarding

Money transfers

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The new money transfer page serves as a gateway to all available options, including favorite transfers, transfers via phone number, card, or bank, along with a wide range of payment choices for customers.

My finances

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The new finance hub provides all essential financial information across different currencies, including account statistics, savings, loans, credit cards, and more. It allows customers to track their activity and manage their cash flow efficiently.

VAT refund

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In Azerbaijan, people can request a VAT refund from the government on every purchase. We designed a simple and intuitive process to make it easy for them to claim their refunds.

Outcome & Learnings

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Outcome

The redesigned BirBank mobile app delivered a modern, structured, and scalable banking experience that simplified everyday transactions while supporting advanced financial services. Users were able to navigate core banking tasks more efficiently, gain clearer financial insights, and complete money transfers with greater confidence. The cohesive UI system strengthened brand perception and supported long-term scalability.

What we learned

  • Financial apps must balance clarity and depth
  • Dashboards reduce anxiety when structured correctly
  • Transfer flows must minimize friction and cognitive load
  • Onboarding strongly impacts perceived trust
  • Advanced features must be discoverable but not overwhelming

Project team

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Design Director
Ivan Valiukh
Product Designer
Taras Donchenko
Product Owner
Milana Leidenius