In the fast-evolving world of fintech, the difference between a retained user and a bounced session often lies in UX. Over the years, working with financial products across markets — from startups to institutions like American Express KSA — I’ve seen recurring UX patterns that fail users.
Here are 7 common UX mistakes fintech apps make — and how you can fix them with smart design decisions.
1. Overcomplicating Onboarding
The Mistake: Asking for too much upfront — ID proofs, long forms, multiple consents — all in the first screen.
Fix It: Break onboarding into micro-steps. Use progress indicators. Delay non-critical inputs. Let users get value before asking for everything.
👉 Pro Tip: Use tiered onboarding. Show what’s unlocked after each step (e.g., “Add ID to increase your transfer limit”).
2. Hiding Critical Actions Behind Too Many Taps
The Mistake: Users can’t find “Send Money”, “Withdraw”, or “Convert Currency” within 2 taps.
Fix It: Use floating action buttons or quick access widgets for top actions. Track heatmaps to identify high-friction paths.
3. Ignoring Error States & Empty States
The Mistake: A failed transaction just says “Something went wrong.”
Fix It: Design helpful, human error messages. Offer retry or contact options. For empty states (no cards, no transactions), suggest next steps or features to explore.
👉 Pro Tip: Every error is an opportunity to build trust.
4. Lack of Visual Hierarchy
The Mistake: Same font size for balance, transaction note, and merchant name — leaving users confused.
Fix It: Define clear typography rules. Use visual weight and spacing to guide the eye. Prioritize clarity over cramming information.
5. Unclear KPIs on Dashboards
The Mistake: Business dashboards that show too many numbers with no context.
Fix It: Group KPIs by purpose — Revenue, Spend, Referrals. Use sparklines, trends, and plain language. Provide a summary like “You’ve earned $230 this week via referrals.”
6. Designing for Features, Not Use-Cases
The Mistake: Teams add “Wallets,” “Cards,” “Pay Models” — but users don’t understand what to do.
Fix It: Frame each module around user goals — “Manage Your Money,” “Split a Bill,” “Get Paid Faster.” Help users choose the right action.
7. Lack of Personalization or Context
The Mistake: Same home screen for a freelancer, business owner, and contractor.
Fix It: Use roles, behaviors, and usage history to surface relevant cards, actions, and insights. Adaptive UX wins in fintech.
Final Thoughts
The best fintech UX doesn’t just look clean — it builds trust, clarity, and confidence in users’ financial actions. By avoiding these mistakes, your product becomes not just usable — but indispensable.
