Group Vault
UX Research, AI Prototyping, Fintech Design
As digital payment apps like Splitwise, Venmo, and Tricount have become ubiquitous for managing group expenses, a fundamental question emerged: Why do we need separate apps for something our banks already facilitate? Banks offer direct debit and card services, yet users still rely on third-party tools to track and split shared costs.
Brief:
A banking feature that removes financial friction from sustained group living and travel experiences.
Roles:
UX Research, AI-Assisted Design, Concept Development, Interactive Prototyping
Timeline:
1 month
The Journey in a nutshell.
Challenge
Why do we need Splitwise when banking apps already have direct debit capabilities? This question sparked an exploration into combining split payments directly into banking systems eliminating the friction of third-party expense-tracking apps.
Process
Group expense management is plagued by awkwardness and inefficiency. Research with 40 participants revealed that people feel uncomfortable chasing friends for money they're owed, particularly for recurring shared expenses like rent, groceries, and utility bills or during group trips where multiple transactions pile up.
Methodology
Using Loveable AI platform, I rapidly prototyped interactive UI mockups that visualized shared card management, recurring payment dashboards, and flexible split configurations accelerating the design-to-feedback cycle.
Insights
Trust is paramount: 45% cited trust concerns "Who controls the money?" dominated hesitations Payment anxiety is real: Delayed payments from group members was the #1 frustration (40% of respondents) The awkward ask: Multiple participants noted discomfort requesting owed money, especially repeatedly Flexibility matters: 30% worried about mid-commitment exits "What if someone wants to leave halfway?" Memory fails us: "Forgetting who paid what" across multiple transactions creates conflict Use case clarity: Roommates and travel groups benefit most; one-off dinner splits don't justify the setup
Outcome
Group Vault targets recurring group expenses roommates splitting rent, groceries, and utilities monthly, or friends traveling together with multiple shared costs. The shared digital card auto-splits expenses in real-time, eliminating manual tracking for ongoing financial relationships while maintaining transparency and trust.
