Wema Bank, one of Nigeria’s oldest banks with over 1.6M customers, faced a critical challenge: customer acquisition lagged behind digital-first competitors. The bank relied heavily on branch walk-ins and manual paperwork for account opening, frustrating a younger, tech-savvy demographic (ages 18–40) who wanted speed, convenience, and lifestyle-fit services.
Challenges & Objectives
The objective was to create a digital-first banking experience that reduced walk-ins, simplified account opening, and retained the trust and security associated with a traditional bank.
My Role
Joined the team as a Product Designer, focusing on the savings and card management features of the ALAT digital bank. My responsibilities included:
Conducting customer interviews to understand savings behaviors and motivations.
Performing competitive analysis of digital banking products.
Designing user experiences from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity mockups, aligned with brand guidelines.
Applying strategic thinking to balance user needs with business goals.
Collaborating closely with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders throughout the lifecycle.
Process & Key Drivers
Savings Feature
Designed to increase adoption and encourage consistent saving by focusing on:
Simple creation of new savings plans.
Progress tracking and visual growth of savings + interest earned.
Timely notifications for top-ups.
Clear penalty warnings for breaking savings plans.
Card Management Feature
Eliminated the need for branch visits or support calls by enabling:
Easy card requests.
In-app reporting and instant blocking of stolen/missing cards.
Card activation/deactivation controls.
Channel selection for card usage.
In-app PIN change and transaction limit settings.
Impact & Recognition
The launch of ALAT significantly reduced branch queues and paperwork while driving strong adoption among Nigerian millennials. The product was built on the core values of simplicity, reliability, and convenience.
Version 1 was tested with staff and early adopters, followed by Version 2.0 within six months, improving process flows, aesthetics, and feature usability based on feedback.
ALAT quickly became Nigeria’s first fully digital bank and gained industry-wide recognition.
The platform received multiple awards, including:
Best Mobile Banking App & Best Digital Bank – World Finance Digital Banking Awards (2017)
Best Digital Bank in Africa – Asian Banker Awards (2018)
Business Day Digital Banking Platform of the Year
Excellence in Digital Transformation – New Age Banking Awards
Conclusion
Working on ALAT allowed me to contribute to a transformative banking experience, blending intuitive design with business goals. The project underscored the power of user-centric digital banking and remains a benchmark for innovation in Africa’s financial sector.
