Array

Array

Array is a financial innovation platform that helps digital brands, financial institutions, and fintechs get compelling consumer products to market faster. Their suite of private label offerings helps partners drive revenue, increase engagement, and empower millions of consumers to achieve their financial goals. Array was founded in 2020 by Martin Toha and Phillip Zedalis. Investors include Battery Ventures, General Catalyst, and Nyca Partners.

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BuildCredit™ Loan

BuildCredit Loan is a turn-key solution for financial institutions, digital brands and fintechs to offer customers the opportunity to establish and build their credit score.
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The loaned funds are held as collateral, and payments are reported to the credit bureaus as an installment account. When the loan is repaid, the loan proceeds are returned to the customer, or can be disbursed into other product offerings offered by Array’s clients such as a secured card or new account.
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BuildCredit Loan is a solution for many companies because they can count on the expertise of BuildCredit and Array to manage the infrastructure, compliance and servicing while the company focuses on providing a seamless digital experience and extending the value they offer to their customers.
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When BuildCredit Loan is embedded, customers can sign up within the digital experience, set up automatic payments and accumulate savings.

When the customer makes on-time payments, the customer can establish a positive credit history as they continue to make installment payments over time. As an example, a borrower without existing debt that has a credit score of 560 can see up to a 60 point increase.

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Context

BuildCredit Loan is part of the Array financial innovation platform, and can be integrated with other Array products such as My Credit Manager and Offers Engine.

Array provides the financial institutions, digital brands and fintechs with the user interface, software components, customer support, payment processing and reporting to all three bureaus.BuildCredit Loan is currently in a private Alpha phase. To learn more, visit our BuildCredit page. General availability is expected in early 2023.

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The Challenges of creating a

User-Centric Credit Builder

When I started working on creating a credit building tool I soon realized how complex the process can be. Navigating the path, to building credit can feel like a maze for those who are new to it. Simplifying this journey, while retaining essential knowledge, became my first difficulty. The complexity was not just about the number of steps but the depth of financial understanding required.

Trust was another major challenge. Credit is deeply personal, and establishing confidence with users was essential. Ensuring that the design represents reliability, especially when asking users to expose personal financial details, was vital. This was coupled with the need to demystify financial terminology, making the learning curve smoother for users. Designing an interface that strikes a balance between education and user-friendliness.

However, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. The power of data collection needed to be matched with impeccable data security measures. Every decision regarding the design had to ensure that the user experience was given priority while also maintaining adherence, to data protection protocols.

Furthermore, I recognized that a one-size-fits-all approach would fall short. Financial literacy varies, as do accessibility needs. The tool had to be inclusive, accommodating different learning methods and accessibility demands, ensuring every user felt seen and considered.

Understanding these multifaceted challenges was my foundation. From there, I approached the design process holistically, aiming to create a credit builder tool that was not just functional but empowering, ensuring that users left with a greater sense of financial control and trust in the platform.

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Understanding the Users

An important  aspect of designing a successful user experience lies in comprehending the needs and characteristics of the target audience. In the case of BuilCreditLoan, the user base primarily consists of individuals with limited or no credit history, driven by the objective of improving their financial standing and gaining access to credit opportunities.

Understanding the unique circumstances and aspirations of these users is crucial for creating a tailored experience that addresses their specific requirements. By searching into the characteristics of this target audience, I could shape the user experience in a manner that aligns with their goals and empowers them to achieve financial growth.

Individuals with little or no credit history face distinct challenges when it comes to accessing credit and establishing a positive credit profile.

Therefore, the design of the BuilCreditLoan platform should account for their unique circumstances, offering intuitive features and tools that guide users through the credit-building journey. This may include educational resources on credit management, personalized recommendations for credit-building products, and user-friendly interfaces that simplify the application process.

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Defining the user journey:
mapping out the steps for BuilCreditLoan

To create a seamless user experience for BuilCreditLoan, it was important to define the user flow and understand the various steps and interactions involved. By mapping out the user journey, we could gain insights into how different screens connect with one another and ensure a cohesive experience. The user flow for BuilCreditLoan was structured as follows:
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Landing page

Introduce the purpose and benefits of the product, emphasizing the importance of building creditworthiness. This page should provide a clear and compelling overview to captivate users and encourage them to explore further.

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User registration

Upgrade the registration process by collecting necessary user information through a simple and intuitive form. By keeping the form concise and user-friendly, we can minimize friction and enhance the onboarding experience.
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Dashboard

Offer users an informative and visually appealing overview of their credit-building progress. Display key metrics such as their credit score, payment history, and any personalized recommendations to guide them towards achieving their financial goals. The dashboard should provide a comprehensive snapshot of their credit journey.
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Education/Resources

‍Provide a dedicated section that offers educational content, resources, and tools to help users better understand credit concepts, responsible borrowing practices, and effective credit management strategies. By empowering users with knowledge, we enable them to make informed decisions and take control of their financial well-being.

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Secured Credit Card Application

Enable users to apply for a loan or a secured credit card that aligns with their credit-building needs. This step should involve a seamless and straightforward application process, allowing users to provide the necessary information and submit their application with ease.
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Settings

‍Offer users the ability to manage their profile, customize notification preferences, and ensure the security of their account. This section should be easily accessible and provide a range of options for users to personalize their experience and safeguard their information.

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Wireframing Approach

The wireframing approach for the credit builder loan user case focuses on creating a smooth user flow and create visual appealing screens that highlights the benefits of the credit builder loan, such as improved credit scores and access to better financial opportunities.

The user registration wireframe phase involved designing a user-friendly form to collect necessary information like name, contact details, and basic financial information. Simplified account creation is facilitated by prompting users to create a unique username and password.

The dashboard component of the wireframe requered developing a comprehensive interface that offers users an overview of their credit-building progress. It incorporates personalized recommendations based on the user's financial profile and goals, along with educational resources like articles or videos to aid users in understanding credit-building concepts.

The loan application phase focuses on designing a step-by-step process that guides users through each stage, collecting relevant information such as employment details, income, and desired loan amount. It also includes a secure document upload feature for users to submit required documentation and presents the terms and conditions of the credit builder loan clearly.

Account settings comprehend  a user-friendly interface for managing profile information, including contact details and employment status. Customizable notification preferences enable users to receive updates on their credit-building progress, loan status, and educational content. To ensure security, the wireframe incorporates settings for password management and account protection, such as two-factor authentication.

By considering these key elements in the wireframing approach, the credit builder loan user experience is optimized for a seamless and user-friendly journey, empowering users to improve their credit scores.

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Testing and Iteration

The implementation of user-centered design principles and iterative testing processes for the credit builder loan feature has give promising results, significantly improving the user experience and achieving the desired outcomes for users in their credit building journey.

Through usability testing and iterative refinements based on user feedback, the credit builder loan feature has successfully addressed pain points and usability issues specific to credit builder loan users. The seamless and user-friendly experience has contributed to increased user satisfaction and engagement throughout the credit building process.

Quantitative metrics, such as increased completion rates of loan applications and higher user retention, demonstrate the positive impact of the improved credit builder loan experience.

Users have reported a more intuitive and streamlined application process, better understanding of credit concepts through educational resources, and personalized recommendations that align with their credit-building needs.The improved user experience has empowered credit builder loan users to make informed financial decisions and take control of their credit standing.

By providing a clear path to credit improvement and offering personalized guidance, the credit builder loan feature has enabled users to build a solid credit foundation and access credit opportunities that were previously unavailable to them.

Moreover, the iterative testing process has not only addressed immediate pain points but has also established a framework for continuous improvement. By gathering ongoing user feedback and leveraging data-driven insights, the credit builder loan feature can adapt to evolving user needs and further optimize the user experience.

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