Germany is in love with cash and hates credit card payment, driven by an obsession with privacy, mistrust of fintech.

Nearly 60% of purchases in Germany are made with cash, compared to just 6% in Sweden. Culturally, cash is associated with self-control, safety, and anonymity. For retailers, cash is often more cost-effective for transactions under €50, as the expenses of handling cash are lower than credit card fees. However, the costs of producing, storing, and transporting cash ultimately get passed on to consumers, according to experts.

In the meantime, the European Central Bank is developing a digital currency, an electronic equivalent to cash in the euro area issued by the central bank. This digital currency would complement physical banknotes and coins, offering an additional payment option. It is designed to respect transactions and users’ privacy while ensuring that inflation remains low, stable and predictable. It also a way to prevent illegal activities like money laundering and terrorism financing.

A no-cost mobile payment solution for individuals and businesses, enabling the receipt and transfer of money, along with a virtual credit card (e-wallet). The service prioritizes user's transaction privacy and security through features like fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, two-factor authentication, and encrypted data, adhering to European PCI DSS and PSD2 standards.

I conducted a survey and a few interviews to explore the behaviors of six potential future users regarding online and cash payments. We'll assess their pros and cons, as well as their values, practicality, and the role money plays in their daily lives. Once the data is collected, we'll organize it using an affinity map.

Sarah and Sammy are two potential future users who frequently travel for work or to visit friends and family. They need to make payments in stores and send money to friends, each with their own sensitivities regarding these transactions.

Let’s visualize the structure and sections of the service and see how the content can be organized. We can then identify gaps, prioritizes content, and fosters a cohesive design so users navigate the app easily with a clear, logical flow.

Overall app navigation
This interactive prototype demonstrates how users can view their payment history and switch between different credit cards in use.

Send and receive money
Here, you can view the entire process of sending money to someone.