WISE Stash Feature
WISE Stash Feature
An automated savings feature that helps Wise users save consistently across currencies while preventing impulse spending
Embedded Files
Project Overview
Project Overview
Wise is known for its low-fee international transfers and multi-currency management. However, users lacked automated savings options that could work seamlessly across currencies while helping them overcome behavioral barriers to saving consistently.
The challenge was to design a feature that maintained Wise's minimalist UI philosophy while providing meaningful value to their diverse international user base who struggle with inconsistent saving patterns and impulse spending.
Timeline: 6 weeks, 75 hours
Role: UX/UI Designer, Researcher
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Zoom, Google Forms
Research
Research
I conducted semi-structured interviews with 5 Wise users (30-45 minutes each), targeting frequent travelers, digital nomads, and international freelancers, along with a competitive analysis of 4 money transfer services/online wallets.
Affinity Map
Research Plan
Research Plan
The primary goal was to understand whether Wise users would find a savings tool valuable in their day-to-day financial management, focusing on multi-currency savers, digital nomads, and international freelancers.
Key Findings:
Users struggled with inconsistent saving due to variable income patterns
Many users would "dip into" savings during lean periods, creating financial anxiety
Traditional savings advice felt unrealistic for freelancers with irregular income
Users wanted to hide money from themselves to prevent impulse spending
Multi-currency savers lacked tools that worked across different currencies
"If I'm consciously trying to save, often it's counterproductive. I just end up being more paranoid about money."
"When I have money, I save. When I don't have money, I don't save."
"I value simplicity in my financial apps, but I still need them to be comprehensive."
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
I analyzed Revolut, Monzo, PayPal, and Monese to understand the competitive landscape.
Key Opportunities Identified:
No competitors provided advanced savings features specifically for multi-currency management
Existing solutions lacked automated savings options tailored to variable income patterns
Gap in impulse spending protection through hiding/locking mechanisms
Better user experience needed for international users' savings categories
Competitive Analysis
User Personas
User Personas
Based on research, I developed two primary personas:
Michael, The International Freelancer (38)
Variable income (€1,500-€4,000/month)
Receives payments in multiple currencies
Struggles with feast-or-famine saving patterns
Needs flexibility but also structure to build emergency funds
Sofia, The Structured Saver (31)
Steady income, methodical approach to finances
Values optimization in currency exchange and clear progress tracking
Uses Wise occasionally but wants better integration with savings goals
Prioritizes security and control over funds
Problem Statements Defined:
For Michael: International freelancers struggle with financial anxiety due to unpredictable income, lacking automated savings options that hide funds from themselves.
For Sofia: Structured savers need clear value propositions beyond basic transfers to embrace Wise as a comprehensive financial tool.
Shared Problem: Both personas must navigate multi-currency management complexities without appropriate tools tailored to their distinct needs.
User Flows, Business & User Goals
User Flows, Business & User Goals
User Flows:
Opening a new Stash and configuring automation settings
Managing existing Stash visibility and access controls
The flows prioritized progressive disclosure to reduce cognitive load while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
Business & User Goals
Design
Design
Core Features Designed:
Automated Savings Rules: Round-up transactions, percentage-based saving from deposits, scheduled transfers
Visibility Controls: Hide savings from main dashboard to reduce spending temptation
Access Controls: Time-based and goal-based locks with customizable friction levels
Multi-Currency Support: Create separate stashes for different currencies and goals
Lo-fi Wireframes: Flow 1 shows difficulty of balancing enough information with simplicity
Lo-fi Wireframes: modals in Flow 2 create friction to changing visibility status from hidden to visible.
Design Evolution
Design Evolution
Initial Design Approach:
Presented all automation options on single screens for transparency
Aimed to give users complete information to make informed decisions
Focused on comprehensive option visibility over interaction simplicity
Feature originally called "Squirrel"
Hi-fi Wireframes v.1: Automated Savings
Hi-fi Wireframes v.1: Locks
Testing & Iterations
Testing & Iterations
I conducted task-based usability testing with 5 participants to evaluate core user flows:
3 users with variable income patterns (like Michael),
and 2 structured savers (like Sofia).
Their tasks:
Open a new Stash and configure automated savings settings
Change visibility settings to hide an existing Stash
Usability Test Results
Usability Test Results
100% task completion rate across all users (despite interaction difficulties)
SUS score of 70.5 (just above the 70 benchmark for good usability)
Users expressed strong interest in using the feature regularly
Major Usability Issues Identified:
Dropdown Confusion: All 5 users struggled with dropdown interactions - unclear what was clickable and how to close dropdowns
Navigation Issues: Users had difficulty finding "Manage Jars" in the sidebar and understanding the relationship between Squirrels and Jars
Inconsistent UI Feedback: Buttons, toggles, and icons lacked clear interactive states and visual feedback
Information Architecture: Too many options on single screens created cognitive overload
Specific User Feedback:
Multiple users suggested renaming "Squirrel" to "Stash" for clarity
Visibility toggle behavior was confusing and needed clearer feedback
Icons and terminology like "Round up" needed to be more user-friendly
Confirmation screens didn't match user selections, causing confusion
Hi-fi Wireframes v.1: Visibility toggle unclear
Revisions
Revisions
Design Improvements Made:
Redesigned dropdown interactions with clearer visual states and click targets
Improved button and toggle feedback with consistent interactive behaviors
Simplified page layouts to reduce cognitive load
Enhanced navigation labels and sidebar organization
Renamed feature from "Squirrel" to "Stash" while keeping friendly squirrel icon
Before:
information overload
visual feedback confusing - are all options possible?
"Skip" button confusing to users
After:
dropdown removes clutter and indicates only one option is possible
button is disabled until an option is chosen
"Decide later" reduces user anxiety
Before:
"Locks" concept negative
visual feedback confusing - can you choose both options?
After:
changed to more positive "Access"
dropdown eliminates confusion
button only active when dates have been chosen
Before:
visibility toggle status confusing
too much text
visual feedback confusing (is this on or off?)
After:
dropdown eliminates status confusion
"(default)" copy clarifies the "Visible" option is chosen
text reduced and link to Advanced Settings introduced
Conclusion
Conclusion
This project reinforced that users need to interact with interfaces rather than just read them. It's not a book, but a page they need to engage with — and finding the right balance between providing enough information and avoiding overwhelming complexity is crucial to creating truly usable designs.
Key Takeaways:
Information Architecture Matters: Finding the right balance between providing enough information and avoiding overwhelming complexity is crucial for usable designs.
Users Need Interaction: This project reinforced that users need to interact with interfaces rather than just read them.
Test Early and Often: The dropdown solution could have been identified sooner with more rapid prototyping of different interaction patterns.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Enhanced Testing: Conduct longer-term usability studies to understand how users interact with the feature over time
Goal-Based Enhancements: Develop goal-based notifications and friction mechanisms to help users stay committed to their savings targets when tempted to withdraw
Currency Exchange Optimization: Integrate smart currency exchange timing and alerts to help users maximize their savings across different currencies
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