This project was within Santander bank’s Corporate & Commercial Banking, with the service called Santander Connect.

As part of Santander Bank’s Corporate & Commercial Banking services, the Santander Corporate Connect Payment Authorisation project was designed to modernise and streamline the payment authorisation process. Integrated seamlessly with the Santander Connect native app, this service enables authorised employees to approve or decline payment requests with ease, enhancing the efficiency and security of corporate banking transactions.

Project Scope & Objectives

Following the successful completion of two major projects within Santander (Authorisation and Clearing Management System and Open Banking), I was entrusted with leading the digital transformation of a legacy Payment Initiation Request service which was originally developed in the early 1990s, and my challenge was to bring it into the modern fintech landscape. In addition, as part of the same project, I successfully delivered a greenfield native application for Santander Connect, designed to seamlessly integrate with the corporate payment authorization system. This initiative aimed to provide a streamlined, intuitive, and secure experience for corporate users managing high-value financial transactions.

Enhancing Modern Corporate Banking

The Santander Corporate Connect Payment Authorisation system is a crucial addition to contemporary corporate banking, offering businesses an efficient and secure way to manage financial authorisations. This service supports a variety of payment methods, including single and bulk Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS, and international payments. Additionally, it allows customers to set up and manage standing orders and oversee or cancel Direct Debits. The integration with Santander’s security and fraud detection mechanisms ensures robust financial protection while maintaining an optimal user experience.

To introduce a dynamic and engaging interface, I incorporated JSON scalable vector animations, a first within Santander’s fintech services, making the experience not only functional but also visually appealing. These animations play a key role in user engagement and accessibility, making complex financial processes more intuitive.

Design Lifecycle & UX Methodology

The design and development of this project followed a comprehensive UX/UI design lifecycle, ensuring a user-centric approach at every stage:

• User Research: Conducted in-depth analysis and stakeholder interviews to understand the pain points and requirements of corporate banking customers.
• User Journey Mapping: Defined key interaction touchpoints to streamline workflows and enhance user efficiency.
• Lo-Fidelity Mockups: Created wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes to test initial concepts.
• A/B Testing: Iterated designs based on real user feedback to optimise usability and performance.
• Hi-Fidelity Design & Component Library Updates: Developed pixel-perfect UI designs and updated Santander’s design component libraries to ensure consistency across digital platforms.

Conclusion

The Santander Corporate Connect Payment Authorisation project exemplifies the seamless fusion of technology, security, and user experience, reinforcing Santander’s commitment to innovation in corporate banking. By integrating a user-friendly, highly secure payment authorisation process into both web and mobile applications, this project significantly enhances modern financial management for corporate clients.