Build a Better Banking App: 11 Features for 2025

For financial institutions planning to create a banking app, there is no room for guesswork. For quite some time now a simple balance-checking app just won’t do. Today, users expect fully equipped mobile banking systems that practically replace the need to ever walk into a branch again. And as much as this new shift can be a pain, it also presents a huge opportunity for financial institutions.

From the outside, mobile banking might seem like just another tech convenience. However, from inside the industry, we know it’s a powerful lever for customer experience, and consequently, retention. The right mobile banking features go beyond functionality - they make an app indispensable.

Banks with the best mobile apps understand this. Their mobile platforms aren’t mere digital tools, but a primary interface between their customers and their own brand. That’s why it’s paramount to properly identify the features of mobile banking apps that meet user expectations but also exceed them.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the best mobile banking app features that every institution creating one should consider and explore the exact drivers of customer engagement and loyalty when it comes to modern mobile banking systems.

Must-Have Features for Premium Customer Experience

When designing a banking application, you must think of it as the ambassador of your brand. It is often the first and most frequent touchpoint for your customers. In that context, mobile and online banking features directly shape how users perceive your brand, and dictate if they’ll stick around or not.

Let’s go through some important factors and banking features that drive great CX:

Accessibility Anytime, Anywhere (24/7 Availability)

Round-the-clock access is at the very top of the mobile banking needs. Customers want to manage their finances when it suits them - not just during banking hours. This means being able to do a quick balance check at 2am, or pay a bill at dinnertime - after all, this is what mobile banking technology is all about: handling tasks on their own terms.

Uncompromising Security that Inspires Trust

A secure mobile banking app should almost be considered a pleonasm. Customers put a high level of trust in your institution, and bulletproof security is non-negotiable.

Biometric login, two-factor authentication, data encryption, and real-time potential fraud alerts are now standard mobile banking app features. Apart from these, banks must also prioritize transparency. Being open about how data is protected both reassures your customers and strengthens trust.

Personalized User Experience - Yes, In Banking as Well

Since customers already must share so much of their own information to be able to use apps for banking, they might as well see some additional benefit from it: a tailored experience.

Modern banking applications bring far more than basic account summaries. Think intelligent dashboards, spending analysis, personalized product recommendations, and proactive notifications based on individual behavior.

Such features of banking do more than impress, they solve real problems. They anticipate the needs and offer solutions before a customer even thinks to ask - creating emotional loyalty on top of functional reliance.

Give Customers Control

Giving users complete control over their financial lives is one of the core advantages of mobile banking. Customers see it this way: the more control they have thanks to your app, the more valuable it is.

In practice, this means features like the ability to set custom budget limits, freeze or unfreeze cards, manage recurring payments, or create saving goals - all from the phone.

These are no longer nice-to-have - they’re features of mobile banking that today’s users expect. Want to know which of these is the most convenient feature of using online and mobile banking? The ability to take action immediately - no waiting on customer service or having to visit a branch.

New, Smart Tools

Users today are used to their apps for banking going beyond just the basics and plain functionality. This means including the following features:

• Mobile check deposits
• P2P (peer-to-peer) payments
• Expense categorization and visual budgeting
• Real-time insights into spending habits
• Integration with digital wallets and investment platforms

These tools save time, reduce friction and encourage better financial habits and are therefore the hallmark of top-tier mobile banking software. Put simply, they transform your banking application into a financial partner rather than a transactional tool.

Frictionless Navigation and Interface

Even the most powerful mobile banking application features won’t matter if users have trouble understanding them. To ensure UI and UX that drive excellent CX, banks investing in mobile banking application development should work with experienced designers and test usability early and often. Every tap, swipe, and second of load time matters!

Support That’s Actually Helpful

Even highly intuitive apps sometimes need a human touch. This means that having integrated customer support - via live chat, AI chatbots, or instant call-back options is also a must. Support features might not be the flashiest part of your mobile banking services list, but they’re often where customer frustrations turn into loyalty - or churn. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking them!

What Makes a Mobile Banking App Exceptionally Functional?

Mobile banking apps may drastically vary in quality. The best ones go into the nitty-gritty of customer experience, far beyond checking balances and transferring money. They strive for being convenient, secure, smart financial tools that not only respond to customer needs but also predict them.

Let’s take a closer look at the key features of mobile banking that users now see as a  big advantage.

1. Two-Factor and Biometric Authentication

More so than other kinds of apps, apps for banking absolutely must prioritize security. Most now offer two-factor authentication (2FA), typically combining a password with a one-time passcode or push notification. Even better, biometric authentication - like fingerprint scanning or facial recognition - adds another layer of security while making logins quicker for users - both a plus.

2. Instant Alerts and Account Monitoring

A mobile banking app should act like a financial radar! Instant account usage alerts let users know when their balance drops, a transaction clears, or payment is due. Having this real-time feedback helps people stay on top of their finances without logging in repeatedly.

3. The Usual: Deposits, Transfers, and Payments

The following are the core mobile banking system services that users expect: depositing checks with a photo, transferring money between accounts, paying utility bills, and covering credit card dues. Moreover, many apps today also support loan payments and scheduled recurring payments, creating a smoother experience for their users. Click-to-pay and peer-to-peer (P2P) payments go even further in streamlining the processes.

4. QR Code Payments

QR code technology is easily one of the best mobile banking app features, enabling contactless, real-world transactions. In situations where you need to split the bill at a restaurant or pay a vendor at a weekend market, QR code payments make it speedy and hassle-free. According to Juniper Research, QR payments are expected to exceed $3 trillion globally by 2025 - an excellent proof that this isn’t just a fad.

5. Card Controls and Cardless ATM Access

Misplacing your card is never a pleasant experience, and apps can ease it by allowing you to freeze or deactivate it instantly. Some apps also allow cardless ATM withdrawals, either through QR codes or near-field communication (NFC). It’s more secure and eliminates the need for carrying a physical card.

6. Digital Wallet Integration

Most banking apps already support digital wallets, so users can store debit or credit card info, loyalty cards, and transit passes. It’s a hassle-free way to manage payments on the go, again, without carrying physical cards, or cash, for that matter.

7. Bill Payment and Smart Scheduling

Being able to pay bills directly through the app, and what’s more important, set up automatic payments or get due date reminders - is immensely convenient for avoiding late fees and missed payments.

8. Personal Finance Management Tools

Tools like budget tracking, spending categories, or even automated savings transfers make your app a customer’s own little financial assistant, helping them set goals and build better habits. Furthermore, some apps use machine learning to suggest smarter ways to save or pay down debt. This kind of impact on one’s financial life creates the most loyal customers.

9. Chatbots and Customer Support

For simple issues like password resets or balance inquiries, intelligent chatbots are ideal. If a question is a more complex one, the option to be transferred to a chat with a human or even schedule a call with a support rep directly from the app makes up for a large part of the smooth CX.

10. ATM and Branch Locator

Yes, it might seem basic, but having a reliable ATM locator or branch finder - especially with live availability or filtering by services - saves users a lot of time, especially if they’re travelling (and they will definitely remember how easy it was).

11. Rewards, Offers, and even Gamification!

To encourage customers to use the app, some banks integrate rewards and loyalty programs, or even gamification. An example would be completing certain actions (like making three mobile deposits in a month) could unlock cashback offers or other perks. Routine tasks turn into small wins - keeping users engaged and happy.

Ready to Build a Banking App that Makes Customers Love Your Brand?

The scary truth is: if your bank or fintech platform isn’t meeting the users’ needs, someone else will. The best features of online and mobile banking are no longer just nice-to-haves, they are expected.

How exactly do banking apps work behind the scenes? Is it all code? Well, no, it’s about creating a user journey that feels effortless from the first tap. The importance of mobile banking is in the everyday problems it solves, and that’s what customers appreciate the most.

And that’s where we come in.

At 2am.tech, we design and build mobile apps that strike the balance between functionality and simplicity. Building from scratch? We’re there to lead the way. Just need to upgrade an existing platform? No problem, our teams deliver custom app solutions tailored to your exact needs.

For us, it’s not about ticking off some list of features of online banking - we dig into what will actually work for your audience. Let’s create something your clients won’t only use - but rely on.

1. Which mobile banking features do consumers consider to be critical?

Consumers consider features like 24/7 access, biometric and two-factor authentication, instant transaction alerts, the ability to deposit checks via photo, and seamless money transfers to be critical in any mobile banking app. They also expect card control options, budgeting tools, personalized dashboards, and integrated support (either through chatbots or human agents) as standard functionality.

2. What are the main advantages of mobile banking?

The main advantages of mobile banking are convenience, speed, and control. Users can manage their finances on their own schedule without visiting a branch, access real-time information and alerts, handle payments or transfers instantly, and benefit from built-in tools that help track spending or improve financial habits. Security features like biometric login also provide peace of mind, making the experience both safer and more efficient.

3. What features are making some mobile banking apps more popular than others?

Mobile banking apps that stand out typically offer a smoother user interface, faster performance, and smart extras like spending analysis, peer-to-peer payments, digital wallet integration, and goal-setting tools. They also tend to support proactive, easy-to-access customer service and include small but memorable features like QR code payments or rewards systems, all of which contribute to a more engaging and functional experience.

4. What is not a feature of a mobile banking app?

A mobile banking app does not offer in-person banking services, physical cash handling, or access to unrelated content like streaming media. While some apps integrate third-party platforms for investing or financial products, direct stock trading, for example, is not typically a core mobile banking feature unless explicitly included as part of the bank’s offerings.