As part of defining our design system’s haptic strategy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the banking experience to identify where haptic feedback can meaningfully enhance interaction, clarity, and user confidence. We systematically mapped all functional areas of the banking domain — from transactional flows and account management to navigation, forms, and notifications — to determine which interactions benefit most from tactile feedback.

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Based on this analysis, we identified key opportunities for haptic integration, such as:

• Confirming critical actions (e.g., successful transfers, authentication)
• Providing feedback during continuous controls (e.g., sliders, date or amount pickers)
• Reinforcing state changes (e.g., toggles, filters, switches)
• Communicating errors or warnings (e.g., failed transactions, invalid input)

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Each identified area is associated with a specific haptic feedback pattern, using either native system feedback or custom-assigned effects from our design system library. This approach ensures a consistent tactile language across all banking interactions, while preserving the native feel of each platform.

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To guide design and implementation, every mapped are includes:

• The recommended feedback type (e.g., click, tick, success, warning, error)
• The corresponding native API or predefined effect (e.g., VibrationEffect.EFFECT_CLICK, .success)
• Example use cases illustrating when and how the feedback should occur

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These examples serve as recommendations and best-practice guidance, not strict implementation rules.
They are intended to help teams apply haptics thoughtfully and contextually ,adapting them to each product area while maintaining consistency across the experience.

Fraud alerts & security notifications

• Use case: A user with hearing impairment receives a critical fraud alert from their banking app. Instead of relying only on an audio cue or a visual banner (which could be missed if the phone is locked or out of sight), the system delivers a distinct, strong haptic pattern (e.g., a sharp triple-pulse vibration).
• Strong repeating vibrations to indicate urgency

Accessibility Benefit:

• Ensures that users who cannot hear audio alerts or may not see the screen immediately are still immediately aware of urgent security issues.
• Haptic differentiation (unique vibration patterns for fraud alerts vs. regular notifications) helps users distinguish urgency by feel alone.

Security Benefit:

• Prevents users from missing time-sensitive alerts about suspicious transactions, which could reduce fraud impact.
• Provides a discreet notification method (useful in public spaces where on-screen or audio alerts may be unsafe or privacy-compromising).

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Balance update & account activity

• Use case: A user with low vision checks their banking app for their account balance. To make the experience more inclusive, the app uses subtle haptic feedback to reinforce balance changes - deposits/withdrawals, bill payments, or direct debits.

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Budget & spending alerts

Success:

• Use case: user sets a savings goal in their banking app (e.g., save 200€ by the end of the month). When they reach the target, the app triggers a short celebratory haptic pattern (playful triple buzz with a rising feel).
• Accessibility benefit: Provides a non-visual, non-audio confirmation of achievement, making it inclusive for users with visual or hearing impairments.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Provides immediate confirmation that funds have arrived, even if the user cannot see or hear the notification.

Warning

• Use case: A user is close to exceeding their monthly spending limit (e.g., 90% of budget reached). The app sends a gentle, non-intrusive haptic pulse as a background notification.

• Accessibility benefit: Ensures that users with limited vision or who may have turned off sound alerts can still receive timely nudges before overspending.

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Real-time transaction alert

Incoming payment:

• Use case: A user receives an incoming payment (e.g., salary deposit, friend-to-friend transfer). The app triggers a light, uplifting haptic pattern — e.g., a quick double-tap with a smooth finish.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Provides immediate confirmation that funds have arrived, even if the user cannot see or hear the notification.
• Distinguishable from other alerts so the user knows it’s good news at a glance (or rather, at a touch).

Outgoing payment

• Use case - A user initiates an outgoing payment (e.g., bill payment, transfer to another account). The app triggers a firm, single haptic thump — clear but not alarming.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Confirms that the action went through successfully, even if the user didn’t catch the visual confirmation screen.
• Supports users who rely on tactile feedback to avoid confusion between pending vs. completed payments.

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Push notification

• Use case: A user receives a push notification from their banking app — for example, “Your monthly statement is ready” or “New feature available.”
• Push notifications can be overwhelming if overused; using a light, respectful haptic pattern prevents fatigue while still keeping users informed.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Ensures users with hearing impairments don’t miss important app communications.
• A distinct haptic pattern for push vs. critical alerts avoids confusion — push notifications stay subtle, while fraud/security alerts feel urgent.

Categories:

• Informational push (e.g., statement ready) - light
• Engagement push (e.g., savings tip, reward earned) - emphasis
• Critical push (e.g., fraud alert) - warning

Accessibility benefit: Helps users recognise when a card has been focused vs selected.

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Biometric Authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, PIN entry)

Use case: A user opens the app and uses fingerprint or Face ID to log in.Haptic Feedback Design:

1. Authentication in Progress → subtle, short vibration when the biometric sensor activates

• Accessibility benefit: lets the user know the system is “reading” their fingerprint/face.

2. Successful Login → soft, crisp tap (like a gentle “click” feeling).

• Accessibility benefit: gives instant confirmation without needing to read text.

3. Failed Authentication → slightly longer, double buzz (but not harsh).

• Accessibility benefit: signals an error clearly.

Accessibility boost for visually impaired users.

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Passcode Entry Input

Use case: A user enters a 4–6 digit passcode to log in.

1. Digit Tap → tiny, crisp tap for each number pressed.

• Purpose: tactile confirmation of input
• Accessibility benefit: tactile confirmation of input

2. Correct Completion (Login Success)

• Purpose: reassures the user that the passcode was correct.
• Accessibility benefit: reassures the user that the passcode was correct.

3. Incorrect Passcode

• Purpose: signals error clearly without being alarming.
• Accessibility benefit: signals error clearly without being alarming.

4. Lockout (too many failed attempts)

• Purpose: emphasizes seriousness of the action.
• Accessibility benefit: Emphasizes seriousness of the action.

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Card selection

Use case: A user scrolls/swipes through their available debit/credit cards (for payments, transfers, or viewing details).

1. Card Scroll / Swipe ‍

• Purpose: mimics the feel of flipping through a physical wallet.

2. Card Selected (Tapped to Confirm)

• Purpose: reinforces the moment of choice.

Accessibility benefit: Helps users recognize when a card has been focused vs selected.

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Freeze / unfreeze card

• Use case: User freezes or unfreezes their card for security.
• Freeze → a low, firm pulseUnfreeze → a light, smooth double-tap
• Accessibility benefit: Reinforces the importance of the security state change.

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Lock / unlock card

• Use case: A user locks their card (e.g., misplaced wallet) or unlocks it later.
• Accessibility benefit: Reinforces the seriousness of the action.

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Card transactions & notifications

• Use case - Success: User sees confirmation of a successful purchase, transfer, or payment.
• Accessibility benefit: Confirms success instantly without needing to read a message.


• Use case - Failure:  e.g., declined card, insufficient funds
• Accessibility benefit: Clear warning that something went wrong.

• Use case - Fraudulent or unusual transaction: Bank flags a suspicious or unusual transaction.
• Accessibility benefit: Differentiates fraud alerts from regular notifications.

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Confirm with button / Confirm with side button

Action Confirmation (successful)

Critical Confirmation (high-value or irreversible action)

• Use case: Confirming a large transfer, closing an account, permanently freezing a card.
• Accessibility benefit: Makes the user feel the weight of the decision.

Failed Confirmation

• Use case: Attempted confirmation blocked (insufficient funds, system error, wrong details).
• Accessibility benefit: Clear distinction from successful confirmation.

Payment confirmation - Side button

Use case: User use side button to confirm payment

• Use case: Confirming a money transfer, bill payment, or updating settings.
• Accessibility benefit: Reinforces that the action was completed securely.

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Dialog appears on the screen

Information Dialog (Neutral, informative)

• Example: “Your daily transfer limit is $5,000.”
• Accessibility benefit: Acknowledges the dialog without overstating importance.

Confirmation Dialog (Reassuring)

• Example: “Are you sure you want to transfer $2,000 to John?”
• Accessibility benefit: Differentiates the appearance of the dialog from the actual confirmation action.

Warning Dialog (Alert, cautionary)

• Example: “You are about to delete this payee.”
• Accessibility benefit: Makes the dialog feel more serious than standard info.

Error / Critical Dialog (corrective, attention-grabbing)

• Example: “Transaction failed. Please try again.”
• Accessibility benefit: Immediately communicates urgency and failure.

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Market updates / opportunities

Use case: User receives push an Alert with:Regular Market Update (Info)

• Example: “S&P 500 is up 1.2% today.”
• Accessibility benefit: Feels informative, non-intrusive.

Promotional Offer (Medium Importance)

• Example: “Earn 2% cashback when you invest $500 this week.”
• Accessibility benefit: Differentiates offers from standard updates.

High-Priority Market Alert (Urgent/Time sensitive)

• Example: “AAPL drops 5% in 15 minutes.”
• Accessibility benefit: Signals urgency, requires user attention now.

Critical Event (Very Urgent)

• Example: “Your stop-loss on TSLA triggered — position closed.”
• Haptics: Strong
• Accessibility benefit: Separates critical trading events from everything else.

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Trading confirmation

Use case: User receives push an Alert with:Order Placement (Success)

• Action: User places a buy or sell order that’s accepted by the system.

High-Value Trade Confirmation (Success)

• Action: Large order or leveraged position confirmed.
• Accessibility benefit: Makes the action feel more serious and deliberate.

Pending Order Confirmation (Informative)

• Action: Order is placed but pending market conditions (e.g., limit order)
• Purpose: Distinguishes pending from immediate execution.

Failed Confirmation

• Action: Order rejected (e.g., insufficient funds, market closed).
• Accessibility benefit: Signals error clearly, distinct from success.

Accessibility benefit:

• Confirms execution quickly and confidently.

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Account switching

User case:

• The user taps on their profile or account selector and chooses a different account (e.g., from “Checking” to “Savings”).

Success: Light Impact (a short, distinct vibration confirming the account switch).

Error / Heavy Impact — a short double vibration or slightly stronger pulse pattern signaling an error state.Accessibility Benefit:Provides a clear, non-visual confirmation that the account has successfully changed — improving feedback for users with visual impairments or those using the app in bright or noisy environments where visual or audio cues might be missed.

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Charts / timeline navigation

Use case: The user taps and holds (or single taps) on a specific point or bar in the chart to reveal details like “August – $820 spent.”

Accessibility Benefit: Reinforces successful interaction with non-visual feedback, reducing uncertainty about touch precision on small screens. This helps users confidently interpret financial trends even on compact mobile interfaces.

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Interactive elements (sliders)

User Action: The user slides their finger horizontally across a spending or investment chart to explore data over time (e.g., monthly expenses).

Accessibility Benefit: Provides tactile confirmation of movement and position, helping users accurately explore data without needing to maintain constant visual focus. This is especially helpful for users with visual impairments or in bright outdoor conditions where screen visibility is reduced.

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Copying sensitive data (IBAN, card numbers)

Use case: The user long-presses the displayed IBAN and chooses Copy IBAN from the contextual menu (or taps a dedicated copy button).

Accessibility Benefit: Provides non-visual confirmation that the IBAN was copied so users with visual impairments (or anyone not looking at the screen) know the action succeeded.

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Payment confirmation & processing

Payment Success

• Use Case - Success: User completes a payment or transaction successfully (e.g., money sent, bill paid).
• Accessibility Benefit:
  
  • Confirms transaction completion without needing to rely on visual cues
  • Supports users with low vision or users who may not notice on-screen success messages
    
  • Provides immediate, intuitive feedback
• Use case - Payment Failure / Error

• Use Case: Transaction fails due to insufficient funds, network issues, or incorrect details.
• Accessibility Benefit:‍
  
  • Alerts users immediately to an issue without reading the screen
    
  • Can be paired with audio cues for stronger multimodal feedback

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High-value transaction

Use Case:

• User initiates or completes a transaction above a certain threshold (e.g., $1,000+). This is a critical action where extra attention and confirmation are needed.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Provides immediate tactile confirmation that this is a high-value transaction
• Helps users with low vision or attention challenges recognize the importance of the action
• Reduces risk of accidental high-value transactions by creating a memorable tactile cue

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QR code payment

Use Case:

• User scans a merchant or peer QR code to make a payment. Payment can be instant or require confirmation depending on the app flow.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Supports users with low vision via screen reader guidance for scanning instructions
• Provides clear confirmation of QR code detection and payment completion through visual cues and optional audio alerts
• Helps users avoid errors by confirming the correct amount and recipient

Success → Light vibration on successful scanFailure → Stronger buzz on unsuccessful scan

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Pull to refresh

Use Case:

• User pulls down on a screen (e.g., account summary, transaction history) to refresh content and get the latest updates.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Ensures users receive up-to-date information without relying solely on automatic refresh
• Works well with screen readers if accompanied by status announcements (e.g., “Refreshing account transactions…”)
• Provides clear visual feedback of refresh progress for users with cognitive or visual challenges

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Switch interaction

Use Case:

• User toggles settings or options on/off, such as notifications, dark mode, or automatic payments.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Allows users to quickly enable or disable features without navigating through multiple screens
• Fully compatible with screen readers, which can announce the current state (“On” or “Off”)
• Helps users with motor or cognitive impairments by providing a large, touch-friendly toggle

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Drag & Drop

Use Case:

• User reorganizes items, such as favorite accounts, bill payees, or budget categories, by dragging an item from one position to another.

Accessibility Benefit:

• Enables efficient organization without navigating multiple menus
• With proper accessibility support, screen readers can announce item movement and new position
• Supports users with cognitive impairments by giving a clear visual indication of item placement

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Changing values, picker wheels

Use Case:

• User selects a value from a set of options using a picker wheel, such as:
• Choosing a transaction date
• Selecting account type
• Setting transfer amount in predefined increments

Accessibility Benefit:

• Supports precise input without typing, which helps users with motor impairments
• Works with screen readers, announcing current selection and changes
• Reduces errors by constraining input to valid options only

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Beginnings / First interaction with the app

Use cases:

Account Opening (Success Screen):

• User completes the account opening process and sees a confirmation.

First Deposit / Transaction:

• User makes their first deposit or completes their first transaction.

App Personalization (Accounts Linked, Digital Wallets):

• User links accounts or digital wallets to personalize the app experience.

Opening a Retirement Account:

• User successfully opens a retirement or investment account.

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Investments

Use cases:

Opening an Investment Account:

• User successfully opens a new investment account.

First Investment Purchase:

• User makes their first investment.

Achieving a Financial Goal:

• User reaches a set financial goal.

Investment Advice (AI):

• User receives AI-generated investment guidance.

Significant Portfolio Growth:

• User’s portfolio value grows substantially.

First Dividend Payment:

• User receives their first dividend payout.

Unlocking Premium Features:

• User unlocks premium features in the app.

Investment Education:

• User accesses educational resources on investing.

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Milestone notification

Use case:

Anniversary:

• User celebrates an account or investment anniversary.

Final Repayment:

• User completes the final repayment on a loan or financial obligation.

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Special offer

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Loans / Mortgages / Credit cards

Use case:

Loan Renewal or Extension:

• User renews or extends an existing loan.

Pre-Approved Notification:

• User receives a pre-approval notification for a product or service.

Credit Card Activation:

• User activates a new credit card.

Redeeming Rewards:

• User redeems rewards or loyalty points.

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