Ozge Celik, Head of Product at Turkey’s largest FinTech Papara, on how personalisation is making everyday financial transactions more manageable and embedded into our lifestyles

With unlimited choice from a global marketplace, customer expectations are continuing to reach new heights. Undeniably, we are seeing financial services – being led by the FinTech sector – undergoing a seismic shift towards personalisation and catering to this new form of demand. Users are no longer content with generic services. Furthermore, they want tailored, hyper personalised experiences that reflect their individual needs and preferences. This is particularly true for their banking experiences. Yet, many traditional banking institutions are struggling to keep up with these demands due to their legacy systems and traditional cookie-cutter approach. Whereas the FinTech industry, with its agile frameworks and state-of-the-art technologies, is demonstrating its capability to rapidly position solutions that cater to this demand.

The growing trend for personalisation

Personalisation in consumer services is not a novel concept, but its application within the financial sector is a relatively recent development. Despite its infancy, its impact on the industry is profound. Banking has always been a cornerstone of our daily lives, from withdrawing cash to transferring funds. As such, it is unsurprising that users increasingly view their financial services as an extension of their personal identity.

Over the past decade, we have seen the introduction of customisable physical bank cards, personalised digital tools on mobile banking apps and instant messaging services. Banks and fintechs are striving to meet users’ needs, reshaping the loyalty landscape that has traditionally favoured established banks. These institutions, with their often rigid and cumbersome systems, are being compelled to re-evaluate their user engagement strategies and the solutions they offer.

Leading the customisation charge

Startups and FinTechs are riding the crest of this wave of customisation. Traditional financial institutions frequently overestimate the costs associated with data collection and the development of meaningful personalised tools. FinTechs, on the other hand, harness their technological capabilities to sift through vast amounts of data, identifying individual preferences and behaviours. This insight enables them to better create personalised products and services that resonate with consumers on a deeper level. Offering such tailored experiences is not merely a competitive advantage; it is quickly becoming essential to attract and retain users.

The rise of the super app

The emergence of the super app epitomises this new paradigm. The inconvenience of managing multiple mobile banking apps is becoming a thing of the past as consumers increasingly favour a unified platform that addresses all their financial needs. This demand extends beyond financial services. The success of super apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay, which integrate services from ride-hailing to grocery shopping, illustrates how this model has become ingrained in everyday life. While the same level of adoption may not be universal due to various market factors, FinTechs are taking note and developing intuitive apps that combine financial and non-financial functions to deliver a seamless and efficient user experience.

FinTech’s personalisation extends to every facet of the financial journey. From customised budgeting tools and investment portfolios, to personalised insurance products and bespoke lending solutions, providers are redefining what it means to have a financial service that truly fits the individual.

The implications for personalisation in traditional banking

To stay relevant, banks must embrace digital transformation and consider partnerships with FinTechs or face the risk of further falling behind. Collaboration between established financial institutions and FinTech disruptors can yield the best of both worlds: the trust and scale of traditional banks combined with the innovation and agility of fintech.

As FinTechs continue to meet and exceed the hyper-personalised needs of consumers, they are establishing a new benchmark in the financial services industry. By making everyday financial transactions more manageable and integrated into our lifestyles, they are not merely responding to consumer demands but are also anticipating them. As this trend progresses, we can expect to witness further disruption, with fintechs at the helm, steering us towards a more personalised and accessible financial future for all.

About Papara

We are not a Bank; we are Papara, we are here for you.

We are a financial technology company that offers a new financial application experience. Keeping the user in mind against the traditional financial solutions, we strive to build the next generation financial super app. Our amazing community always suggest features and gives us constant feedback.

We integrate the most innovative technology to help our users control their money while being completely transparent.

In 2015,we started our services with the permission we received from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency to operate as an “Electronic Money Institution”.

Papara is the first non-bank to issue a Mastercard logo prepaid card in Turkey and currently a Mastercard, Visa, and Interbank Card Center member. In our seventh year of operation, we have acquired 21 million users and expanded our team to 1.000 happy people dedicated to creating the best financial experience.

Today, millions of our users choose Papara’s innovative products to make millions of transactions every month.

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