Synctera

As the Lead Product Designer at Synctera, I worked at the intersection of fintech applications, banks, and BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service) operations to streamline communication and reduce operational friction. Many banks lack the manpower or technology to handle fintech requests—whether for custom card issuance or complex integrations—delegating these responsibilities to BaaS providers like Synctera. My role focused on optimizing workflows across all three tiers, ensuring seamless interactions while minimizing the burden on banking institutions’ existing processes.

Elevating Data Analytics to a Robust SaaS Platform

As the founding designer at Pareto Intelligence, my primary goal was to transform their data solutions into user-centric products. This required reimagining the existing web portal to address pain points and enhance user experience. My approach involved extensive research, collaboration with stakeholders, and the development of a scalable design system that supported the platform’s evolving needs.

The Challenge.

Synctera’s fraud detection systems faced critical pain points:

  • High False Positives: Fraud analysts struggled with excessive false positive alerts, leading to inefficient case resolution.

  • Notification Fatigue: The existing system overwhelmed users with alerts, making it harder to identify high-priority cases.

  • Inefficient Workflows: Case resolution processes lacked clear prioritization, requiring analysts to manually sift through unnecessary details.

  • Complex Authentication Flows: KYC (Know Your Customer) & KYB (Know Your Business) verification flows needed streamlining to reduce drop-off rates.

Research & Discovery

Understanding Analyst Needs

To optimize fraud detection workflows, I conducted user interviews with internal fraud analysts and compliance teams. Their insights revealed key frustrations, such as difficulty distinguishing real threats from false positives and inefficient alert management.

Remote Collaboration

Given Synctera’s remote-first culture, I leveraged tools like Figma, Confluence, and Zoom to collaborate with engineers and product managers. Regular usability tests helped us refine solutions iteratively.

Balancing Security & Usability

Fraud prevention must balance security with user experience. I worked closely with risk teams to ensure that improved fraud monitoring did not introduce unnecessary friction for legitimate users.

Understanding Fraud, Compliance, Reconciliation

Banking is a highly regulated industry with rules designed to protect all parties involved in transactions. To deeply understand daily operational workflows, I immersed myself in banking documentation, mastering industry terminology and exploring how external users are impacted by fraud, identity theft, and disputes. This knowledge was instrumental in designing solutions that address user pain points while ensuring compliance and security.

Findings from Research

Fraud Dashboard Overhaul: Implemented progressive design changes that improved visibility into suspicious transactions, reducing false positives by 20%.

  • Risk Assessment Tools: Designed real-time fraud monitoring features for fintech clients, helping them make faster, data-driven security decisions.

  • Streamlined Alerts & Notifications: Redesigned the system to minimize noise while ensuring that high-risk cases received immediate attention.

  • Authentication & Verification Refinements: Enhanced KYC/KYB and transaction verification flows, improving compliance without sacrificing user experience.

Fraud Dashboard Overhaul: Implemented progressive design changes that improved visibility into suspicious transactions, reducing false positives by 20%.

  • Risk Assessment Tools: Designed real-time fraud monitoring features for fintech clients, helping them make faster, data-driven security decisions.

  • Streamlined Alerts & Notifications: Redesigned the system to minimize noise while ensuring that high-risk cases received immediate attention.

  • Authentication & Verification Refinements: Enhanced KYC/KYB and transaction verification flows, improving compliance without sacrificing user experience.

Fraud Dashboard Overhaul: Implemented progressive design changes that improved visibility into suspicious transactions, reducing false positives by 20%.

  • Risk Assessment Tools: Designed real-time fraud monitoring features for fintech clients, helping them make faster, data-driven security decisions.

  • Streamlined Alerts & Notifications: Redesigned the system to minimize noise while ensuring that high-risk cases received immediate attention.

  • Authentication & Verification Refinements: Enhanced KYC/KYB and transaction verification flows, improving compliance without sacrificing user experience.

Prototyping Validation

To ensure the new designs met user needs, I:

  • Created interactive prototypes in Figma for fraud dashboards and verification flows.

  • Conducted A/B testing with internal teams to assess improvements in efficiency and accuracy.

  • Iterated based on analyst feedback to optimize workflow usability.

To ensure the new designs met user needs, I:

  • Created interactive prototypes in Figma for fraud dashboards and verification flows.

  • Conducted A/B testing with internal teams to assess improvements in efficiency and accuracy.

  • Iterated based on analyst feedback to optimize workflow usability.

To ensure the new designs met user needs, I:

  • Created interactive prototypes in Figma for fraud dashboards and verification flows.

  • Conducted A/B testing with internal teams to assess improvements in efficiency and accuracy.

  • Iterated based on analyst feedback to optimize workflow usability.

Outcome and Impact

The redesign of Synctera’s fraud detection and risk mitigation tools led to measurable improvements:

✅ 20% Reduction in False Positives: Improved fraud detection accuracy, reducing unnecessary investigations.
✅ Increased Analyst Efficiency: Optimized workflows cut down fraud case resolution time.
✅ Better Fraud Monitoring: New risk assessment tools enhanced real-time security for fintech clients.
✅ Reduced Notification Fatigue: Smarter alerts helped compliance teams focus on high-priority risks.

The redesign of Synctera’s fraud detection and risk mitigation tools led to measurable improvements:

✅ 20% Reduction in False Positives: Improved fraud detection accuracy, reducing unnecessary investigations.
✅ Increased Analyst Efficiency: Optimized workflows cut down fraud case resolution time.
✅ Better Fraud Monitoring: New risk assessment tools enhanced real-time security for fintech clients.
✅ Reduced Notification Fatigue: Smarter alerts helped compliance teams focus on high-priority risks.

The redesign of Synctera’s fraud detection and risk mitigation tools led to measurable improvements:

✅ 20% Reduction in False Positives: Improved fraud detection accuracy, reducing unnecessary investigations.
✅ Increased Analyst Efficiency: Optimized workflows cut down fraud case resolution time.
✅ Better Fraud Monitoring: New risk assessment tools enhanced real-time security for fintech clients.
✅ Reduced Notification Fatigue: Smarter alerts helped compliance teams focus on high-priority risks.

Conclusion

This project was more than a redesign; it was a transformation. By addressing core pain points, aligning the platform with user needs, and establishing a scalable design system, we unlocked new possibilities for Synctera’s growth. The success of this initiative not only improved immediate outcomes but also set the stage for future innovation. As I look back, I’m reminded of how user-centered design can turn challenges into opportunities, creating meaningful impacts for both the business and its users.