Running a legacy branch-first experience that can't support the self-service digital customers expect?
Digital banking app built as a bolt-on to the core that breaks every time the core updates?
Digital Banking Platform Development
Custom mobile and web banking apps for digital banks, neobanks, and credit unions that need a self-service digital experience -- not a branch portal dressed up for mobile.
Built to connect cleanly to your core banking system via API, so the customer sees real-time balances and the core stays authoritative. Biometric login, push alerts, card controls, and payment flows included.
Mobile banking app for iOS and Android -- account dashboard, transfers, payments, statements
Web banking portal for retail and business customers
Biometric login, OTP, and step-up authentication for high-value transactions
A digital banking platform is a mobile and web application layer that lets customers manage accounts, make payments, view transaction history, and control cards without visiting a branch. RaftLabs builds custom digital banking platforms for neobanks, digital banks, and credit unions, connecting to core banking systems via API and shipping in 12-14 weeks at a fixed cost.
100+Products shipped
·24+Industries served
·FixedCost delivery
·12-14Week delivery cycles
Customers expect banking to work like everything else on their phone
Most digital banking experiences were built on top of a core banking system that was never designed for self-service. The result is a mobile app that shows yesterday's balance, a web portal that times out mid-transfer, and a card freeze that takes thirty seconds to respond -- if it works at all.
The customers comparing you against a neobank are not comparing features. They are comparing how fast the app responds, whether they can dispute a transaction without calling a branch, and whether they can open an account in ten minutes. A digital banking platform built as a proper API layer over your core delivers that experience without replacing the core that handles your ledger and regulatory reporting.
The connection between the customer-facing app and the core banking system is where most implementations fall apart. We build the API layer explicitly -- core banking connector, caching where appropriate, and a clear contract between the front end and the data source. When the core updates, the connector adapts. The app does not break.
What we build
Mobile banking app
iOS and Android app covering the full self-service customer journey. Account dashboard showing current balance, available balance, and pending transactions pulled from the core in real time. Internal transfers between accounts with confirmation and reference tracking. Payment initiation -- bill pay, peer-to-peer transfers, scheduled payments. Downloadable statements in PDF by date range. Push notification opt-in managed per customer. The app connects to your core via a typed API layer -- not a screen-scrape -- so it stays stable when the core changes.
Web banking portal
Browser-based portal for retail and business customers who prefer desktop. Business banking view with multiple account visibility, bulk payment upload, and user roles so the finance manager can initiate payments that the director approves. Retail portal with the same account and payment features as mobile. Transaction search and filtering by date, amount, payee, and category. Downloadable statements and export to CSV for accounting. Responsive layout that works on tablet for branch staff-assisted sessions. Accessibility-compliant so it meets WCAG 2.1 AA requirements.
Transaction history and categorisation
Transaction history with search, filter by date range, and merchant name resolution. Automatic transaction categorisation using merchant category codes -- groceries, travel, utilities, dining -- with customer-editable overrides. Spending summary by category and month so customers understand their patterns without a separate app. Flagging of recurring debits so customers see subscriptions and direct debits in one list. Transaction detail view with merchant logo, location map where available, and reference information. Export to CSV or PDF for personal budgeting and tax purposes.
Card management
Card control centre built into the mobile and web experience. Instant freeze and unfreeze that calls the card processor API in real time -- not a request queued for next business day. Spending limit controls by category, merchant type, or geography for customers who want to manage their own card use. Virtual card generation for online purchases, with a new virtual card number per merchant for customers who want that control. PIN management and card replacement requests handled without a branch visit or call centre interaction. Card status visible -- active, frozen, blocked, expired -- with clear action buttons.
Push notifications and alerts
Configurable alert engine delivering push notifications, SMS, and in-app messages based on account events. Balance alerts when the account drops below a customer-set threshold. Payment received and payment sent notifications with amount and payee. Failed payment alert with reason, so the customer knows before an item bounces. Fraud flag alert sent within seconds of the processor flagging a suspicious transaction, with a one-tap dispute or confirm flow. Alert preferences managed per customer -- channel, event type, and minimum amount thresholds. Notification history accessible inside the app for customers who miss a push.
Secure authentication
Authentication stack built for banking-grade security without friction on low-risk actions. Biometric login -- Face ID and fingerprint -- for returning users on trusted devices. OTP via SMS or email for new device registration and password reset. Step-up authentication for high-value transactions -- a second factor required when transfer amount exceeds a configurable threshold. Device trust management so customers can see registered devices and revoke access. Session timeout and re-authentication policy configured to your compliance requirements. FIDO2 / WebAuthn support for passwordless login on web. All authentication events logged with timestamp, device, and IP for audit trail.
Frequently asked questions
A digital banking platform is the mobile app and web portal layer that lets customers interact with their bank account without visiting a branch or calling a contact centre. It covers account views, transfers, payments, card management, statements, and alerts. The platform connects to your core banking system -- which holds the ledger, runs interest calculations, and handles regulatory reporting -- via API. The core stays authoritative; the platform is the customer experience layer built on top of it. For neobanks, the platform is often the primary product. For established banks and credit unions, it replaces a dated self-service channel with one that meets current customer expectations.
The connection is typically a REST or SOAP API exposed by the core, or a middleware layer the core vendor provides. We build a connector service that translates between the core's data model and the clean API the mobile and web apps consume. This separation means the customer-facing app is not directly coupled to the core -- when the core updates or switches providers, the connector adapts rather than requiring the whole front end to be rebuilt. Where the core does not expose real-time APIs, we use event streams or batch reconciliation to keep data fresh. We scope the core integration specifically during discovery and confirm what the core can and cannot expose before development starts.
Digital banking platforms we build target OWASP Mobile Top 10, OWASP ASVS Level 2, and PCI DSS where card data is in scope. Authentication uses biometrics, OTP, and step-up auth for high-value actions. Data in transit uses TLS 1.2 minimum with certificate pinning on mobile. Sensitive data at rest is encrypted. Sessions have configurable timeout and re-authentication requirements. All authentication events and financial transactions are logged to an immutable audit trail. Penetration testing is included in the project scope before go-live. We scope security requirements against your specific regulatory context -- FFIEC guidance, PRA expectations, or APRA requirements -- during discovery so the design is right from the start.
A focused digital banking platform covering account dashboard, transfers, payments, card management, push notifications, and secure authentication typically ships in 12-14 weeks at a fixed cost. That timeline assumes the core banking API is accessible and documented before development starts. More complex projects -- business banking with multi-user roles, complex payment rail integrations, or custom compliance workflows -- typically run 16-22 weeks. We scope every project before pricing it. You get a fixed cost and a delivery schedule before any development begins, not a time-and-materials estimate that grows as requirements become clearer.
AI Development -- AI features for fraud detection, customer service, and financial analysis
Talk to us about your digital banking project.
Tell us which core banking system you use, who your target customers are, and what the current digital experience lacks. We will scope the right platform and give you a fixed cost.
