86 400 → Ubank: Scaling a Challenger Bank into a Digital Enterprise
Launched Australia’s first smartbank with award-winning features, then directed its $220M acquisition and merger with Ubank. Expanded from mobile-only to full-suite digital banking, scaling to 700K customers and $17B in deposits.
The Challenge
In the wake of Australia’s 2018 banking scandals, consumer trust in the big four banks collapsed. Australians were frustrated, wary of fees and practices, and ready for something new. 86 400 entered this trust vacuum as a challenger bank with a bold opportunity: to prove it was not like the incumbents, while still earning the confidence to hold customers’ money.
Every design, brand, and experience decision was anchored in trust.
After NAB’s $220M acquisition, the challenge shifted. 86 400 and Ubank had to merge and relaunch into the market under a fresh brand, expanding from a mobile-only start-up to a full-suite digital bank, while maintaining customer confidence through significant change.
The Role
As Head of Design, I:
Built and scaled a multidisciplinary design team, tripling size as the organisation grew from start-up to enterprise.
Directed product and experience vision across 86 400 and Ubank.
Embedded design into the product lifecycle and decision-making rhythm from start-up → scale-up → established business.
Led design execution of the Ubank relaunch across app, web, and digital channels.
What I did
Reset the Build Around Customer Trust
Stopped an early misaligned app build and reframed the proposition to centre on customer trust in a post-scandal market. Secured executive buy-in to scrap and restart delivery, preventing wasted investment and aligning the bank on a clear value proposition.
Built Award-Winning App and 100% Digital Home Loan
Directed the design of 86 400’s mobile app and Australia’s first fully digital home loan. Delivered predictive cashflow features that anticipated customer needs, helping the app win Good Design awards and become a category benchmark.
Embedded Design into Rhythm and Delivery
Integrated design into the product operating model alongside product and engineering, embedding rituals and a cadence of new feature releases every three weeks. This established design as a core part of delivery, not an add-on.
Directed Ubank Brand Relaunch
Following NAB’s $220M acquisition, led design execution of Ubank’s new identity across app, website, and digital channels. Ensured continuity of trust and customer experience through a major merger and rebrand.
Applied Customer Insight Frameworks
Introduced Jobs to Be Done, MaxDiff, KANO, and continuous user testing to prioritise and validate features. These frameworks kept customers at the centre of decision-making and gave the business confidence to invest in innovation.
Scaled and Elevated Design’s Role
Tripled the size of the design team and adapted operating frameworks to support enterprise scale. Positioned design as a visible, strategic capability within 86 400 and NAB’s ubank, influencing commercial priorities as well as product experience.
Outcomes Achieved
$220M Acquisition
NAB acquired 86 400 for $220M, validating the customer trust and design-led proposition that I embedded through the brand, app and home loan experience.
Award Recognition
Winner of multiple awards, including Good Design Best in Class and Gold for the 86 400 digital channels, recognising innovation in predictive features and digital experience, brand & identity.
From 0 to 700k customers
Scaled the customer base post-merger by embedding design into delivery and maintaining a cadence of new feature releases every three weeks.
Seamless Migration
Directed the Ubank brand relaunch and digital migration, ensuring continuity of customer experience through one of Australia’s largest fintech-to-enterprise integrations.
$17B in Deposits
Delivered significant scale in NAB’s digital portfolio through predictive cashflow features and a fully digital home loan, both designed to build customer confidence in managing money.
Sustained Trust
Carried challenger brand credibility through to enterprise scale by embedding customer insight frameworks and positioning design as a visible, strategic capability within NAB
