Driving Nexent Bank’s user centric digital transformation
3 months
delivery for a complete mobile app
8% increase
in active users and engagement
99.91%
crash free rate
The Impact
Financial apps often overwhelm users with numbers, but for Nexent Bank (formerly Credit Europe Bank), the goal was different: to design for emotion. As part of the profound transformation and modernization process of the bank’s digital tools, Zitec partnered with them to reimagine the Avantaj App – turning the complexity of credit card management into a journey of clarity, control and joy. This led to a 4.9-star rating in both app stores, significantly higher user engagement and a nomination for the prestigious UX Design Awards[1] competition taking place in Berlin.
With the objective to offer Romania’s best credit card experience, the new mobile platform transforms credit card use into a rewarding, secure, and intuitive experience. With advanced features such as all card management, split payments, virtual cards generation or pay via phone, as well as a new loyalty program, Avantaj App keeps its users close and motivated, driving long-term lifetime value.
This collaboration addressed Nexent Bank’s ambitious digitalization priorities and laid the foundation for future innovation, positioning the bank as a forward-thinking institution ready to meet the demands of a dynamic digital era.
The Context
According to an IBM study[2], customer experience (CX) is increasingly becoming the primary differentiator in retail banking: when product features are similar, a superior, integrated experience builds trust, loyalty and long-term relationships. Therefore banks that invest in strong mobile app UX, accessibility and innovative mobile features are more likely to build trust, retain clients and capture higher wallet share.
Additionally, over 60% of Gen Z and Millennials use mobile apps as their primary channel for managing loans and accounts [3], with 9 out of 10 preferring a loan option with a digital application or approval process [4].
Fast forward to mid-2025, when Credit Europe Bank continued its evolution under a new name: Nexent Bank, marking a pivotal moment in the bank’s journey. Complementing this image transformation, the bank started a complex digital transformation process, looking to modernize and completely transform its digital channels. One of the main pillars of this process was their credit cards mobile application, which needed to reflect the new brand identity as well as to combine strong security with advanced features and great UX, providing control, trust, and joy in everyday finance for the users.
“When planning for this transformation, we ran a rigorous vendor selection, scoring every proposal against our vision. We weren’t just looking for a software developer, but a true business partner aligned with our ambition. Zitec proved to be that partner. Based on trust, openness and transparent communication, we sparked a lasting collaboration that continues to evolve with a pipeline of new strategic initiatives.”
Antar Turgay
Retail Banking Director, N.V. Amsterdam Bucharest Branch
The Solution
Zitec teamed up with Nexent Bank and their business partners at Metyis to bring their growth vision to life. We assembled an internal team of over 20 specialists and, together, we set out to build a next-generation mobile banking app that combined cutting-edge technology, airtight security and a customer-first design.
The solution was built from the ground up, including:
- A brand-new Card Avantaj mobile app with a coherent design system and a fresh design reflecting Nexent Bank’s new identity
- A modern technology stack, for scalability and easier maintenance
- Enterprise-grade security features: biometric login, 3DS integration backed by advanced session controls and rigorous penetration testing
- A new loyalty program to reach the desired engagement targets
- Cloud migration to Microsoft Azure and a cloud-ready infrastructure in Romania
- Enhanced integrations with back-end systems, supported by CI/CD pipelines for faster, safer deployments
- Real-time notifications
An essential part of the application was gamifying the loyalty experience, turning everyday actions into progress, rewards and tier upgrades that keep users engaged and coming back. With intuitive cashback offers, loyalty tiers, fun challenges and exclusive rewards, the new mobile app keeps users actively engaged and motivated to return.
We embedded a third-party loyalty program directly into the app to help increase user engagement, as well as to expand the customer base appealing to different customer segments. The program is tiered to encourage progression and users unlock better benefits as they level up, while keeping the journey engaging and achievable. The more the customers use the app, the more coins they earn, which they can then redeem in an in-app marketplace for vouchers, products, and experiences, or use to make purchases straight from the app.
We also developed advanced credit card management features that allow users to manage multiple cards, split payments into installments directly from the phone, generate virtual cards for safe shopping, and pay via phone, all from one sleek interface.
Despite all interactions and collaboration happening fully online, with teams across the Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, and Spain, Zitec’s agile approach fostered a strong team spirit and kept everyone aligned toward the same goals. The result was a high-quality, future-ready credit cards app MVP delivered on time, in just 3 months, and flowless progression to the following development phases.
“My personal highlight was seeing how early whiteboard scribbles turned into a live product that users genuinely loved, proven by a 4.9/5 rating in both app stores. We want Avantaj to be recognized as the global benchmark for credit card applications and a reference case for innovation from Romania. Our ambition is to expand into additional markets, enabling more people to benefit from an experience that combines clarity, motivation, and emotional engagement.”
Aaron Selig
Principal in Strategy & Execution, Metyis
The Result
The launch of the new Avantaj mobile app has delivered immediate, tangible benefits for Nexent Bank, proving to be a future-proof asset.
User adoption was rapid and decisive; within the first month alone, tens of thousands of customers switched to the new platform. This momentum continued to build, and six months post-launch, adoption reached 90%, effectively allowing the bank to retire the legacy application.
Crucially, this surge in volume was met with unwavering stability. The app has maintained a 99.91% crash-free rate, setting a new internal benchmark for reliability and performance that ensures customers always have access to their funds.
This technical stability, combined with a focus on intuitive design, drove a dramatic shift in user sentiment. The app holds a stellar 4.9 out of 5 rating across both iOS and Android stores. Engagement metrics reflect this satisfaction, with the new platform registering an 8% increase in active users. Furthermore, users are not just logging in; they are staying longer in-app, interacting with the new loyalty mechanics and transaction features, validating the strategy to transform financial utility into an engaging experience.
Strategically, the project was designed to be robust from day one. Since the initial rollout, the team has maintained a constant pace of continuous improvement, deploying multiple additional releases that introduced new capabilities.
Looking ahead, the app lays the groundwork for a broader digital transformation. Beyond the Romanian market, the underlying infrastructure was built with a group-wide vision, the technology stack being designed to be transferable, serving as a compatible investment that can be scaled to operations in other markets. This ensures that the innovation developed in Romania serves as a blueprint for the entire banking group’s future.
“Our partnership with Nexent Bank focused on delivering the right technology to meet the current needs of banking customers. By keeping the users at the center of the digital transformation and working in an agile, transparent way, we’ve designed a seamless and secure experience. When you build with empathy, precision and scalability in mind, the result is more than an app; it’s a trusted partner in the user’s day-to-day banking and being nominated for the UX Design Awards[1] is a validation of this commitment.”
Alex Axon
User Experience Director & Partner, Zitec
