Bank of Kigali

Reaching 1 million customers with a world-class mobile app in 18 months

Executive Summary

Aiming to grow its customer base from 400,000 to 1,000,000 within 36 months, Bank of Kigali (BK) sought to build a world-class mobile banking app to bring digital financial services to customers across the country. CoreBlue partnered with BK to deliver an innovative, secure, and efficient mobile banking solution within an 18-month timeframe. This project enabled the bank to reach more customers, especially those in rural areas, while also empowering their internal teams through skill-building and capability development.

About the client

Bank of Kigali is Rwanda’s largest and most prominent commercial bank, founded in 1966, with a mission to offer innovative financial solutions across the region. With over five decades of experience, the bank is committed to providing cutting-edge financial services to both urban and rural communities, making banking more accessible to all Rwandans.

The Challenge

At the heart of the bank’s digital strategy is the ambition for BK to grow its consumer customer base from 400,000 to 1,000,000 over 36 months. BK recognised that they needed to move quickly and aimed to have this app launched within 18 months from start to finish.

With Coreblue’s help, BK established the Digital Factory (DF), an internal department responsible for recruiting skilled talent and delivering digital products quickly. They needed an expert partner who could provide both strategic guidance and hands-on support, while also upskilling their internal team to ensure long-term knowledge retention and capability growth.

The Solution

CoreBlue collaborated closely with Bank of Kigali, bringing a hybrid approach of leadership, strategy, and hands-on delivery to support the bank’s Digital Factory (DF). Our approach was comprehensive, focusing not just on delivering a high-quality mobile app but also on empowering the DF team with the necessary skills and knowledge to sustain and grow their digital capabilities.

Key elements of our solution included:

  • Strategic Positioning: CoreBlue provided experienced technical experts who worked alongside BK to define a clear strategy and roadmap for DF, ensuring the necessary team structures and processes were in place to achieve their digital goals.
  • Upskilling & Training: We established an internal academy to train BK’s engineers, project managers (PMs), and product owners (POs). Through this programme, BK staff received training on programming best practices, project management principles, and stakeholder management. Our experts conducted workshops, virtual sessions, and created tailored training materials to address specific skills gaps.
  • Hands-on Engineering Support: CoreBlue embedded a team of highly skilled engineers within DF to drive the delivery of the mobile banking app. By acting as the primary engineers for the project, we ensured the product met the highest standards in quality, security, and performance. This hands-on approach also allowed BK’s engineers to learn by working directly alongside our experts.
  • Agile Implementation: We introduced agile principles to manage the scope, planning, development, testing, and delivery of the app. By incorporating regular feedback loops and collaboration with BK stakeholders, we ensured the app development stayed on track and aligned with the bank’s goals.

Technical Excellence: The app was developed using Flutter, enabling a single codebase to serve both Android and iOS platforms. Our engineers focused on secure storage solutions and state management patterns to create a highly efficient and secure mobile banking experience, interacting seamlessly with BK’s core APIs.

In action

The Implementation Process

Our implementation process was structured, agile, and collaborative:

  • Planning & Design: CoreBlue worked closely with BK’s product designers to map out the app’s features and user experience. We ensured that the app was tailored to meet the needs of Rwandan banking customers, prioritising accessibility and ease of use.
  • Development & Integration: Using Flutter, our engineers developed a scalable and secure mobile banking solution. We integrated the app with BK’s existing APIs, ensuring smooth data flow and secure transactions. Throughout the process, we adhered to best practices in programming, code review, and security protocols.
  • Training & Knowledge Transfer: CoreBlue’s experts ran workshops and training sessions, both virtual and in-person, to build BK’s internal capabilities. This ensured that BK’s engineers could independently manage, maintain, and develop future features of the app.

Testing & Quality Assurance: Rigorous testing was conducted at each stage to ensure the app’s functionality, security, and performance met the highest standards expected from a financial institution.

Results & Impact

Results & Impact

The collaboration between CoreBlue and Bank of Kigali yielded outstanding results:

  • Successful Launch: The Bank of Kigali Mobile App was launched on time and on budget, offering a seamless and innovative digital banking experience to thousands of customers across Rwanda.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience: The app allowed customers, especially those in rural areas, to access banking services conveniently, reducing the need to visit physical branches. This improved accessibility led to a significant increase in digital banking adoption.
  • Empowered Internal Teams: Through our academy and hands-on training, BK’s engineers, product owners, and project managers acquired new skills, enabling them to confidently tackle complex business problems and drive further digital innovation.

Ongoing Partnership: The success of the mobile app has strengthened the partnership between CoreBlue and Bank of Kigali, with CoreBlue now supporting the bank’s wider digital transformation efforts.

Testimonial

“CoreBlue has been instrumental in bringing our vision for digital banking to life. Their expertise, guidance, and commitment to upskilling our team have transformed the way we serve our customers. The successful launch of our mobile app is a testament to their dedication and technical excellence.”

Digital Factory Lead,
Bank of Kigali

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