Table of Contents
As with every industry, customers in the banking domain expect to have digital tools to execute transactions and access services offered by banks and financial institutions. Everything from transferring money, trading stocks, checking account balances can be done via apps and websites.
Banking apps are a constant companion for most people with a bank account. However, since banking domain apps handle the most sensitive human data (financial information), test scenarios for banking applications need to be designed with excess precision. Nothing can be left to chance, and insufficient test coverage can lead to data breaches, loss of funds, and other felonies. Needless to say, banks cannot afford to take the slightest risk of that happening.
This article will outline the salient aspects of banking domain testing – a solid starting point for QAs on banking domain testing projects.
Not testing banking apps will damage your business
- In the first half of 2020, the number of user sessions in finance apps rose by 49%.
- In the corresponding period, cyberattacks targeting financial institutions increased 118%.
- A report by the Synopsys Cybersecurity Research Center in 2020 revealed that, out of 107 banking apps, 88% were affected by some vulnerability. On average, each banking app was riddled with 55 weaknesses.
Data breaches and other vulnerabilities rake up enormous losses for financial and banking apps. In 2021, financial industries encountered $5.72 million in losses (average), thanks to data breaches.
Insufficient testing of banking domain applications will not just inconvenience users with sub-par functions and features. They can also directly damage your business and reputation by allowing malicious parties to acquire customer data, or in the worst-case scenario, access customer funds.
To prevent such disasters, banking apps must be extensively, meticulously, and painstakingly tested on real mobile devices rather than just emulators/simulators.
Test App on Real Mobile Devices
Major features of banking applications to test
- Authentication gateways: Given that banking apps deal almost entirely with sensitive data (personal identifiers, credit, and debit card numbers, income details, etc.), they need to protect user access at all costs. Fortifying secure user access is legally binding under the GDPR and Payment Service Directive 2.
Generally, adequately secure authentication requires the following
- Login credentials or a PIN
- Physical features (fingerprint, sometimes retinal scans)
- Security questions/phases/images to be validated (CAPTCHA, for example)
Also Read: How to handle Captcha in Automation Testing
- Account management: The account management feature tracks, catalogs, and displays all relevant information to users – account balance, money transfer services, etc. It also lets them get necessary tasks done quickly and with zero errors.
Again, since all the information revolves around actual money, mistakes are intolerable in these databases. Every user should have a separate database ID for themselves. They should be able to see real-time data. Anytime a transaction fails, money should bounce back to the originating account as quickly as possible. Inactive accounts must be disabled after a certain period. In fact, the app itself should automatically log out if it has been inactive for a particular duration.
- Payment support: Banking apps must support payment options outside the usual bank-to-bank transaction. This could be QA-based payment support, integrations with other apps (delivery apps, e-Commerce apps, food apps, booking services), and the like.
Read More: How to test In-App Purchases on Android Devices
- Customer support: Customers should be able to access assistance anytime they want. Most banks assign some kind of relationship manager for customers to call when they need help, but hiring workers to be available 24/7 would be expensive and a managerial nightmare.
Of course, a human presence is always mandatory. But intelligent chatbots have proved to be a favorable alternative. Bots don’t get tired, are active around the clock, and don’t make human errors. Of course, this is considered that the bot has been intelligently designed to handle a large number of common customer questions, complaints, and requirements
Bear in mind that, depending on the app and bank behind it, other features may be added on. However, these features are fundamental – no banking domain app can do without them. Thereby, any QA Requirements Documentation will have to structure tests around each of these features for comprehensive test coverage.
How to test banking domain application: A Quick Checklist
Modern banking apps must offer stability, security, and one-click access at all times. Devs and QA teams must run various tests before allowing the app to hit the production environment.
It’s easier to proceed with a framework in mind, even a rough one. Therefore, study the checklist below, and use it as a skeleton to build the QA strategy required by the application under test.
- Identify and enumerate requirements: Strictly document all requirements. Everything expected of the app should be recorded in detail. Clarity is required to design comprehensive test cases for banking applications. For ease and efficiency, catalog requirements by feature – money transfer, payment, investment, etc.
- Review requirements: Once the requirements documents are collated, they need to be reviewed in the presence of all stakeholders – business and technical. For the app to succeed, it must operate seamlessly while giving customers and users everything (or most things) they want.
- Build test cases: With requirements in hand, QAs can start crafting test cases for banking applications. Since test suites need to be extensive, automation testing is integral to the process.
QA managers or team leaders need to mark test cases for automation and create custom scripts accordingly. Certain features must be tested manually (or will require close manual supervision), in which case, an adequately skilled team must be assembled.
- Functional Tests: To start with, run tests to ensure that the primary user workflows are free of bugs and errors.
Users should be able to accomplish all relevant actions with minimal effort. For example, they shouldn’t have to click more than twice or thrice to transfer money or get their financial statement successfully. The app should be intuitive, easy to navigate, and self-explanatory.
Read More: Functional Testing: A Detailed Guide
- Database Testing: The app’s user database must be flawlessly accurate. User data must be correct and regularly updated, and the mechanisms in place to support these activities must be tested for robust, scrupulous operation.
Standard modules to test here would be data types, predetermined functions, data speed (loading and storage), schematic organization, etc.
- Cross browser and device testing: Any banking app will be accessed via thousands of mobile devices and operating systems. To ensure that all features of the app (especially usability and security) work as expected on these numerous device-OS combinations, they must be tested on real devices and operating systems.
One can’t expect to release a banking app without fortifying its defenses against malicious online elements. To check that it actually does protect user data and let customers execute necessary action, they must be tested comprehensively on a real device cloud of real mobile devices, installed with different mobile operating systems – iOS, Android, Windows, and more.
- Security Testing: When creating test scenarios for banking applications, prioritize this step over all else. As mentioned before, banking apps deal with the most sensitive user data, which must be meticulously guarded against breaches, hacks, and other malicious activities.
As part of security testing, pay particular attention to compliance with regulations such as OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) or whichever standards apply to the app’s geographical coverage.
A few standard features to be verified in this regard:
- Are authentication mechanisms working – User ID, Password, CAPTCHA, etc.?
- Do multiple invalid logins shut down app access for a while?
- Do the ‘Forgot User ID’ and ‘Forgot Password features have solid validation facilities to assist with credential recovery?
- Is the Back function disabled?
- Are the password creation rules storing enough?
- Is the app based on the secure HTTPS protocol?
- Are all user credentials encrypted?
- Are input validations in place, server-side?
- Is sensitive data displayed without encryption, client-side?
- Does the app shut down after a certain period of inactivity?
- Is the app verified for XML, HTTP header and parameter, XPATH, SQL, etc.?
- Usability Testing: Is the app easy to use? All the security and cutting-edge features in the world will mean nothing if users can’t navigate the app with fluidity. Focus groups must test prototypes of the app to verify user acceptance standards.
Read More: How to run Mobile Usability Tests for the best results
Sample test case for mobile banking applications
Test Case for creation of new customer account
- Create a new account with data. Use invalid data to check that it is rejecting the action in this event.
- Check that all authentication requirements are activated.
- Verify that the new data is saved and that it can be updated as required.
- Verify that everyday user actions are working as expected – depositing money, withdrawing money, and that account balance is reflected accordingly.
- Verify that the account provides services aligning with its nature – saving, current, salary, joint, etc.
- Verify that users can maintain zero balance (if it is a salary account) or the minimum balance (if it is not) in the account.
- Verify that users can get relevant notifications – credit/debit of exact amounts, alerts about low balance, warnings about upcoming deductions, etc.
- Verify that the user can safely log out.
When deciding how to write test cases for a banking application, care must be taken to run these tests on real devices (as well as real browsers in the case of websites). This is necessary for any app, but much more so for banking apps.
With thousands of device-OS combinations being used to access an app, security, stability, and operability will vary unless the app has been run on each combination. With sensitive information at stake, banks cannot afford to let their apps be breached and hacked on a device due to a lack of testing on said device. This could open them up to not just customer complaints but legal action.
Without access to an in-house device lab, banks and financial institutions can utilize cloud-based testing platforms with real devices on offer. BrowserStack’s real device cloud, for example, hosts 3000+ real browsers and devices. Thousands of mobile devices (latest and legacy, belonging to major manufacturers and installed with multiple operating systems) can be used to test apps instantly, from anywhere in the world.
Instant Access to Real Device Cloud
QAs can test their app’s UI and functionality on OS versions ranging from Android 4.4 to 11 & iOS 8 to 14 – all installed on real mobile devices. Our cloud is consistently updated with new and latest devices, which means QA teams can keep up with their users’ choices. They can execute manual app testing on BrowserStack App Live or automated app testing via Appium on BrowserStack App Automate.
Users simply have to sign up for free, choose App Live or App Automate, select the device-OS combination they require, and start testing. They can accelerate timelines by running tests concurrently across thousands of devices. App debugging is made easy using multiple tools such as text logs, video recordings, screenshots of the test run. QAs can also test apps on internal development and staging environments or behind firewalls, with zero setup or configuration.
With data privacy becoming a key concern for digital systems worldwide, banking domain applications must be tested with precision, thoroughness, and real device support. This article provides a reliable starting point for the process, which QAs can modify, adjust and align with their specific requirements as the project advances.
FAQs
What is banking domain project in interview for testing? ›
The banking domain is nothing but a software division in a bank. Most of the banks are computerized now, the required software which is used will be under maintenance and very little enhancements. The members who work on this s/w can say that they are in the banking domain.
How do you test financial applications? ›- Check if new accounts are created correctly with valid data;
- Use functional testing type to check how an application behaves if the accounts are created with invalid data;
- To make sure your account is secure, check login functionality with invalid data;
- Analyze beforehand what can go wrong while setting boundaries.
- Prepare strategies to handle each case.
- Checkpoints to conduct error testing.
- Use one test point to evaluate adjacent domains.
- Check off unnecessary test points.
- Run the test.
- Check for errors in boundaries.
- Security Testing. The biggest threats to finance domain projects are cyber-attacks and fraudulent activities on software applications involving financial transactions. ...
- Performance Testing. ...
- White Box Testing. ...
- Mobile Testing. ...
- Usability Testing.
Banking Domain Knowledge
It covers the transaction and distribution process; the ways in which customers interact with the system, products, and services the organization offers; and the technology involved. By combining all these components, a financial specialist can create a bank operating model.
The core banking testing process for financial systems ensures that all banking transactions are executed correctly and accurately as well as remain safe and secure. The testing process needs more time, resources, and continuous monitoring.
What are test bank questions? ›Test banks are a compilation of a professor's test questions from past semesters. When students are either given back an exam or allowed to leave the class with it, some students put the questions from these tests into a database for future students of the same class to use.
What is Domain Testing with example? ›Domain testing is an important software testing technique in domain testing, we divide a domain into subdomains and then test using values from each subdomain. For example, if a website has been given for testing, we will be dividing the website into small parts (subdomains) for ease of testing.
What are different banking domains? ›Commercial banks service primarily individuals and small businesses. Typically, they will offer similar services as a retail bank. Central Banks. Central banks serve a more governmental role than the other kinds of banks. Cooperative Banks.
What is the functionality of banking domain? ›The banking Domain refers to all the segments or components needed to provide financial services to customers. It includes everything a Bank needs to complete its definition like transaction, customer interaction, bank interaction, and much more.
Which testing is mostly used in banking application to run the transaction after banking hours? ›
Database Testing: It is the most important part of bank application testing. This testing is done to ensure data integrity, data loading, data migration, stored procedures, and functions validation, rules testing, etc.
What is API testing in manual testing? ›API testing is a type of software testing that analyzes an application program interface (API) to verify it fulfills its expected functionality, security, performance and reliability. The tests are performed either directly on the API or as part of integration testing.
How do you test a website for money and apps? ›- Userlytics.
- UserTesting.
- Tester Work.
- TestingTime.
- Enroll.
- UserFeel.
- IntelliZoomPanel.
- TryMyUI.
Domain assessment meaning: It is a test aimed at assessing individuals' skills in specific domains. Such a test helps employers to either test job applicants or reskill employees in technical roles. The test comes in handy when recruiters aim to recruit individuals based on their domain expertise.
What tool would you use to check the domain status? ›The ICANN registration data lookup tool gives you the ability to look up the current registration data for domain names and Internet number resources.
What are the different types of testing domains? ›- BFS (Banking & Financial Sector)
- Healthcare Software Domain.
- e-Commerce Domain.
- ERP Domain.
- Mobile Application Testing Domain.
- Insurance Sector Domain.
- Retail, Travel & Hospitality sector.
- Length. When it comes to a domain name, less is more. ...
- Simplicity. You want people to remember your domain name and type it accurately. ...
- Keywords. Relevant words help users find you in a search and recognize what you do at a glance. ...
- Brand name. ...
- Website name. ...
- Good, not perfect.
If you want to find out if a domain name is validated, simply type the URL into the WHOIS database. The search results will also provide you with other crucial information such as who owns it, when it was registered and when it is due to expire.
What is domain analysis technique? ›Domain analysis technique
The approach to domain analysis is that you, or the system, review the column's distinct data values to mark any data value considered to be “invalid”. The system has multiple types of domain analysis (for example, techniques) that can be used to perform the function.
Domain knowledge is the understanding of a specific industry, discipline or activity. Anyone can have domain knowledge in any subject, even those outside their job industry. Domain knowledge can be hobbies, passions, personal research topics, professions or specializations in an industry.
What is BFSI domain knowledge? ›
BFSI stands for the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sector. Fundamentally, it represents a major portion of the multi-billion dollar Indian economy comprising all Banking, Insurance, and Non-Banking Financial Institutions. The latter is known as the NBFCs.
How do you explain domain knowledge? ›In software engineering, domain knowledge is knowledge about the environment in which the target system operates, for example, software agents. Domain knowledge usually must be learned from software users in the domain (as domain specialists/experts), rather than from software developers.
How do you explain investment banking domain project? ›Introduction to Investment Banking Domain:
The main role of the Investment Bank is to act as a mediator between the companies (who are interested in selling their securities/shares) and the individuals (who are willing to purchase the same). Investment bank operates in two ways – 'buy side' and 'sell side'.
Core banking includes APIs that provide primary banking services like opening bank accounts and making domestic or international deposits. These APIs are used by consumers and businesses to create their own digital banking products or services.
What core systems do banks use? ›- Finacle.
- Mercury.
- Temenos T24 Transact.
- Flinks.
- TurnKey Lender.
- Episys.
- 1) Know the Bank Exams Syllabus and Exam Pattern.
- 2) Create a Study Plan.
- 3) Use Best Resources for Bank Exam Preparation.
- 4) Coaching can be an Option.
- 5) Identify and Work on the Weak Areas.
- 6) Develop an Examination Module.
- 7) All Sections are Equally Important.
Good test questions: assess what you intend for them to assess. allow students to demonstrate what they have learned. elicit answers that reveal students' intellectual progress.
What is an example of an application domain? ›Application domains include banks, insurance companies, or hospitals. In this book, equipment management for a small software company is our main example. Internet applications have become increasingly important, especially for the home and entertainment domains.
What are two examples of domains? ›- subdomain ("blog.")
- second-level domain ("hubspot")
- top-level domain (".com")
- bigstuff.cornell.edu.
- www.bigstuff.cornell.edu.
- server3.dept.cornell.edu.
- birdsource.org or sharedresearch.info or marysmith.us. Any domain name not ending with "cornell.edu"
What are the 3 C's in banking? ›
Character, capital (or collateral), and capacity make up the three C's of credit. Credit history, sufficient finances for repayment, and collateral are all factors in establishing credit. A person's character is based on their ability to pay their bills on time, which includes their past payments.
What are the 4 C's of banking? ›Standards may differ from lender to lender, but there are four core components — the four C's — that lender will evaluate in determining whether they will make a loan: capacity, capital, collateral and credit.
What are 4 main banking services? ›Savings accounts. Debit and credit cards. Merchant services (credit card processing, reconciliation and reporting, check collection) Treasury services (payroll services, deposit services, etc.)
Is banking domain difficult? ›Banking applications are one of the toughest applications to work on in today's Development and software industries. One of the reasons for being it difficult is because it involves money so we can't afford any mistakes in the testing of it.
What are the 7 functions of banks? ›- Acceptance of deposits from the public.
- Provide demand withdrawal facility.
- Lending facility.
- Transfer of funds.
- Issue of drafts.
- Provide customers with locker facilities.
- Dealing with foreign exchange.
The three key areas stress tests focus on the most are credit risk, market risk, and liquidity risk.
Who should perform UAT testing? ›Who performs UAT? End users normally perform user acceptance testing. They are the most effective group to test software in this form because they know exactly how the software will be used on a daily basis and what changes need to be made to be suitable for this day-to-day use.
How do you test a payment system? ›- Set up payment processor sandbox.
- Gather test credit card numbers that would be used for testing different credit cards. ...
- Verify the behavior of the application when a transaction is successful.
- Security Testing. Since the API provides access to all external applications to access the internals of the software product, it is usually considered the most exposed or vulnerable part of the system. ...
- Load Testing. ...
- Runtime Error Detection.
Let's try to use this option step by step. You open a web-based version and start to work. You are creating some API requests, combining them in the collections, and saving some different environments. After that, you are deciding to save it all and share it with your team member.
Does API testing need coding? ›
You Don't Need Coding For APIs Testing.
How much do app testers get paid? ›As of Feb 23, 2023, the average annual pay for a Mobile Application Tester in the United States is $96,354 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $46.32 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,852/week or $8,029/month.
Can you make money user testing? ›User Testing is a legitimate website where you can really earn some money on completing the testing tasks. It is not at all a scam. It also does not ask you to pay anything to get enrolled as a tester.
How do I become an app tester? ›- Pursue a formal academic qualification. ...
- Acquire skills for using testing tools. ...
- Learn about the different stages of testing. ...
- Get hands-on experience working with gadgets. ...
- Get certified. ...
- Look for internship opportunities. ...
- Develop additional skills. ...
- Apply for open positions.
Banking Domain Knowledge
A banking domain is comprised of all the components needed to run a financial service end-to-end. It covers the transaction and distribution process; the ways in which customers interact with the system, products, and services the organization offers; and the technology involved.
Individuals are the targeted consumers for retail banking and banks offer a variety of products and services to this clientele including savings accounts, safe lockers, fixed & recurring deposits, housing loans, consumer loans, personal loans, and unsecured and revolving loans, such as credit cards.
What are the types of Domain Testing? ›- Intuitive equivalence.
- Specified equivalence.
- Subjective equivalence.
- Risk-based equivalence:
Bank teller assessment tests assess the mathematical abilities of potential candidates. The mathematical abilities tested are those that are relevant to the position – mostly for making transactions. Questions usually include addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, percentages, and averages.
Why is banking domain important? ›Banking domain testing is essential as it gives entrepreneurs experiences they probably won't have seen beforehand. Rather than fixing bugs in a hurried environment when the application is out, it's smarter to take as much time as necessary and pinpoint all issues when the project is as yet being developed.
What are the 6 types of tests? ›- Diagnostic assessments.
- Formative assessments.
- Summative assessments.
- Ipsative assessments.
- Norm-referenced assessments.
- Criterion-referenced assessments.
What are the 7 types of domain? ›
- .com: shorthand for commercial, .com was the first top-level domain in common use. ...
- net: shorthand for network, . ...
- edu: shorthand for education, . ...
- org: shorthand for organization, . ...
- mil: shorthand for military, . ...
- gov: shorthand for government, .