Designing Trust: A Correlational Study of UI Design Elements and AI Tool Features on Consumer Engagement in AI-Powered Banking Apps

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has catalysed a transformative shift in the global banking landscape, with consumers increasingly turning to AI-powered applications for everyday financial management (Chukwudi et al., 2023). In response, fintech companies are intensifying efforts to enhance user experience through a seamless integration of intelligent functionalities and intuitive design. The intersection of user interface (UI) design and AI-driven personalisation has emerged as a critical determinant of user trust, satisfaction, and sustained engagement (‌Md Ashrafuzzaman et al, 2025). This study investigates the relationship between user interface design elements, such as color palette, information density, and gamification, and AI-driven banking features, including savings recommendations, fraud alerts, and spending categorisation (Independent variable), to understand their combined impact on consumer engagement (dependent variable ) in AI-powered financial platforms. Employing a mixed-methods design, the study combines quantitative user surveys with qualitative insights to assess engagement metrics (including session frequency, feature adoption, and duration of use) alongside perceptions of UI aesthetics and AI functionality. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression modeling, will identify significant predictors of engagement. Meanwhile, open-ended responses will enrich the understanding of user trust, perceived value, and satisfaction. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that while UI design establishes the conditions for trust and ease of use, AI features provide sustained, functional value that drives consistent engagement. These findings highlight the importance of a dual-focus development strategy in fintech, one that equally prioritises intuitive, high-quality interface design and impactful, value-driven AI capabilities to cultivate strong and enduring consumer relationships. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that while UI design establishes the conditions for trust and ease of use, AI features provide sustained, functional value that drives consistent engagement. These findings highlight the importance of a dual-focus development strategy in fintech, one that equally prioritises intuitive, high-quality interface design and impactful, value-driven AI capabilities to cultivate strong and enduring consumer relationships.