The Customer

First Republic Bank is a leading private bank that offers services in private wealth management and private business banking including trust, investment and brokerage services. Headquartered in San Francisco, California USA, it specializes in delivering preferred banking, deposit services, loans and wealth management services primarily through its operational offices in 68 locations across the United States.

THE PROBLEM AND THE FOLIO3 SOLUTION

The bank wanted a customized iPad application developed for Branch Associates that will allow them to showcase the bank’s portfolio of products and services to potential clients. First Republic Bank chose Folio3 as its development partner due to their experience in developing mobile applications for financial companies and banking systems, and delivering expertise in high quality mobile application solutions.

Previously, First Republic had a native iPad application developed by Folio3 using Objective C, with Apple’s Xcode integrated development environment (IDE) for Business and Consumer Account Opening. A few years down the road, they required the same app to be re-developed for better usability and cross platform reach. Folio3 decided on replicating the native app in Sencha the second time to meet the client’s latest requirements, refining the workflow of the app and making it more user-friendly.

The leading hybrid app framework of Sencha harnesses the power of 3 most powerful development languages, delivering high performance capabilities and robust features through a reusable code that can be ported easily to any of the major mobile platforms including iOS, Android and Windows. Folio3 assigned a dedicated development team to First Republic comprising of 5 full time resources, including mobile app developers and designers.

The new version of the app developed by Folio3 is no longer dependent on any device type, the latest cross-platform version of First Republic’s Business and Consumer Account Opening application focuses on simplify the amount of information users are shown on each screen of the form’s workflow. Folio3 ensured that the application’s interaction with DocuSign’s electronic signature technology was updated and the end user experience of the First Republic MSC app was improved.

Native iPad App for Business and Consumer Account Opening

The initial app developed for First Republic Bank by Folio3 gave branch associates the ability to showcase details of all products offered while demonstrating return earned over time for various products and special products using interactive calculators and embedded videos.

The customized native iPad app (developed a second time) enables First Republic Bank’s customers to digitally sign and submit account opening/service sign-up forms, instead of on paper. The app brings the Account Opening/Service Sign-up process to the customer’s doorstep by allowing them to fill in and sign forms directly on the bank representative’s iPad as the information gathered is immediately transmitted to the bank’s servers.

For the past 10 months the project has been underway with minor enhancements and bug fixes as the application is constantly being improved on, based on user feedback and recommendations provided by the First Republic and Folio3 teams.