Modernizing the U.S. Banking System with DCI
With nearly 60 years of experience, DCI (Data Center Inc.) is a leader in developing banking technologies and services for community banks across the U.S.
The company provides complete digital solutions for processing and managing operations for more than 200 local banks. The partnership between DCI and Luby was established to support the restructuring of one of its core solutions, following the most advanced UX practices.
Our focus: creating a new user experience that was less frictional, more attractive, convenient, enjoyable, and mobile-first. The positive results of this project triggered a continuous collaboration — from designing new fintech solutions from scratch to modernizing DCI's core banking applications.
Project: GoBanking
Luby took on the challenge of redesigning DCI's entire online banking system, which unites various products serving over 200 connected community banks. The goal was to build a new experience for both banks and end customers — modernizing interactions without losing existing functionalities.
To achieve that, Luby's work was divided into multiple research and design stages:
- Exploratory Research: interviewing banks to understand pain points and client needs
- Feature Mapping: documenting all functionalities, components, and system configurations available for banks and clients
- Desk Research: studying the characteristics and specificities of community banks and their customers
- Benchmarking: analyzing competitors' offers, interfaces, and experiences
- Redesign: reviewing and rewriting screens and flows in agile sprints, working directly with DCI's internal developers
Our initial work defined short- and long-term project visions, business rules, wireframes, prototypes, and design priorities — setting the stage for GoBanking's transformation.
Our Approach
Once the foundational research and design were complete, we prioritized and redesigned key interfaces that added measurable value for DCI's users.
Core Interface Redesign
- Account summary page
- Debit card page
- Account details
- Home page
Cash Management
Enabling businesses and individual entrepreneurs to create batch payments — saving time and reducing transaction costs.
By combining a modern interface with optimized usability, Luby systematically resolved key user pain points while introducing new functionality and efficiency.
Technical Modernization
To transform the system into something more scalable and connectable, Luby initiated several foundational actions:
Design System
Development of a Design System, to standardize components, accelerate development, and enhance the user experience.
Plaid Integration
Enabling secure and efficient financial transactions between users.
This approach not only modernized GoBanking but also aligned it with the evolving standards of open banking in the U.S.
Evolution Continues — Project: GoOpen
Luby's banking technology division also contributed to DCI's account opening module modernization — known as GoOpen. The challenge was to resolve system limitations, transforming it into a modern and functional onboarding environment for banks and their customers.
The GoOpen project followed five main workstreams:
System Analysis
Mapping each process flow to identify bottlenecks and improvement points
Competitor Benchmarking
Evaluating ten competitors' onboarding processes to extract useful insights
Flow Tracking
Documenting every account-opening flow and building a comprehensive dataset for comparison
Internal Interviews
Engaging DCI implementation teams to deeply understand operational challenges and personas
Heuristic Analysis
Assessing the administrative system to identify usability issues
Our specialized multidisciplinary team — designers, product managers, tech leads, architects, and developers — worked closely with DCI to bring GoOpen to life.
Results
Key Outcomes of This Strategic Partnership:
Cost savings compared to a U.S.-based supplier
Cost savings compared to a local supplier from Kansas
Significant improvements in UX and visual consistency
Ongoing modernization of DCI's legacy systems
Since Luby Software joined the project, we've noticed significant improvements and progress in our initiative. Project management has proven to be highly effective through communication via email, Microsoft Teams, and other tools. Overall, the team stands out for its open communication and proactive attitude. It's an extremely solid company with ambitious goals.
Daren Fankhauser
CTO, DCI