ML in banking: 5 times less fraud risk by spotting weird transactions

Machine learning in banking
ML in banking: 5 times less fraud risk by spotting weird transactions
Timspark leveraged the power of machine learning in banking to keep an eye on digital transactions and catch any abnormal behavior with a new extension for the existing client’s system.
#Fintech #Banking
#MachineLearning
#DataAnalytics

Client*

We have partnered with a major bank that has branches all over the US, providing loans, deposits, and more banking products.
*We cannot provide any information about the client or specifics of the case study due to non-disclosure agreement (NDA) restrictions.

Project in numbers

duration
19 months
team
13 specialists

Team involved in the project

industry
Banking, Fintech
solution
ML-based system for fraud risk analysis and detection
technologies

Python, Scala, DVC, MLFlow, Comet, Apache Spark MLLib, Scikit-learn, LightGBM, XGBoost, Hyperopt, PySpark, Numpy, Pandas, Scipy, Docker, Docker Compose, Kubernetes, Jenkins

2 x Frontend Developers
2 x Backend Developers
1 x Project Manager
1 x Business Analyst
2 x Data Engineers
3 x ML Engineers
1 x QA Engineer
1 x UX/UI Designer

Challenge

The key American bank faced rising financial fraud threats, and traditional systems proved ineffective. We were picking the best ways to use machine learning in banking and finance against increasing fraudulent activities that endangered customer safety and the bank’s reputation.

Related objectives

Implement ML for fraud detection
Upgrade the anti-money laundering system
Increase customer safety
Improve the bank’s reputation

Solution & functionality

We suggested adding an ML-powered extension to the banking system to scrutinize large data volumes and protect funds from malicious activities. It analyzes account holders’ transactions and raises alerts for any unusual, suspicious, or fraudulent behavior. With deep learning fintech algorithms, our team processed extensive data to spot irregularities signaling potential fraud risk.

Aggregating data

To begin, our engineers collected and unified all banking data, encompassing user identities, transaction histories, locations, payment methods, and other pertinent factors.

Detecting anomalies

We identified distinctive patterns like high transaction amounts or segmented transactions to avoid automated tax reporting, enabling ML algorithms to distinguish fraud from regular banking. Transactions are tagged as “good” or “bad”.
We also accessed a vast dataset, efficiently spotting patterns and anomalies, and selected crucial features through data comparison and elimination techniques, improving fraud risk analysis and detection.

Training the ML model

Our ML team created algorithms to catch odd situations that slip past regular rules. This extension can predict even with less data, using smart machine-learning methods. So, our solution uses embedded representations, not typical features, to handle transactions.

Implementing the ML model

Once a threat’s spotted, the system shoots real-time data to the admin, who can stop or nix operations for further digging. Depending on the fraud chance, there are three outcomes:
  • If fraud odds are below 5%, the transaction gets the green light.
  • If the odds range between 6% and 70%, an extra check like an SMS code, fingerprint, or secret question is needed.
  • If the fraud chance tops 80%, the transaction’s axed, needing hands-on analysis.
Plus, we set up good ML tools to explain models, making predictions clear and keeping things smooth for users.

Results and business value

Timspark’s top-notch ML extension spots fraud and takes action. Security’s solid — no breaches or financial crimes.

x2.4 speedier in processing

Our ML algorithms swiftly handle heaps of data, keeping up with the rapid transactions.

99.3% accuracy of fraud detection

Using these algorithms, we find tricky patterns that humans might miss. That means fewer mistakes and less unseen fraud.

Less mundane tasks

Our solution checks hundreds of thousands of payments per second, making the transaction process as painless as possible.
The algorithms catch tiny changes fast, checking tons of payments per second. The bank gets tighter security, faster transactions, and less chance of missed fraud. It means smoother banking and peace of mind for the end customers.

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    Optimizing KYC Framework for iOS and Android

    Identification mobile app

    Optimizing KYC Framework for iOS and Android

    Our team upgraded identity mobile apps for iOS and Android and optimized their key verification and access management functions.

    #Banking

    #MobileDevelopment

    #DataProtection

    Client*

    Our customer is a European software-as-a-service (SaaS) organization offering solutions for establishing and executing Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures in external services.

    *We cannot provide any information about the client or specifics of the case study due to non-disclosure agreement (NDA) restrictions.

    Project in numbers

    duration

    1 year

    team

    5 specialists

    efforts

    11 520 hours

    Team involved in the project

    industry

    Banking, Information Technology

    solution

    Identification app

    technologies

    Native Android (Kotlin), Native iOS (Swift), Cross-platform Flutter (Dart)/RN (JS)

    1 x Web Developer

    1 x Android Developer

    1 x Product Manager

    1 x QA specialist  

    1 x iOS developer

    Challenge

    The main objective is to optimize the KYC framework for iOS and Android. The application had a slow validation process, and the web widget had restricted functionality. Therefore, it was not fully optimized for iOS and Android platforms. Our team was assigned to upgrade the KYC library and enhance the critical authentication capabilities.

    Related objectives

    Address issues with Android and iOS SDKs

    Leverage unclear documentation for Nexus ID Check

    Leverage documentation for the web version

    Redesign and optimize the framework architecture

    Solution & functionality

    Our team collaborated closely with the customer to guarantee a smooth integration of SDKs into the new multi-platform application and native applications. We successfully improved the Nexus ID Check system, reorganized the library structure and framework for Android and iOS, and included a new library.

    Redesigned architecture and improved functionality

    Our experts have optimized the Nexus ID Check capabilities on Android and iOS platforms. We updated the system by eliminating redundant screens and conducted UI refinements. The updates resulted in faster and more user-friendly verification processes.

    Thanks to redesigning the mobile framework, we reduced the time for implementing new features by 30% and simplified code maintenance. Furthermore, we introduced guidelines for integrating React Native and Flutter, facilitating the use of this library in future cross-platform solutions.

    New FaceTec SDK for enhanced 3D biometrics

    Before the update, our facial recognition software supported only regular recognition methods. Users had to capture multiple photos of their faces from different angles. The 2D images were sent to the Nexus ID Check server for further processing.

    Our team seamlessly integrated an upgraded FaceTec SDK library to boost biometric processing. With FaceTec, the biometric data collection process has become more user-friendly and less time-consuming. The interface provides clear instructions for users, simplifying the scanning procedure and getting high-quality biometric data. When acquired, the data is processed and validated on the server’s side.

    Besides optimizing the scanning and verification processes per se, our team enhanced the image quality, which led to more accurate user identification.

    Optimized document verification solution

    Previously, users could only add supporting documents on mobile devices by taking a photo in real time using their phone camera. However, we have now implemented a new function that allows users to take pictures in any convenient screen orientation, add various documentation types, and upload documents directly from their phone gallery in multiple formats, including PDF. This enhancement simplifies the verification process for users as they no longer need to keep physical documents on hand to take photos each time they log in.

    Instant document verification and user identification

    Before optimization, users were limited to adding supporting documents on mobile devices through real-time photo capture with their phone cameras. With the new feature, users are enabled to take photos in any suitable screen orientation and easily upload various document types directly from their phone gallery in multiple formats, including PDF.

    With biometric data and supporting documents, users had to upload them every time they logged into the application. An instant user identification system allows users to log in quickly using a simple face scan. The uploaded selfies are instantly verified against verified 3D biometrics and other data stored in the backend system. Users are free from the need to re-upload documents and biometric data each time they log in.

    Results and business value

    The resulting cross-platform app now has a wide array of features aimed at enhancing KYC (know your customer), KYB (know your business), and AML (anti-money laundering) functionalities:

    Innovative face biometrics capture

    Easy data upload for the users

    Enhanced data collection on the user’s geolocation

    Enhanced accuracy and verification process

    The system architecture and functionality of the KYC solution on mobile devices was refined with the advanced FaceTec SDK library and incorporated 3D biometrics. The team enhanced both the verification process and the user interface.

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      Holistic DevOps solution for banking software lifecycle

      DevOps environment

      Holistic DevOps Solution for Banking Software Lifecycle

      Our team built a DevOps toolkit for transparent development processes in the banking domain.

      #Banking

      #Fintech

      #Cloud

      Client*

      Bank with various departments and an extensive range of 80+ digital offerings (exclusive software, CRM platforms, ERP systems, web gateways, and mobile applications).

      *We cannot provide any information about the client or specifics of the case study due to non-disclosure agreement (NDA) restrictions.

      Project in numbers

      duration

      September 2019 – Ongoing

      team

      12 specialists

      Team involved in the project

      industry

      Banking, Fintech

      solution

      Streamlined management of digital solutions under the DevOps toolkit

      technologies

      Jira, Microsoft Teams, Confluence, Bitbucket, Bamboo, Jenkins, Load Runner, Selenium, JUnit, TEST IT, SonarQube, Anchore, Black Duck, Fortify, Ansible, Packer, Nexus Repository Pro, Zabbix, Grafana, Elasticsearch, Loki, Kubernetes, VMware Tanzu, Microsoft Azure, VMware, Hyper-V

      1 x Cloud Architect

      3 x Business Analysts

      1 x Project Manager

      5 x DevOps Engineers

      2 x System Engineers

      Challenge

      Due to the lack of a coherent software development strategy, the customer could not leverage the advantages of DevOps within the banking domain. Therefore, they encountered challenges such as fragmented codebases and inconsistent knowledge transfer, absence of automated testing, and extended time-to-market for their solutions.

      Related objectives

      Organize scattered codebases

      Streamline communications

      Reduce time-to-market

      Solution & functionality

      Our team considered the functional requirements provided by the customer, with cost-effectiveness and reliability in mind, to build a fully functional DevOps environment. The customer is now able to manage application lifecycle, communications, continuous integration, testing, deployment, and monitoring with more transparency and flexibility.

      Effective app lifecycle and communications management

      Our team saw Atlassian products as the option, as their functionality provides smooth implementation and ability to practice agile management. We set up Jira to handle development processes and improve communication.

      Confluence was used to generate and store documentation, which used to lack systematization.
      Microsoft Teams was implemented to streamline communication between development teams and external collaborators.

      Version control and continuous integration

      Our client lacked a centralized repository for version control and streamlined CI/CD pipelines. As a solution, our project team initiated a transition to Bitbucket, conducted training sessions on GitHub beforehand, and implemented Jenkins.

      Testing and security scans

      The team implemented tools for monitoring software vulnerabilities and maintaining effortless product quality.

      TEST IT for a range of testing functionalities: manual and automated testing, autotest integrations, extended public APIs, test libraries, user-friendly test script editors, version control, and historical data management.
      Black Duck for adherence to security protocols and SonarQube to maintain code quality and cleanliness.

      Deployment, configuration, and artifact management

      Our expert team ensured the automation of deployments with DevOps practices removing previous roadblocks.

      Bamboo — core tool for deployment and configuration. It enabled seamless integration with existing systems.
      Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles for managing deployments
      Terraform for overseeing cloud environments
      Ansible for configuring virtual machines
      Packer for images preparation and unification
      Nexus Repository Pro for efficient handling of large volumes of product and development data.

      Monitoring and logging

      Our team prioritized monitoring and analyzing events with various tools for better reliability, performance, and security of the software system.

      Zabbix — to oversee physical hardware and communication channels and generate visual representations of the infrastructure’s condition.

      Logstash, Elasticsearch, and Kibana — to gather, store and analyze logs and product metrics.

      Grafana and Loki — to deliver up-to-date insights into developing applications and maintain ongoing monitoring.ur team prioritized monitoring and analyzing events with various tools for better reliability, performance, and security of the software system.

      Additionally, the team integrated the tool with messengers for alerts and notifications with the system’s current status and progress.

      Orchestration

      Kubernetes and VMware Tanzu were implemented to host and orchestrate containerized applications on virtual machines and physical hosts.
      This helped the team achieve centralized management, high availability, and level of performance. Additionally, these tools provide independence from cloud platforms and secure backup and recovery.

      Infrastructure

      Our experts applied hybrid cloud approaches for accessible and effective infrastructure solutions.

      VMware and Microsoft product stacks — for the private data center infrastructure to ensure the equipment’s fault tolerance
      Microsoft Azure — for hosting Windows applications
      Feedback channels from banking departments and end users — to improve product quality and implement immediate changes.

      Results and business value

      Our experts integrated DevOps strategies and helped to improve the customer’s development processes on different levels.

      Improved communication

      Efficient management

      Faster time-to-market

      10 times shorter mean time to recovery

      99.7% availability

      Effectiveness was considerably enhanced: the solution decreased the risk of flaws, enabled generation of logs, revert changes function, faster product delivery, and more effective planning, testing, and monitoring.

      Benefits for client

      Communication between stakeholders and IT departments was improved, management of digital solutions became efficient and predictable. The customer reached a faster time-to-market for their products.

      The solution boosted the customer’s metrics for critical systems: availability increased from 96% to 99.7%, and the average recovery time was reduced from 5 hours to 30 minutes.

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        Mobile Banking App Development: Applications as a Digital Wallet

        E-payment platform
        Mobile Banking App Development: Applications as a Digital Wallet
        Our team developed iOS and Android applications from the ground up, with instant payment functionalities (P2P, C2B, B2B) and banking account management.
        #Banking
        #MobileDevelopment

        Client*

        Our client is a large IT company providing software development and IT consulting services for businesses and organizations, selected as a general contractor for a government project, Therefore the government financial regulator acted as the end customer.
        *We cannot provide any information about the client or specifics of the case study due to non-disclosure agreement (NDA) restrictions.

        Project in numbers

        duration
        2+ years
        team
        12 specialists
        efforts
        10 000+ hours

        Team involved in the project

        industry
        Banking, Information Technology
        product
        E-payment platform
        technologies
        ?
        6 x Developers
        ?
        1 x Business analyst
        ?
        1 x Project manager
        ?
        2 x QA specialists
        ?
        1 x Solution architect
        ?
        1 x UX/UI Designer

        Challenge

        The major objective for the team was to create a transparent and easy-to-use digital system for instant electronic payments with modules for personal data security, fraud protection, and others.

        Related objectives

        Digital payment infrastructure
        Availability of financial services
        Resilient system security
        Effective fraud detection

        Solution & functionality

        In order to protect confidential data, we integrated a multi-factor security system using data encryption, TLS 1.2, SSL Pinning, and checking for rooted devices. The processing itself is performed by a third party.

        Smooth user experience

        As it was crucial to guarantee an immersive user journey, we backed the smartphone solution with a range of essential characteristics and capacities.
        Our development team has enhanced the mobile application with extensive payment options. Users can make transfers and payments (via QR codes as well) on an account-to-account basis by account number, email or mobile phone number. Individual and corporate users can replenish their accounts, as well as make requests for payment (for instance, to split the bill).

        Digital wallet inside the application

        To use the app, customers are required to connect their bank card/s and undergo the authentication process, providing details such as the bank’s name, account number/card information. The amount of cards the user can link, regional or foreign, is unlimited. After the registration and veri?cation process, users get access to the digital wallet.

        Personalization

        The app gives users flexibility and a range of personal budgeting features. Thus, it allows users to check the payments record, get detailed reports on incoming and outcoming transactions, set goals, and receive notifications to be on top of the spending limits.

        Results and business value

        The team implemented a user-friendly e-payment application ecosystem with integrated modules and launched iOS and Android apps within the set deadline. The final product was successfully used by citizens of the whole country and tourists.
        System with top-level security
        High-performing iOS and Android apps
        User-friendly interface
        Feature-rich functionality
        Customer satisfaction
        The team got positive feedback from both the customer and the end-user on the exceptional standard of development and efficiency of the app, as well as the effective communication throughout the project.

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