Overview
Suncorp Bank's home loan calculator suite was outdated — clunky form layouts, unclear inputs, and poor mobile experiences were creating friction for prospective borrowers. As Senior Product Designer, I led the end-to-end redesign of three critical calculators that sit at the top of the home loan acquisition funnel: Borrowing Power, Repayment, and Stamp Duty.
The goal was clear: turn these tools from utilitarian forms into confidence-building experiences that help users make informed decisions — and naturally guide them toward Suncorp's home loan products.
The Challenge
Home loan calculators are deceptively complex. Users arrive with varying levels of financial literacy, different buying stages, and high anxiety about one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. The existing calculators:
- Presented all inputs on a single overwhelming screen, causing high abandonment
- Used jargon-heavy labels with no contextual help, alienating first-home buyers
- Lacked clear results hierarchy — users couldn't quickly find the number that mattered most
- Had no meaningful conversion path from calculator results to product exploration
Approach
Research & Discovery
I started by analysing existing analytics to understand where users dropped off, which inputs caused confusion, and what devices they used. I also conducted user interviews with recent home buyers and first-home buyers to map their mental models around borrowing, repayments, and government costs.
Key insight: users didn't want a calculator — they wanted reassurance. "Can I afford this?" was the real question, not "What's my monthly repayment?"
Design Principles
- Progressive disclosure — break complex inputs into digestible steps (income, expenses, existing debts) rather than a wall of fields
- Contextual guidance — inline tooltips and helper text explaining financial terms in plain language
- Real-time feedback — show results updating as users adjust inputs, creating an interactive "what-if" experience
- Results-first hierarchy — the key number (borrowing power, monthly repayment, stamp duty total) is the hero, with breakdowns available on demand
The Calculators
Borrowing Power Calculator
The most complex of the three. Users input their income, living expenses, existing debts, and loan preferences to get an estimated borrowing limit. I designed a stepped flow that groups related inputs — financial position first, then loan preferences — so users build momentum before hitting the more detailed questions. The results screen shows not just the number, but contextualises it with a range indicator and next-step guidance.
🖼️ Add screenshot: Borrowing Power Calculator — showing the stepped input flow and results screen
Repayment Calculator
Users enter a property value, loan amount, interest rate, and loan term to see estimated repayments. I introduced interactive sliders alongside numeric inputs, letting users quickly explore scenarios. A comparison toggle shows how switching between weekly, fortnightly, and monthly repayments affects total interest paid — making the benefit of more frequent payments immediately tangible.
🖼️ Add screenshot: Repayment Calculator — showing slider interactions and repayment frequency comparison
Stamp Duty Calculator
The simplest tool, but often the most surprising for users — many underestimate government costs. I designed it to surface the total upfront costs (stamp duty + transfer fees + mortgage registration) in a clear breakdown, with state-specific logic and first-home buyer concession flags. This gives users a realistic picture of the cash they'll need beyond the deposit.
🖼️ Add screenshot: Stamp Duty Calculator — showing cost breakdown and first-home buyer toggle
Conversion Design
Each calculator's results page includes contextual CTAs tailored to the user's stage. After seeing borrowing power, users are offered product comparisons. After repayment estimates, they can explore offset account benefits. After stamp duty, they see a total costs summary with a prompt to speak with a lending specialist. The CTAs feel like natural next steps, not hard sells.
🖼️ Add screenshot: Results page showing contextual CTAs and conversion flow
Outcome
- Delivered 3 production-ready calculators as part of the home loans digital experience
- Reduced input complexity through progressive disclosure and contextual guidance
- Created a consistent interaction model across all three calculators for a cohesive experience
- Integrated contextual conversion paths connecting calculators to product pages and specialist bookings
Reflection
Financial tools are only useful if people trust them enough to act on the results. The biggest design lever wasn't the UI polish — it was framing each calculator as a confidence-building moment rather than a data entry task. When users feel informed and in control, they're far more likely to take the next step.
