Poetryy
Overview
Poetryy is a comprehensive banking platform designed specifically for students and college communities. Built as a fintech solution, it provides modern banking features while integrating with MBanq's core banking infrastructure to ensure regulatory compliance and security.
The platform offers account management, card services, peer-to-peer transfers, split payments, and college-specific features like branded cards and easy campus transfers. It serves as a bridge between traditional banking and the digital expectations of younger users.
Technologies Used
- Backend: Node.js, Express.js
- Database: PostgreSQL, Prisma ORM
- Architecture: Microservices (Auth, Core Banking, Admin, Database)
- Core Banking: MBanq API Integration
- Identity Verification: Socure KYC
- Communication: AWS Simple Notification Service (SNS), and AWS Simple Email Service (SES)
- Cloud Storage: AWS S3
- Real-time: Socket.io
- Containerization: Docker
- Deployment: CI/CD, EC2 instances
The Challenge
Traditional banking solutions often fail to meet the needs of student users. Complex onboarding processes, outdated interfaces, and lack of peer-to-peer features create barriers for young people managing their finances.
Key challenges included:
- Streamlined Onboarding: Reducing friction in account creation while maintaining security standards
- Peer-to-Peer Payments: Enabling quick, easy transfers between users without requiring sensitive banking details
- Regulatory Compliance: Integrating with licensed banking infrastructure while providing a modern user experience
- Student-Centric Features: Building tools that understand campus life and group financial activities
The project required balancing user experience innovation with the stringent security and compliance requirements of financial services.
Solution & Architecture
I designed Poetryy as a microservices architecture to enable independent scaling and maintainable development. The system consists of:
- Auth Service: Handles user registration, authentication, and profile management
- Core Banking Service: Manages accounts, cards, transfers, and MBanq integrations
- Admin Service: Provides administrative tools and oversight
- Shared Services: Common utilities, validation, and middleware
The database schema was designed to store application-specific data while leveraging MBanq's systems for core banking operations. This hybrid approach ensures data consistency while maintaining flexibility for custom features.
Technical Implementation
Authentication & Security
Implemented dual-verification system using email and SMS for account creation. Integrated JWT tokens for session management and encrypted sensitive data throughout the application.
KYC Process
Built a multi-stage verification process integrating with Socure for identity verification and document processing. The flow includes:
- Address collection and validation
- SSN verification
- Document upload and biometric checks
- MBanq client creation and account activation
- Debit card issuance
Payment Features
Developed multiple transfer types:
- Internal transfers between platform users
- ACH transfers to external accounts
- Wire transfers for international payments
- Split payment system for group expenses
Integrations
- MBanq: Core banking operations and account management
- Socure: Identity verification and KYC compliance
- Twilio: SMS notifications and verification
- SendGrid: Email communications
- AWS S3: Document storage and file management
Performance & Optimization
Optimized API performance through:
- Database indexing on frequently queried fields
- Efficient query design for bulk operations like monthly statements
- Microservices architecture enabling horizontal scaling
Deployment
Deployment automation using GitHub Actions with Docker containers:
- Triggers: Push events to dev/main branches (pull requests trigger but don't execute deployment)
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Process:
- Code checkout via SSH
- Docker container build and deployment
- Service orchestration using Docker Compose
- Deployment Method: Container-based deployment to EC2 instances
- Containerization: Docker Compose for both development and production environments
The pipeline ensures consistent and reliable deployments across all environments.
Results & Impact
The platform was recently launched and is in its early stages of user adoption. The project successfully demonstrates the technical feasibility of modern fintech solutions for student markets while navigating complex regulatory requirements.
Key achievements include:
- Successful integration with MBanq's core banking infrastructure
- Modular architecture enabling easy feature additions and scaling
- Comprehensive API supporting account management, transfers, and payments