DEPT® leads the strategy, design, and experience of the BUUT app and website
ABN AMRO, the Netherlands’ third-largest bank, launched BUUT at the beginning of September—a next-generation neobank designed for teenagers and their parents.
Created by the makers of Tikkie, BUUT was developed in partnership with DEPT®, who helped shape the strategy, design, and overall user experience of the app. BUUT gives young people control over their money with easy-to-use “jars” in the app for paying and saving. Simple to use, fully visual-driven, and tailored to the world of the new generation.
From insights to interface
Traditional banks face a challenge: attracting younger, digitally native audiences while maintaining trust and reliability. Tikkie and DEPT® approached this by taking a blank-canvas approach, developing BUUT entirely around the lives of teenagers and their parents.
Built on real user needs and insights, it translated into a new, visually driven banking experience, supported by robust banking infrastructure. The collaboration included defining the proposition, strategy, and full customer journey, based on in-depth research among both parents and teens.
The future of money: bridging the gap between parents and teens
DEPT®’s strategy began with a reality check: money now consists of taps, swipes, and contactless pings. Parents want to give their kids freedom without losing oversight; teens want independence without complexity. The answer wasn’t another “junior account”, but a new bank. From the first brainstorm to final validation, end-users shaped BUUT. DEPT® ran interviews, concept tests, surveys, and usability sessions to ensure the app is desirable, usable, and genuinely helpful for making day-to-day financial decisions.
“BUUT is more than a banking app—it’s a tool for learning. It gives teenagers the freedom to explore money in a safe and structured way, helping them understand budgeting, saving, and spending while making financial decisions. At the same time, it reassures parents that they can guide and support their children without compromising oversight.
By combining education, independence, and security, BUUT helps families navigate the digital financial world together.
”Sanne van Kuijk, Head of Growth, BUUT
“What made this project special was the collaboration with the whole Tikkie and ABN AMRO team—built on trust, openness, and the sense that we were working together as one unit. That spirit of collaboration is what allowed BUUT to become more than just a banking app.
BUUT proves that when you combine strategic creativity with hands-on collaboration, you can reinvent how a whole generation learns about money.
”Lucas Nutbey, SVP Strategy EMEA at DEPT®
From strategy to end product
DEPT® has been working with Tikkie since October 2023 and has supported this specific project end-to-end together with various partners: from shaping the proposition and strategy to conducting user research and validation.
Crucially, DEPT® was responsible for the entire digital experience of the BUUT baking app—covering UX, Visual, and Motion Design—to create a banking app that feels natural to digital natives.
To introduce BUUT to the world, DEPT® also created a modular, playful website packed with articles, videos, and interactive elements—carrying the eclectic BUUT style across every touchpoint.
