EduBank

Inspiration

• Our team was inspired by the growing need for financial literacy among students in Botswana.Seeing how FNB Botswana supports youth-focused programs and simplifies banking through tools like eWallet, we wanted to build something educational and interactive.We noticed many of our peers struggled with budgeting and saving, and there were few local tools designed specifically for students. EduBank was our way of turning real financial challenges into a learning experience practical, local, and student-focused.

What it does

It blends personal finance, banking simulation, and interactive learning into one platform making it the perfect training ground for financially savvy future adults.

How we built it

•EduBank was developed as a web-based finance toolkit using Laravel (PHP) and Django (Python) for the backend.The frontend was built using HTML, CSS. PhpMyAdmin was used to manage the MySQL database, which stored user accounts, transactions, budget data, and credit simulation history.

Challenges we ran into

• Choosing between Laravel and Django based on the strengths of each for different features and developer familiarity. Designing financial logic that is realistic yet simple enough for students to grasp. Ensuring data consistency between budgeting, savings, and simulated bank accounts. Managing time and feature scope, especially for extra features like gamification and group saving. Creating clean and readable dashboards without overwhelming users

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Built a functional and educational web app focused on student financial literacy.Created a working credit score simulator that helps students understand long-term financial consequences. Integrated budgeting, saving, and banking simulation into a unified platform. Delivered a responsive UI with data visualizations for spending and savings insights.

What we learned

• Laravel and Django both offer powerful structures for building secure, scalable apps. Real-time feedback and visual insights significantly improve user engagement and understanding. Financial simulations can make abstract concepts like credit scores and interest more concrete. Proper database management and testing are crucial in apps involving calculations and sensitive data. User experience design is as important as functionality, especially in educational tools.

What's next for EduBank

• Bitcoin education module with built‑in fraud awareness to teach students about digital wallets and blockchain through safe simulations while educating them on common crypto scams. Convert the web app into a mobile experience using Progressive Web App (PWA) or Android WebView. Add gamification through point-based rewards for budgeting and saving consistency.Build collaborative tools like group saving goals and expense splitting with roommates or friends. Integrate real-world finance APIs in the future for optional account syncing and deeper insights. Partner with universities and financial educators to promote EduBank as a learning resource.