Hi, I'm Bailey Kursar.

Hi, I'm Bailey Kursar.

I'm an independent consultant, fintech nerd and financial inclusion advocate.

About.

I’ve worked in fintech (the intersection of financial services and technology) since 2010, and in financial inclusion since 2018.

I founded my own tech-for-good, Toucan, in 2018, where we used Open Banking tech to help people with long term mental health conditions better manage their money with the support of their family and friends.

Toucan ceased trading in 2022. Since then I’ve worked on financial inclusion-related projects as an independent consultant, lending my skills in tech and product design to organisations such as Impact on Urban Health, TISA, Fair By Design, the University of Edinburgh and the Money Advice Trust.

Services.

You can hire me to help with consultancy services, training and user research.

Now.

Inspired by Derek Sivers, read what I’m doing now here.

Projects.

Toucan

2018 – 2022

I founded a fintech-for-good, Toucan (later renamed Touco), that built and tested an Open Banking app for people with long term mental health conditions better manage their money with the support of their family and friends.

Funded by Nationwide and working with the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute and Northumbria University, I led and co-authored influential research.

Read: Let’s Talk About Money: How third party money alerts from Toucan affected people living with mental health conditions →

Read: "Pick Someone Who Can Kick Your Ass" - Moneywork in Financial Third Party Access →

Read: Financial Technologies in the Cycle of Poor Mental Health and Financial Hardship: Towards Financial Citizenship →

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aU1gs1DVNW9jsUFPvlOWCv4wZFUASdEO/view
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Open Banking for Financial Health

2023

I worked with Impact on Urban Health and Comuzi design lab to test if using Open Banking services would improve the financial health of low income residents of Lambeth and Southwark.

Read the Open Banking for Financial Health report →

https://www.bsa.org.uk/getmedia/593e7905-f664-42ec-b2bf-9c14d6475984/Open-Banking-for-financial-health-v7-May-2023.pdf

Inclusive Design Guide

2021

I authored a guide to Inclusive Design for Fair By Design and the Money Advice Trust. The FCA chose to reference the guide in their official vulnerability guidance.

Read my 'Inclusive Design in Essential Services' guide →

https://moneyadvicetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Inclusive_Design_in_Essential_Services_-_A_practical_guide_for_firms_and_suppliers.pdf

Good Future Project

2021

I spoke to 42 women in their 40s and 50s (and surveyed 370+ women) about how they’re planning for their financial future.

Read The Good Future Project report →

https://readymag.website/u3305611026/3203857/

Money Movers

2022

I hosted a Money Movers peer-led circle for women to talk about how they can use their finances to take climate action, supported by Friends of the Earth.

Read me talking about it in The Big Issue →

https://www.bigissue.com/news/environment/money-movers-climate-change-investment-women/

Cost of Living Crisis Hackathon Day

2022

I hosted a Cost of Living Crisis Hackathon Day with Wagestream where we brought together charities, industry, policy makers and people with lived experience to come up with solutions. Read about the Hackathon aims and outcomes →

https://bailey.work/hackathon

Why you should put salaries on your job ads

2021

I wrote an article for Sifted that went viral, featuring on the front page of HackerNews.

Sifted article: Why I think it's important to show salary information on job ads →

https://sifted.eu/articles/job-advert-salary-range

Testimonials.

"What you shared about acknowledging the reality of exclusion, and adopting a mindset of designing for everyone, without labels of vulnerability or disability, really grabbed the minds and hearts of colleagues. Colleagues were both moved and motivated to make a difference." – Joanna Finlay, Virgin Money
Her project management skills have been amazing, she was so organised to get everybody on board pretty quickly. Although we're all working remotely, it didn't feel like it and from day one, everybody in the team knew what they were doing.” – Armela Veliaj, Hargreaves Lansdown
"Bailey’s drive, passion and commitment to helping people improve their financial health has been inspiring." – Phil Gossett, Nationwide’s Open Banking for Good
Bailey is an excellent facilitator, highly motivated, taking the lead where required, which she has the experience and gravitas to do.  Bailey is always well prepared and working with her was a pleasure.” – Dougie Robb, Smart Data Foundry
“Her work ethic is incredible and with her organisation, clear thought process and ability to multi-task it's no wonder that the results speak for themselves.” – Jenny McRobb, Funding Options

Blog.

Posts

Goodbye Toucan, My Old Friend
May 17, 2024
When Fintech Fails
June 28, 2020

In the news.

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