![[Pasted image 20260810091609.png]] # Hi, I'm Bailey Kursar. I'm a 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**. --- ## Now. Inspired by [Derek Sivers](https://sive.rs/nowff), read what I’m doing now [here](https://bailey.work/now). --- # Projects. ## Toucan ![[4.png|179]] **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 →](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aU1gs1DVNW9jsUFPvlOWCv4wZFUASdEO/view?usp=sharing) [Read: "Pick Someone Who Can Kick Your Ass" - Moneywork in Financial Third Party Access →](https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3432917) [Read: Financial Technologies in the Cycle of Poor Mental Health and Financial Hardship: Towards Financial Citizenship →](https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3411764.3445251)z [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aU1gs1DVNW9jsUFPvlOWCv4wZFUASdEO/view](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aU1gs1DVNW9jsUFPvlOWCv4wZFUASdEO/view) ## Open Banking for Financial Health ![[2.png|169]] **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 ![[5.png|173]] **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. Coming soon! --- ## In the news. Coming soon! --- © Bailey Kursar. All Rights Reserved.