Collaborators
Carmen Chang, Iris Yan, Yu Hsin Lin
Recognitions
Winner of JPMorganChase Design Challenge hosted by Wharton Innovation & Design at the University of Pennsylvania.
Presented the product concept to JPMC product and design leadership teams in the New York Hudson Yards Office
Project Overview
Horizons is a lightweight browser extension designed to help international students navigate the U.S. financial system with confidence. By offering real-time translation, contextual guidance, and personalized Chase product recommendations, the tool addresses literacy gaps, language barriers, and access challenges that often prevent students from building stable finances.
My Role
Defined the problem space and identified target users by analyzing international student financial challenges and framing design opportunities.
Synthesized research into actionable insights that informed product direction and prioritized key features.
Designed user flows and narratives that illustrated how Horizons supports students across financial milestones, from arrival to graduation.
Collaborated on feature development, contributing to the design of contextual guidance, translation tools, and product recommendations in alignment with Chase’s ecosystem.
PROBLEM DEFINITION
Our Solution
~1,100,000
International students arrive in the U.S. to pursue higher education opportunities every year.
$43.8 billion
Contributed by International students studying at U.S. colleges and universities
380,000 jobs
Supported by International students studying in the states
Wei Lin,
a 19‑year‑old undergrad from China.
Just landed in the U.S. with questions about:
Opening a U.S. bank account
Understanding credit and building history
Navigating financial jargon in English
Complying with U.S. tax rules
Literacy Gap
International students average only 2.44 out of 5 on financial literacy quizzes, which is well below U.S. peers, revealing a lack of basic knowledge needed to manage banking and credit in the U.S.
Language & Cultural Barriers
Universities and banks often lump international students in with domestic peers, overlooking their unique needs, while roughly 60 % of these students struggle with English.
Access Barriers
Financial information ranks as the second hardest resource for international students to find, behind only legal topics, and many say essential guidance remains hard to access in the U.S. system.
Problem Statement
International students encounter language barriers, context-specific jargons, and a lack of tailored guidance in the U.S. financial system.
These obstacles impede their ability to build stable finances both during school and after graduation.
How might we create a user-friendly and integrated solution that simplifies the U.S. banking process, empowering international students to confidently manage their finances?
Horizons is a browser extension that helps international students navigate the U.S. financial system by offering personalized action steps and Chase product recommendations.
Multilingual Translation
& Cultural Context
Real-Time Contextual Guidance
& Terminology Clarification
Personalized Recommendations
& Credit Building Road Map
Chase Integration
& Product Recommendations
Wei Lin’s Journey with
Empower international students to Chase new horizons.
Setting Up Day-to-Day Banking
Wei lands in Philadelphia, and installs Horizons after his international-student advisor’s suggestion.
On the tuition page, Horizons suggests opening a Chase account to avoid international transfer delays and credit card fee.
Wei follows the link, schedules an in-branch appointment, and gets his debit card the same week.
Onboarding for
Your First Student Job
Wei secures a part-time research assistant role.
When Wei checks Penn’s onboarding FAQs, Horizons surfaces guidance on I-9 and SSN application.
Wei completes his SSN application checklist in the plug-in and enrolls in direct deposit.
Starting Your U.S. Credit Journey
Feeling more settled after his first job, Wei decides to apply for a credit card, and starts building credit.
That’s when Horizons pops up with a personalized guide and recommends the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.
Wei applies for his first credit card and sets up auto-pay, taking his first step toward a strong credit history.
Building Credit
Upon Arrival
First-Campus Job
Graduation
Filing Before Graduation
Wei has one last thing to take care of before graduating: filing his taxes. Luckily, Horizons makes it simple.
It guides him through Forms 8843 and 1040-NR, explaining how to use his W-2, and reminding him of deadlines.
With Horizons’ help, Wei files his taxes on time. He also accepts a full-time job offer and levels up to the Chase Freedom Flex card.
Even after school, Wei plans to keep using Horizons to manage his money, stay compliant, and continue building credit.
Horizons guides international students from touchdown to tassel, adapting to each financial milestone along the way.
"Credit History" :
📌 Explanation 1:
“In the U.S., many services—such as renting an apartment or getting a card—depend on your credit score. When you first arrive, you usually don’t have an SSN, so you must build credit step by step.”
📌 Explanation 2:
“You can apply for a secured card to start establishing your credit history.”
📌 Explanation 3:
“Making on-time payments raises your credit score and helps you qualify for things like auto loans or rentals.”
🎯 Explanation 4:
“A checking account is the first bank account to open after arrival; it’s used for receiving paychecks and everyday spending.”
📌 Explanation 5:
“Consider a no-fee student account like Chase College Checking, but keep an eye on any minimum-balance requirements.”
Definition/Link Assets
User
Browser
(Chrome)
USER
INTERACTION
popup.html
Content Script
chrome.
storage
keywords.
json
context_
rules.json
chase_
products.json /chase API
API/Model
chase_recommender.js
inference.js
(NLP)
Tooltip UI
read
matching
decision-making
rendering
configure
REASONING
DATA
environment
trigger
Data
Decision Model
Solution
User
Meet users where they are
Deliver personalized definitions and curated links
We create a natural entry point into the Chase ecosystem
Pyramid-style keyword framework helps understand concept
All content is context-aware and our content library is built to grow
Content Script
chrome.
storage
keywords.
json
context_
rules.json
chase_
products.json /chase API
API/Model
chase_recommender.js
inference.js
(NLP)
read
matching
decision-making
REASONING
DATA
environment
Tooltip UI
rendering
User
Browser
(Chrome)
popup.html
configure
trigger
USER
INTERACTION
Data
Decision Model
Solution
User
chase_
products.json /chase API
chase_recommender.js
matching
decision-making
DATA
chrome.
storage
keywords.
json
context_
rules.json
API/Model
inference.js
(NLP)
read
REASONING
environment
Tooltip UI
rendering
User
Browser
(Chrome)
popup.html
configure
trigger
USER
INTERACTION
Content Script
Data
Decision Model
Solution
User
Keywords Database
Web Context
User Information
Chase Assets
Decision Condition
Our lightweight browser plug-in leverages a layered keyword engine to convert contextual data and user data into instant tips and tailored suggestions.
Tech Feasibility
Reducing Operational Cost
Lowering Customer
Acquisition Cost
Strategic Data Acquisition
Long-term Revenue Drivers
Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)
Cross-sell/Product Promotion
Enhancing Reputation
Brand Presence & Social Sentiment
Trust & Retention
Long-Term Revenue Drivers
Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)
Horizons anchors Chase as the students’ first bank and stays with them from arrival to post-graduation, expanding lifetime value as they mature.
Cross-sell/Product Promotion
By surfacing timely, context-based Chase offers, the extension consistently drives cross-sell uptake and incremental fee revenue.
Turning international students into high-value, low-cost, lifelong Chase customers.
Reducing Operational Costs
Lowering Customer Acquisition Cost
By embedding Chase’s sign-up flow directly in students’ browsers, we can reduce expensive campus events and paid media with zero-friction digital onboarding.
Strategic Data Acquisition
The extension’s real-time usage data gives Chase insights into student needs and timing, enabling highly targeted outreach that cuts wasted marketing spend and improves product-fit analytics.
Enhancing Reputation
Brand Presence & Social Sentiment
Horizons strengthens Chase’s brand presence and social sentiment by delivering multilingual, student-friendly support that drives positive word-of-mouth on global platforms.
Trust & Retention
By consistently solving students’ real financial pain points, the extension builds trust that translates into higher retention and loyalty throughout their academic and professional journeys.
Business Impact
Partnership with
Higher Education
Embed co-branded Horizons plugins in ISSS onboarding and student portals.
Continuous Refinement of
Keyword Database
Use real-time user signals to sharpen intent detection and keyword accuracy.
Expand Service to Cover
More Languages
Roll out core-language support first, then extend to emerging student markets.
A lightweight browser extension that gives international students instant, native-language guidance and
Chase-powered recommendations whenever they encounter U.S. financial content online.
Next Steps
Let’s Get in Touch.
Email: lucacao@seas.upenn.edu
Mobile: +1 (412)-583-5970