A Step-by-Step Guide to Regression Testing in Banking Apps

A PwC survey revealed that 61% of consumers interact with financial institutions through digital channels, and 32% prefer to avoid branches altogether. 

The trend is clear: People prefer banking online, and mobile apps are a popular method. What does this mean for financial institutions? Develop an app that meets all user requirements and functions well.

This is easier said than done. For one, a larger number of users means more constantly changing demands. This means having more features in the app, which means updates, which incidentally opens the door for further issues like app crashes, data breaches, lags, and more.

This is why regression testing is vital. What we discussed above was an overall picture. Banking apps have multiple workflows with sensitive data that require updates or maintenance. 

Regression testing ensures that updates do not impact overall functionality. It helps maintain the integrity of critical financial operations, such as transactions, account management, and customer data security.

Since regression testing is vital, this blog aims to guide you through the process of regression testing for banking apps. Let’s first strategize a plan for approaching regression testing.

Planning the Regression Testing Process

1. Test Case Selection: 

Choosing test cases is all about understanding your users; consider the following:

• Prioritize Critical Features: Focus on essential functionalities like fund transfers, bill payments, and login security.
• Analyze Past Defects: Review historical defect data to identify areas prone to issues. For instance, if previous updates affected the deposit funds feature, include it in your test cases.

With the test case selected, naturally, you’d want to cover all your basics, which would include the next step.

2. Risk Assessment

It is important to identify areas of vulnerability in critical functionalities. When considering what to select, you can:

• Identify High-Risk Areas: Focus on modules that handle sensitive data or have undergone significant changes.
• Impact Analysis: Evaluate how new features might affect existing ones, such as how adding biometric authentication could impact the login process.

Now you know what to test, it's time to bring in some help.

3. Stakeholder Collaboration

• Engage Cross-Functional Teams: Involve QA analysts, developers, product managers, and compliance officers.
• Address Critical Features and Risks: Discuss upcoming changes impacting core banking services like fund transfer, log-in with face ID, load services, and more.

Help is at hand; are you good at delegation? 

4. Resource Allocation

• Skilled Testers: Assign testers with experience in banking applications and knowledge of financial regulations.
• Testing Tools: Equip the team with tools like Selenium WebDriver for automation and JIRA for issue tracking.

You’ve planned this out well; now for the final step.

5. Scheduling

• Align with Development Cycles: Coordinate testing timelines with development sprints and release dates.
• Buffer Time: Allocate extra time for unexpected issues, especially when dealing with complex integrations like SWIFT protocols - like efficient delivery of financial messages to intended recipients - for international transactions.

With a solid plan in place, the next step is execution.

Executing Regression Tests

1. Test Environment Setup

• Mirror Production Settings: Set up the test environment to closely replicate real-world conditions, including server configurations, network settings, and database schemas. This ensures that testing outcomes are accurate and reflective of actual user experiences.
• Compliance Considerations: To protect sensitive information during testing, adhere to regulations like PCI DSS (for secure payment processes) and GDPR (for data privacy).

2. Data Preparation

• Use Anonymized Real-World Data: Utilize anonymized or synthetic data that reflects user scenarios. This approach safeguards sensitive information while providing realistic datasets for comprehensive testing.
• Variety of Scenarios: Incorporate diverse transaction scenarios, such as wire transfers, loan applications, and currency exchanges, to test various functionalities.

3. Automation Integration

• Automate Repetitive Tests: Automate time-intensive tests, such as regression testing across multiple device types and operating system versions, to save time and ensure consistency.

4. Result Documentation

• Detailed Recording: Use test management tools (e.g., HeadSpin) to log test cases and results and detect anomalies in a structured and accessible manner.
• Compliance Reporting: Generate detailed reports that meet regulatory and audit requirements, showcasing thorough testing processes and adherence to standards.

Now that you have run the test, it’s time to analyze the results.

Analyzing and Addressing Test Outcomes

Defect Identification

• Log Deviations: Record any unexpected behaviors or errors, no matter how minor they may seem.
• Use Issue Tracking Systems: Employ tools like JIRA to track defects from discovery to resolution.

Root Cause Analysis

• Determine Origins: Investigate why a defect occurred—was it a coding error, integration issue, or requirement misunderstanding?
• Prevent Recurrence: Implement lessons learned to avoid similar issues in future development cycles.

Prioritization

• Rank Based on Severity: Use a priority matrix to classify defects as critical, high, medium, or low.
• Impact Assessment: Consider how defects affect users and compliance. For example, a flaw in transaction encryption is more severe than a minor UI glitch.

Resolution

• Collaborate: Work closely with the development team to address issues efficiently.
• Verify Fixes: Ensure that code changes address the issue without introducing new problems.

Re-testing

• Validate Resolutions: Re-run tests for fixed defects to confirm they no longer occur.
• Regression Checks: Ensure that fixes haven't affected other parts of the application.

Best Practices for Regression Testing in Banking Apps

Enhance your regression testing efforts with these best practices:

Test Data Management

• Effective Strategies: Use data virtualization and masking to handle various transaction scenarios securely.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure test data practices comply with regulations like GDPR.

Combine with Smoke and Sanity Tests

• Frequent Checks: Run smoke tests to verify basic functionalities before deeper regression testing.
• Save Time and Effort: Early detection of major issues can prevent wasted effort on detailed tests.

Leverage Test Automation

• Select Appropriate Cases: Automate stable and repetitive test cases to increase efficiency.
• Continuous Integration: Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins.

Regularly Update Regression Packs

• Align with Updates: Keep test cases current and relevant to the software.
• Archive Obsolete Cases: Remove or update tests for deprecated features.

Consider AI Integration

• AI-Powered Testing Tools: Utilize AI to optimize test case selection and predict defect-prone areas.
• Enhanced Analysis: AI can help identify patterns in defects like frequent login failures during peak usage times, leading to more proactive quality assurance.

Conclusion

Implementing a structured regression testing process is vital for the reliability and security of banking applications. By following best practices and leveraging advanced tools, financial institutions can ensure their apps provide secure and efficient operations.

Platforms like HeadSpin offer advanced capabilities like AI to identify issues quickly and provide actionable insights. HeadSpin’s regression Intelligence includes tools like alerts and Watchers to spot and analyze performance problems across app versions, platforms, devices, and locations.

Connect now.

FAQs

Q1. How does regression testing differ from retesting?

Ans: Retesting focuses on verifying that specific defects have been fixed, whereas regression testing ensures that new code changes haven't adversely affected existing functionalities elsewhere in the application.

Q2. Why is test data management crucial in banking app regression testing?

Ans: Effective test data management enables comprehensive validation of diverse transaction scenarios while ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. It ensures the app functions correctly under various conditions without exposing sensitive customer information.

Q3. How can AI integration benefit regression testing in banking apps?

Ans: AI can enhance regression testing by optimizing test case selection, predicting potential defect areas, and automating analysis. It can analyze historical test data and application changes to prioritize high-risk areas, ensuring critical functionalities are thoroughly tested.