A user story is an informal document that describes a system or service, providing a simple, user-focused overview of features and capabilities. It captures the perspective of users who need a new functionality or an enhancement, ensuring that development aligns with their needs and expectations.

A user story is created whenever business users identify a requirement, propose an initiative, or request an enhancement for a project that requires development, testing, and deployment. It serves as a concise yet detailed description of a specific feature or functionality that needs to be delivered, ensuring that both technical and non-technical teams understand the business need. User stories help align stakeholders by clearly outlining the expected outcome, acceptance criteria, and business value, facilitating smoother collaboration between developers, testers, and end-users throughout the project lifecycle.

Your job isn’t to build more software faster: it’s to maximize the outcome and impact you get from what you choose to build.

– Jeff Patton


Sample User Story

As a Bank A user,
I want to have a separate confirmation screen of the transaction details first before I confirm the transfer,
So that I can ensure all information is accurate before proceeding.

Acceptance Criteria:
  1. A confirmation screen must display the transfer details:
    • Account number, name, and bank selected (Bank B) before proceeding with the transaction.
  2. Provide options to Confirm Transfer or Edit Details before proceeding.
  3. Ensure that the details displayed match user input.
  4. Make sure to obtain user confirmation before proceeding with the transaction.
  5. Implement session timeout for inactivity.

Sample Refined User Story

As a Bank A online banking user,
I want to transfer funds from my Bank A account to a Bank B account,
So that I can send money to accounts in other banks directly from my online banking platform.

Acceptance Criteria
Functional Requirements:
  1. The system shall provide an option for the user to transfer funds to an external bank under the “Fund Transfer” section.
  2. Users must be able to enter recipient details, including:
    • Recipient’s full name
    • Account number
    • Bank selection (Bank B)
    • Transfer amount
    • Optional remarks/note
  3. The system shall validate the recipient details before proceeding.
  4. Users must authenticate the transaction via OTP, biometrics, or another security method.
  5. A confirmation screen must display transaction details for final review before submission.
  6. Upon successful transfer, the user shall receive:
    • An in-app confirmation message
    • A transaction reference number
    • An SMS/email notification confirming the transfer
  7. The transaction history shall reflect the completed transfer with details, including date, time, recipient, amount, and reference number.
Error Handling & Security:
  1. If the entered account details are invalid, the system shall display an error message and prevent the transaction from proceeding.
  2. If the user enters an incorrect OTP/security code, they must be prompted to retry with a limited number of attempts before account security measures apply.
  3. If the transaction fails due to network issues or system errors, users shall receive a clear error message with next steps (e.g., retry, contact support).
  4. Transfers exceeding the daily or per-transaction limit must be blocked with an appropriate notification.
Performance:
  1. The fund transfer process shall be completed within a maximum of 10 seconds under normal conditions.
  2. The system must comply with regulatory and security requirements, including encryption of transaction details.
  3. All transactions should be logged for audit and compliance purposes.