A lightweight browser extension that gives international students instant, native-language guidance and Chase-powered recommendations whenever they encounter U.S. financial content online.
Wharton ID Club ✕ JP Morgan Chase
PROBLEM DEFINITION
International students are an essential part of the U.S. financial ecosystem, yet they often face significant challenges when navigating and managing their financial lives in the U.S.
~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
They 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
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?
OUR SOLUTION
Horizons guides international students from touchdown to tassel, adapting to each financial milestone along the way.
USER STORY BOARD
Lets see how do we make change to international students ☞
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
Upon Arrival
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.
Upon Arrival
Setting Up Day-to-Day Banking
Wei follows the link, schedules an in-branch appointment, and gets his debit card the same week.
First-Campus Job
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.
First-Campus Job
Onboarding for
Your First Student Job
Wei completes his SSN application checklist in the plug-in and enrolls in direct deposit.
Building Credit
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.
Building Credit
Starting Your U.S. Credit Journey
Wei applies for his first credit card and sets up auto-pay, taking his first step toward a strong credit history.
Graduation to Full-TIme
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.
Graduation to Full-TIme
Filing Before Graduation
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.
TECH FEASIBILITY
Horizons’ lightweight browser plug-in leverages a layered keyword engine to convert page context and minimal user data into instant tooltips and tailored recommendations.
💡Meet users where they are
💡Deliver personalized definitions and curated links
💡We create a natural entry point into the Chase ecosystem
💡Horizons becomes increasingly "smart" through continued use.
BUSINESS IMPACT
Turning international students into high-value, low-cost, lifelong Chase customers.
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.
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.
Long-Term Revenue Drivers
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.
NEXT STEPS
Turning international students into high-value, low-cost, lifelong Chase customers.
Partnership with
Higher Education Institutions
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 Countries and Languages
Roll out core-language support first, then extend to emerging student markets.
YEAR/DURATION
2025
5 days
COLLABORATORS
Iris Yan
Luca Cao
YuHsin Lin
Carmen Chang
ROLE
Technical Product Planning Lead
