In 2023, Jewett City Savings Bank sought to better align their website with a recent brand refresh. Their last redesign was in 2017, and the site needed an update to reflect the new brand direction, meet modern accessibility standards, and have an improved navigation strategy for users, whom had to often dig down several layers of pages to get to the information they were seeking.
Navigation:
Banks failing to update their digital presence risk alienating customers. Studies show that 70% of users are more likely to engage with websites that meet accessibility standards, yet a significant number of financial institutions still fall short in this area. Adherence to WCAG standards are increasingly important, ensuring all users could access its services.
Accessibility:
Research by HubSpot indicates that 76% of consumers say the most important factor in a website’s design is that it makes it easy for them to find what they want. For banks and financial institutions, ensuring easy navigation can significantly impact customer satisfaction and retention.
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By using Elementor, a tool typically leveraged for smaller projects, I could rapidly design and run implementation for over 80 pages with greater efficiency. This approach was counterintuitive—many agencies prefer custom development for such extensive projects.
I facilitated the implementation of the design among a team of three designers. Through close collaboration and continuous feedback, we used Elementor to craft a fully responsive and accessible website. We focused on ensuring every element aligned with the refreshed brand identity while meeting the stringent requirements of WCAG standards.
An important initiative was to ensure all the curated photography had elements and pops of color, that complemented the brand.
The new website not only aligned perfectly with the refreshed brand but also achieved a 90.8% accessibility score from SiteImprove. The project also streamlined our agency’s processes, reducing time spent on similar projects by 28%.
The website received a Bank Standard of Excellence Award, by the Web Marketing Association’s 2023 webawards (a long established, annual award competition dedicated to naming the best sites in 96 industries).