Your credit union’s website is getting more traffic, and your members expect to be able to find more information and services than ever before. After a long year of hurried digital transformation, now is the time to optimize your business’s online presence. Here are some of the best ways to improve your credit union website.

Update Your FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions pages are one of the first places your members go to get information about new website features and common issues or questions.

To improve your credit union website, spend some time reorganizing and updating your FAQs. Questions should be grouped by topic or category (mobile banking, online loan applications, etc.). You can even include a search feature, especially if you have a long list of FAQs, to help your members find the information they need faster.

With all the crazy 2020-inspired changes to your business, your FAQ section is likely in need of a good update.

Analytics and Personalization

Predictive analytics can create a more tailored experience for every member or potential customer who visits your credit union website.

“By leveraging application programming interfaces (API) to connect customer relationship management (CRM) databases, your website can display personalized content, advertising, and product information uniquely targeted to each individual,” says InetSolution.

You can use existing tools like Google Analytics and customize the insights to capture specific data that can improve your website’s (and your business’s) performance.

Include or Improve Site Search Functions

We already mentioned including a search feature on your credit union’s FAQ page. It is just as crucial that your website includes a global search feature too, so visitors can quickly and easily search your entire website content for specific information or services.

Before you create or commission work for a one-size-fits-all search function that also searches Google or other internet content, remember: the function of every piece of information and page design should be optimized to get your members or potential customers to the content or service they are looking for.

This site search function would also likely benefit from the same analytics and personalization features that you’ve built into your site mentioned in the above section.

Create and Curate Financial Education Content

Blogs, links, infographics, events pages – many people visit websites for advice or information that is related to your business or industry. To improve your credit union’s website, having a section dedicated to financial education content is a perfect companion to your credit union’s mission to serve and educate the communities your offices are in.

When you provide relevant resources, you also help your customers become educated and invested in their own financial literacy and experience. A blog or resource page with relevant links or infographics not only adds value to your website but also provides another reason for visitors to check back in on your website for the latest helpful tips or interesting articles.

Ensure All Site Functions are Mobile-Friendly

89% of American bank account holders use mobile banking for account management. And 94% of mobile banking customers use online banking platforms at least once a month.

Whether your credit union has a website, an app, or both – all pages and functions of your online services should be optimized to work on mobile platforms. This is even more important when it comes to the longer, more involved service processes, like account opening or web loan applications.

Offer Online Web Loan Applications and Account Opening

And speaking of web loan applications and online account opening – both of these should be features on your credit union’s website and app. Younger prospective customers have always tended to prefer any solution that is fully online and contactless.

This is even more important as we continue to feel the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. Rather than losing them, you can give potential customers the power to initiate business with you. This is safer, faster, and often more preferred anyway.

Need Help Improving Your Credit Union’s Online Presence?

IMS Integration is here to help you optimize your credit union’s website with Web Loan Applications, Online Account Opening, and so much more.

The pandemic has negatively impacted the U.S. economy. Approximately 36.5 million people are unemployed, where three million people filed for unemployment benefits in May. That number is expected to rise as more businesses permanently close and continue to lay off workers. As people consider sources of financing to stay afloat, many will turn to your credit union for a personal or small business loan.

The effects of COVID-19 will have a lasting effect for a long time. Right now, your members are looking for more than just a lender. They are looking for their credit union to provide the services they need with ease. That includes helping with bill pay, financial guidance and emergency loans.

Web loan applications are designed to collect data, perform automated loan decisions and incorporate your credit union brand to deliver a super user experience. Filling out manual applications is a laborious task and one that’s not easy to do with credit unions relying on drive-thru and digital services for business. Plus, automated technology accelerates the lending process. Regardless of the size of your credit union, a fast loan origination process gives you a competitive edge.

With the technical infrastructure to process online loan applications, your credit union will be able to provide valuable insights into customer needs, reduce risk and simplify reporting, increase productivity and save time and money with each transaction. Loan officers can apply their expertise where it will be of the greatest benefit and shift their attention to value-add services. This becomes vital as small businesses turn to their credit unions for relief, especially with new government assistance programs being rolled out.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. This assistance is vital in expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs, especially underserved borrowers, who contribute to a community’s economy. And, it helps your credit union tap into another product for members.

As a lender, it’s important to look for innovative solutions to adopt with changing times. Without the ability to process web-based loans, you’re missing out on an opportunity to compete with other financial institutions. Borrowers are depending on you to help them in these stressful times. Remove the complications out of the loan application process and provide easy access for your members.

6 Ways to Improve Your Credit Union Website