Improve Your Digital Experience Without a Full Redesign
Small Changes Banks and Credit Unions Can Make in 30 Days
Improving your institution’s digital experience doesn’t always require a full website overhaul. In fact, some of the most impactful changes we’ve seen have come from banks and credit unions making small, yet strategic, updates. And the best part? Most of these updates can be done in under 30 days.
If your website is live, functional, and serving your visitors, don’t hit pause just because you're not ready for a redesign. Instead, take action with what you have.
Here’s where to start.
1. Simplify the First Impression
Your homepage doesn’t need to do everything. It just needs to do the right things.
In the first 5 seconds, visitors should:
Know who you are
Know what you offer
Have somewhere clear to go next
If your homepage is cluttered with slideshows, vague taglines, or multiple competing calls to action, consider refining your message and focusing on one primary action. Whether it’s applying for a loan, opening an account, or scheduling an appointment, make the process clear and obvious.
2. Rework Navigation With the Website Visitor in Mind
You live in your site’s backend. Your website visitors don’t.
That’s why your navigation should be structured around their goals, not your org chart. Many FIs have sprawling navigation menus with repetitive links or jargon that feels familiar internally but is confusing to users.
Consolidate categories, remove any redundant information, and name links based on the task they help the user accomplish (“Compare Loans” instead of “Loan Center”).
3. Make Mobile a Priority
Mobile isn’t an afterthought—it’s the main thought. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile users, you're risking a frustrating experience for more than half your audience.
Quick checks:
Tap every button on your homepage. Is it easy to use on a small screen?
Does your menu behave the way a user expects?
Are you using PDFs that are tough to load or navigate?
Responsive design is about more than scaling content. It’s about preserving usability across devices.
4. Build Human Connection
Digital doesn't have to feel robotic. There are small ways to bring warmth, trust, and authenticity to your online experience.
Try this:
Add photos of real team members or branches
Include testimonials or stories from your community
Use conversational language, not just formal banking terms
People want to know who they’re banking with. A few human touches can make a big difference.
5. Get Strategic With Small Changes
Sometimes, it’s not about what your site looks like. It’s about what it does. Is it helping users move forward? Is it giving you insight into what’s working?
If you don’t already have analytics set up, that’s a great place to start. Heatmaps, scroll data, and click patterns can tell you where people get stuck and where to focus your attention.
Ready to Take Action?
We created a 30-Day Digital Experience Checklist that outlines simple, high-impact updates your team can make right now. It’s divided into weekly sections, allowing you to progress at your own pace or use it as a quick audit tool.
You don’t have to start from scratch. You just have to start smart.
