Your website isn’t just a digital storefront—it’s your most important branch. It’s where potential customers decide if they want to bank with you or bounce over to your competitor.

And if your website still looks like it was built in 2010 (or worse, takes forever to load), you’re losing customers before they even get to know you. So, what makes a great bank or credit union website? Speed. Security. Simplicity. But also, features that actually help your customers do business with you.

If your site is slow, clunky, or missing key tools, you’re falling behind. Let’s fix that. Here are 10 must-have features your website needs to stay relevant, competitive, and conversion-friendly.

Key Takeaways

  • Make it easy—your site should be intuitive and mobile-friendly.
  • Give customers what they need—online banking, calculators, and easy-to-use tools.
  • Build trust—security, transparency, and personal touches go a long way.
  • Stay competitive—if your website doesn’t check these boxes, your competitors’ do.

Now, let’s talk about what actually makes a bank website great.

1. A Website That's Fast, Easy to Use & Mobile-Friendly (With ADA Compliance!)

If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing customers. Over 70% of digital banking is now done on mobile. If people have to pinch and zoom just to check your hours, you’re already in trouble.

What you need:

  • Responsive design—your site should look and function beautifully on any device.
  • Simple navigation—customers should find what they need in three clicks or less.
  • ADA compliance—your website needs to be accessible to everyone (yes, it’s a legal requirement!).

Pro Tip: Run your website through Google’s PageSpeed Insights to where you fall. If you don’t look great? It’s time for an upgrade. We can help you with a website audit focused on UX, security and ADA to ensure accessibility for all. Learn more about our web services.

2. A Clearly Visible Online Banking Login

Your online banking login is the #1 reason customers visit your site—so don’t make them hunt for it.

Best practices:

  • Place it front and center (ideally in the top right corner).
  • Make sure it’s secure and easy to use.
  • Include password recovery options so customers aren’t stuck on hold with your call center.

Pro Tip: Your login button should be the first thing customers see, NOT buried under a dropdown menu.

Must-have features for online banking include:

  • Online banking login – Secure, easily accessible, and prominently placed.
  • Branch & ATM locator – Customers need to quickly find your physical locations.
  • Live chat or virtual assistant – Customers expect real-time support, not just a contact form.
  • Online appointment scheduling – Reduce branch wait times by letting customers book meetings with your team.

Pro Tip: A well-placed call-to-action (CTA)—like “Open an Account” or “Talk to a Banker”—can help convert website visitors into customers.

3. Financial Calculators That Help Customers Make Smart Decisions

If your website doesn’t have financial calculators, you’re missing an easy way to engage customers and guide them toward your products.

Must-have calculators:

  • Mortgage calculator—helps customers figure out monthly payments.
  • Auto loan calculator—shows how much car they can afford.
  • Savings goal calculator—helps customers plan for the future.
  • Debt payoff calculator—shows how to become debt-free faster.

Pro Tip: Don’t just list these calculators in a random “Resources” section—put them where they’re most useful (e.g., mortgage calculator on the home loans page!).

forbinfi’s BankWeb™ websites come with built-in financial calculators to enhance user experience and encourage customer interaction. See how BankWeb™ makes banking websites better.

4. A “Meet the Team” Page That Feels Personal

People trust people, not just brands. Customers want to know who they're banking with—so introduce your team! A Meet the Team page puts faces to your brand, making your bank feel more approachable.

What to include:

  • Professional (but friendly!) staff photos
  • Short bios that highlight expertise and community involvement
  • Direct contact info for key team members

Pro Tip: Use that team page to highlight specific members on your other pages as well. Pull in your lenders on your Home Loans page or trust department on your Trust page!

5. Security Features That Build Trust

With rising cybersecurity threats, customers won’t bank with you if they don’t trust your site. Period.

What your site needs to be secure:

  • SSL encryption – Ensures a secure connection (Look for the padlock in the URL bar!).
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA) – Adds an extra layer of protection for online banking.
  • Fraud education resources – A dedicated page or blog section about fraud prevention helps customers stay informed.
  • DDoS, firewalls, IPS – Make sure your host has all security features in place to avoid and block attacks.

Pro Tip: Regular security updates and clear communication about how you protect customer data build trust and credibility.

6. Quick Contact Forms & Live Chat

Your customers shouldn’t have to dig through five pages just to find your phone number.

Best ways to improve communication:

  • Short contact forms on key pages (loans, mortgages, customer service).
  • Live chat option for quick answers.
  • Easy-to-find branch hours and phone numbers.

Pro Tip: Adding a chatbot can increase lead generation by up to 30%—especially for loan inquiries.

7. Clear & Clickable Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Your website should guide customers toward taking action. If your “Apply Now” button is tiny and hidden in the footer, it’s not doing its job.

CTA examples that work:

  • “Open an Account”—right on the homepage.
  • “Apply for a Mortgage”—on the loan page, with a calculator nearby.
  •  “Schedule an Appointment”—for high-touch services like financial planning.

Pro Tip: Make your CTA buttons bold, noticeable, and easy to find (and NEVER make them gray—gray buttons look unusable!).

8. Homepage Alerts for Important Updates

Your homepage should be dynamic—meaning it should update with important information, like:

  • Branch closings and holiday hours
  • Special promotions and new rates
  • Security alerts and scam warnings

Pro Tip: A sticky announcement bar (that stays at the top of the page) is an easy way to keep customers informed without being annoying.

9. A Well-Organized Blog or Learning Center

Customers want financial advice, and your bank should be their go-to resource. A blog or financial learning center builds trust and SEO value.

Popular blog topics:

  • “How to Improve Your Credit Score”
  • “Best Savings Accounts for Small Businesses”
  • “How to Qualify for a Home Loan”

Pro Tip: Blogs help with SEO—banks that post educational content see up to 30% more organic website traffic.

10. A Careers Page That Attracts Top Talent

Your website isn’t just for customers—it's also your best recruiting tool. A well-designed Careers page helps you attract top banking talent and positions your institution as a great place to work.

What to include:

  • Open positions with easy-to-apply links
  • Employee testimonials about company culture
  • Benefits overview (healthcare, retirement, growth opportunities)
  • Photos and videos showcasing your team in action

Pro Tip: A strong Careers page will help you stand out in a competitive hiring market—especially when the younger job seekers expect a great digital experience before they even apply.

How BankWeb™ Makes This Easy for Banks & Credit Unions

At forbinfi, we build bank and credit union websites that actually work. Our BankWeb™ website platform is designed specifically for financial institutions that need:

  • Custom design and content creation
  • Fast, mobile-friendly websites
  • ADA compliance and security features
  • Built-in financial calculators
  • Custom Meet the Team pages
  • Secure hosting

Want to see BankWeb™ in action?
Let’s Talk

Here’s a breakdown of BankWeb™’s features:

Feature
How It Helps Your Bank
Custom, mobile-friendly design
Ensures a seamless user experience on any device.
Built-in financial calculators
Engages users & helps them make informed decisions.
ADA-compliant design
Makes your website accessible to all customers.
Meet the Team page setup
Builds trust and showcases your staff.
SEO-optimized structure
Helps your site rank higher in Google searches.
Online appointment scheduling
Makes it easy for customers to book meetings.
Integrated security features & hosting
Keeps customer data safe and builds trust with a dedicated IT team for all hosting & security needs.

Final Thoughts: Is Your Bank’s Website Keeping Up?

If your website isn’t making life easier for your customers, it’s losing you business. And you deserve a website solution that delivers all the essentials: functionality, security, and user experience.

The good news? You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s build a better website together.
Schedule a Free Website Consultation