When it comes to website design, online banking services have specific needs that must be met in order to ensure the safety and security of their customers. In this blog, we will discuss some of the key considerations for designing a website for online banking services.
What makes a good layout?
The first thing you notice when visiting a website is the general feel of it. This is largely determined by the overall layout and visual style of the site. When designing a website for an online bank, simplicity is key. You want to ensure that customers can quickly get the information they need without getting lost or overwhelmed.
After a customer has accessed their account, they simply need to know how much money they have and where it is located, what bills are due when and how much each one will cost them. To accomplish this, you want to make sure your site’s layout does not go beyond five or six major sections. This includes a banner at the top of the screen that gives an introduction to the website and offers buttons for navigating between main areas of service (checking accounts, loans, credit cards etc.). There should also be a search bar in the upper right-hand corner so customers can quickly find what they are looking for within seconds.
The next section should display all available accounts and services, with an image and a short description to the left. To the right, you should have accounts that are most frequently accessed by customers along with “quick access” buttons on the side or on top of this section for various types of transactions (deposits, withdrawals etc.).
The final portion of your layout should be dedicated to customer support. This includes FAQs regarding security and privacy measures, available contact options for live chat or phone calls and a list of locations where a bank representative can be found in person. All of these elements should be neatly organized, readily accessible and easy to read.
Finally, while not required for all online banks, it is highly recommended that you include some form of social media integration in order to provide customers with an additional way of communicating and interacting with your site. Customers appreciate when they can contact a company through multiple methods and social media is one of the most popular ways for them to share their experiences with others. It also allows you to update users on special offers, contests and other events.
The primary purpose of your website’s navigation for online banking services is to make it easy for customers to get around without feeling stressed or frustrated. A good navigation system has categories that divide services into groups, sub-categories that further separate these categories into smaller units and internal links (or breadcrumbs) which allow customers who have already accessed particular areas of service (such as checking accounts) to quickly go back up a level when needed.
For example, if you have several checking accounts for customers but only want them to see the one, they are currently logged in with, you would divide checking services into two groups – deposit accounts and withdrawal accounts. Then, each of these categories would have a breadcrumb trail that leads back to “checking.” This ensures that customers do not get lost or overwhelmed when trying to access information on your site.
What about security?
One of the most important elements of any online service is security. In order for customers to trust your website enough to provide their private information (social security numbers, account details etc.), then you need to make sure that both its design and the security measures you have in place make it easy for them to stay safe and feel protected.
