Frontwave Credit Union

Formerly Pacific Marine Credit Union, Frontwave Credit Union is a California-based financial institution that has been serving the community since 1952. With strong military roots, Frontwave fights for its members to deliver financial solutions and service. Honoring its history, the credit union first moved forward with an extensive rebrand that transformed the credit union’s name and image to be inclusive, real, and even a little rugged. Frontwave chose ZAG Interactive to redesign its website - revealing this new identity and helping better serve its members.

Creating a plan for the project

When the new brand was solidified, ZAG led a discovery meeting to discuss key objectives for the new website. Beyond launching the new brand, the site needed to streamline the navigation and user experience, modernize the appearance, facilitate administrative updates and more. To lay the site foundation, ZAG’s strategy team created a new site architecture and strategic plans to guide the project, from design to development.

Bringing out the brand with design and content

Turning the new brand strategy and visuals into digital reality, ZAG’s design team created a unique, responsive design featuring a mobile-inspired menu, a balance of promotional space and integrated education and tools and helpful solution information. To tell the brand’s story, authentic real-life photography was selected, mixed with distressed textures and bold colors. Conveying a simplistic and relatable vibe, the website offers comparison charts, contextual resources and other helpful features to support members. The new site also took advantage of ZAG’s copywriting expertise - capturing Frontwave’s unique essence and building the overall brand experience. Each page features a clear action and copy to support members at each life stage. Importantly, the new website is designed to be conformant with ADA guidelines to ensure accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities. To introduce the new site, ZAG created a website tour that highlights the site for first-time visitors.

Attracting and retaining members with marketing

The new site features a custom search engine optimization (SEO) strategy – conceived during the site architecture phase and augmented during the copywriting effort. Variations in content types – from articles to product information – help guide visitors through the consumer financial journey, from consideration to conversion. This SEO foundation will allow the institution to build its new brand online.

Using technology to develop a custom experience

The Frontwave website is built in the Kentico content management system, facilitating simple updates, site security, and other maintenance and management essentials. The CMS offers a wealth of powerful out-of-the box features, combined with several custom widgets and tools. Rates management and locations management tools allow for easy content administration, and the site seamlessly integrates with numerous third-party solutions including online applications, calculators and more.

The new website successfully represents the new Frontwave Credit Union brand, helps members manage their money, and supports business goals.