Case Studies September 16, 2025

Boosting Engagement Time by 83.3%

Coastal Community Bank’s outdated website created a poor user experience, eroding member trust and engagement. A strategic redesign focused on an intuitive user flow and a secure, modern design boosted average engagement time by 83.3% and increased page views per session by 25%.

About Coastal Community Bank

With Web Design, Blacksmith transformed Coastal Bank’s website, boosting user efficiency and improving conversions.

Coastal Community Bank is a financial institution dedicated to serving its local communities. Understanding that their members expect fast transactions and seamless digital banking services, they recognized that their previous website’s slow performance, security concerns, and navigation issues were creating significant friction. To better serve their customers and uphold their commitment to excellence, they sought a complete technical and visual improvement to create a fast, secure, and user-friendly online banking platform.

Services Provided

UI/UX Design

This is the heart of our design process. We focus on making users enjoy a smooth and intuitive experience, while forging a beautiful interface that they’ll love to interact with (UI).

Custom Web Design

Your business is unique, and your website should be too. We move beyond generic templates to create a custom look and feel, factoring in everything from colors and fonts to page layouts so that they perfectly match your brand’s personality and goals.

Responsive Design

We ensure your site looks and works beautifully regardless of the browser or device, guaranteeing a flawless experience for all your visitors, no matter how they find you.

Unclear Content Architecture

While the site presented many service categories, the content architecture lacked a guided flow. Users were forced to click through multiple layers to reach key information, which disrupted the experience and weakened conversion opportunities. A more intuitive structure with prioritized pathways could have streamlined navigation.

Text-Heavy Content with Low Engagement

Large text blocks dominated the homepage without clear hierarchy or visual cues. Instead of guiding visitors to the most impactful content, this dense layout led to skimming or early drop-offs. Applying principles like the Gutenberg diagram and chunked layouts could have boosted clarity and engagement.

Weak Brand Integration and Visual Identity

The website relied on generic typography, inconsistent color palettes, and limited iconography or imagery. This diluted the bank’s identity and failed to differentiate it from competitors. Stronger brand-driven design with purposeful use of imagery and custom visuals would have reinforced trust and recognition.

The Solution

Streamlined Content Architecture

We restructured the site to reduce unnecessary clicks and create clear, guided pathways. Key service areas were consolidated into a simplified navigation system supported by mega menus, making it easier for users to discover relevant offerings in fewer steps. This improved user flow not only reduced bounce rates but also increased engagement with priority services.

Visual Hierarchy and Scannable Layouts

To replace dense text blocks, we introduced a cleaner design with strong visual hierarchy. Key CTAs were brought higher on the page and surrounded by adequate white space, while supporting visuals and concise copy made content easier to digest. This created a smoother reading experience.

A Refreshed Visual Identity

We established a consistent font system, refined color palette, and introduced custom iconography to replace generic design elements. These changes helped Coastal Community Bank present itself as modern, trustworthy, and distinct from larger competitors. The cohesive look elevated brand perception and gave users a clearer sense of professionalism from the very first interaction.