Leveraging T8's banking and technology expertise, Iowa State Savings Bank sought to further enhance its Web presence while also establishing the online channel as a consistent, standardized marketing tool to improve its product and service promotions.

"With today's shift to the online channel, a majority of bank Web sites remain focused on brick and mortar facilities, missing the opportunity to use the Web as an effective, independent sales tool," explained David Hoke, vice president of marketing for Iowa State Savings Bank. "T8 possesses a strong understanding of consumer behavior and expectations for the Web, and has introduced this type of thinking to financial institutions."

Iowa State Savings Bank initially enlisted T8 nearly eight years ago, or according to Hoke, "back when bank Web sites were electronic brochures at best." As T8 has evolved its inventory of features and functionality, the bank has continued seeking the company's help to refresh its own Web design and online offering. Iowa State Savings Bank's proactive approach to responding to customers' needs for an online resource of information and services has enabled it to effectively compete in its region with larger institutions.

Hoke continued, "A significant task for any bank is overcoming the hurdle of providing a site that is more than a portal to Internet banking. T8 addresses that task with progressive navigation methods, customizable imagery and useful Web features that serve our community." Now on its third site, Iowa State Savings Bank maintains an active Web presence with T8's content management system, FREEDOM8, which enables it to update content by any authorized user, from any location at any time while enforcing FFIEC guidelines and FDIC compliance.

"Iowa State Savings Bank is just one example of how a financial institution's Web site can be a focal point for marketing efforts and integrated with traditional media to generate sales and attract new business," explained Wade Arnold, CEO of T8 Webware. "T8's goal is to establish a gateway for community institutions to provide an informative, functional user experience that is also profitable for the bank. We invest our efforts in having each customer's site communicate its culture, financial soundness and capabilities."

Iowa State Savings Bank also stated T8's compliance understanding as a driving factor in its relationship with the company, primarily because there has never been a need to educate T8 on common reporting and documentation concerns for banks. It additionally works with T8 for its Web hosting capabilities. With a foundation is this service, T8 recognizes the importance of operational consistency in powering a financial institution's online channel.