A credit union is often at the center of a community. They typically offer outstanding customer service and the kind of personal attention that is rarely available at big national banks. Although credit unions are often much smaller than big corporate banks, they usually still need to have some sort of website to satisfy customer needs.
Most companies and organizations use a special type of software known as a content management system (CMS) to develop and manage their websites. When it comes to credit unions, the best CMS should be secure, have all the necessary functions, and fit within the budget. During a website consultation, a website development team can help a credit union develop a list of must-haves and narrow down the CMS options.
Inclind’s award-winning website design and development team has experience building attractive, secure, and effective credit union websites. We use our knowledge of credit unions' needs to advise our clients about the best possible CMS and software for them. Reach out today to learn more about our website design, development, and support and maintenance services.
What Is a CMS?
A content management system - commonly referred to as a CMS - is a software application that is used to build and maintain a website. Critically, a CMS is a far easier method for building and managing a website because you don’t need to have any coding skills to use one. In fact, many CMS use a drag-and-drop system where you can just place elements where you want without any specialized knowledge of website design or development.
With a CMS, a company or organization can create, modify, and publish content on its website. It can also customize a website by purchasing templates and extensions based on its desired design and functionality. An entire team can use this system as a repository for all of the website’s content.
A CMS typically includes two main parts: the front end (what a visitor to the website sees) and the back end (how the website is managed). The front end delivers content using various technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
The back end of a CMS is how new content is published on a website. There is typically some type of administrator dashboard where team members can make changes to the website - such as adding a contact form - or upload content. The back end looks pretty different from the front end but is usually user-friendly and simple to learn.
A CMS typically has certain features, such as:
- Digital asset management for photos, files, and videos
- User roles so that team members can be assigned roles and have access to digital content based on those roles.
- Website building, which may include templates, sample page layouts, drag-and-drop components, site themes, and more customized options
- Content collaboration so that all users with the proper permissions have access to information simultaneously
- Cloud storage so that the website and content can be accessed anywhere
CMS platforms are divided into two main categories: open-source and closed-source (proprietary). An open-source CMS means that anyone can view and modify the source code. It is often easy to use, highly customizable, and typically less expensive than a proprietary CMS. However, there are downsides to open-source CMS, including the potential for being hacked and little in the way of customer support. WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla are popular examples of open-source CMS platforms.
Closed-source or proprietary CMS platforms are built and managed by a corporation without public access to the source code, which can make them more secure. Because there is only one main codebase, it is often easier to manage and update the system. Closed-source CMS platforms offer more customer support but are often costly, and there may be fewer options for plugins and customizations. Examples of proprietary CMS platforms include Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), Kentico, and SiteCore.
There are many popular CMS platforms on the market, including specialized CMS platforms for particular types of businesses. Choosing the right one will depend on your credit union’s specific needs - and budget.
The Most Popular CMS Platforms For Credit Unions
There is no one definitive CMS platform for credit unions. A study conducted by InetSolution found that five CMS platforms were the most popular for some of the largest credit unions in the country. According to the study, the top five CMS platforms for credit unions are WordPress, Kentico, Drupal, Sitefinity, and SiteCore. Market share data, along with a cost comparison for each platform, can be found in the table below.
| CMS | Credit Union Market Share | Category | Starting Cost |
| WordPress | 16% | Open-Source | $0 |
| Kentico | 11% | Proprietary | $10,000 Annually |
| Drupal | 9% | Open-Source | $0 |
| Sitefinity | 9% | Proprietary | $15,000 Annually |
| SiteCore | 3% | Proprietary | $40,000 Annually |
Factors To Consider When Picking a CMS for Your Credit Union Website
One of the primary concerns for credit union websites as financial institutions is security, particularly when offering mobile banking features. However, there are many things to consider when deciding on a CMS for your credit union website.
Site Functionality
First, consider the size of your website. Will it need basic functionality and a limited number of pages? Will it require more robust functions like online banking and a customer portal? Your website's size and demands will be crucial in your ultimate decision regarding a CMS. Any platform will work for a simple site, but certain CMS platforms have advantages for larger and more complex sites.
There is always a cost incurred to support additional memory usage or higher levels of traffic, but Sitecore does directly bill based on the number of site visitors. AEM and Kentico do not. As open, source platforms, Drupal and WordPress do not have additional costs based on site size or usage. As one of the most widely-used CMS platforms, WordPress also includes over 50,000 plugins to choose from to add features and functionality to your site. By comparison, Drupal contains over 40,000 modules to extend site functionality.
Cost
Second, think about your budget and the ongoing costs of running the website. Larger, more powerful websites often take more money to both set up and maintain. In addition to maintenance and development costs, you’ll have to pay an annual license fee for proprietary CMS platforms. If this isn’t in your budget, then you may want to choose an open-source platform like WordPress or Drupal.
Scalability
Third, consider a website's scalability and flexibility. Some lower-cost CMS may limit the number of pages a website can have based on pricing tiers. If your credit union is growing - or you simply want the ability to expand your website and add functionality later - then you may want to choose a CMS that can grow with your business.
Compliance
Fourth, credit unions are subject to certain laws and regulations. Any CMS that you choose should be capable of complying with relevant financial laws. This should include the ability to track website revisions. AEM, Kentico, Drupal, WordPress, and SiteCore all include or support compliance features and tools to keep your site compliant with laws and regulations.
Integrations
Fifth, think about the features that you want to offer. Some proprietary CMS don’t “play well” with third-party software, which can make it difficult to integrate certain applications. SiteCore can be more difficult to integrate with third-party platforms than many other CMS platforms. AEM only comes with less than a dozen integrations out of the box. WordPress and Drupal can be integrated with just about any third-party platform using modules or plugins.
Make a list of the type of features you want to include (like a loan payoff calculator, for example), and make sure that whatever CMS you choose either has those options or permits third-party plugins or integrations.
Of course, most credit unions don’t have the level of in-house expertise that would permit them to pick the optimal CMS for their website. That is where Inclind can help. Our team of award-winning website designers and developers have experience with all types of CMS, including WordPress and Drupal. We also can help you develop a decoupled website.
We don’t get paid to recommend a certain CMS - instead, our goal is to help you pick the one that works best for your organization. Our deep experience with credit unions gives us the necessary insight to help our clients choose a CMS that meets their needs, requirements, and budget.
Work with Inclind to Build Your New Credit Union Website
If you run a credit union, chances are good that your expertise is in finance - not computer science. While a website is necessary for most businesses, it can be difficult to know where to start. We can help.
Based in Delaware, Inclind offers web development and design services to credit unions nationwide. We know that credit union websites have to be easy to use, secure, and visually pleasing. Our network of website designers and developers uses their creativity and technical knowledge to advise credit unions on things like the best CMS for their needs - and then builds the best possible website for their business. We offer a full range of services, including website support and maintenance, site redesigns, custom integrations, and accessibility audits.
We're available if you’d like to learn more about our website development services for credit unions. You can fill out our online contact form, call us at 800-604-8139, or hit the live chat button to talk to one of our experts about your website.