Community West Bank
Services we provide:
- Discovery
- Strategy
- UX/UI design
- Website development
- Xperience by Kentico implementation
About Community West Bank
CWB is a large community bank in southern California with over 20+ locations and a track record of financial strength, security and stability gained over its 44 years in business. CWB has set itself apart from other banks by its people, dedication to client advocacy, exemplary "relationship banking," strong community support and a mission to exceed expectations. With a passion for providing customized solutions, the merger drove the decision to revamp their digital services to better serve their customers.
The Process
In an era where digital presence is critical to financial institutions and mergers are frequent, the successful merger of Community West Bank (CWB) and Central Valley Bank (CVB) depended on a robust and well-executed digital strategy, critical to providing a seamless user experience for customers and employees. SilverTech, leveraging its expertise in Xperience by Kentico website development, customized a digital solution that unified the brands of these two banks into one cohesive user-friendly digital experience in just 4 months from start to launch.
The Challenges
The merger of CWB and CVB presented unique challenges, particularly in integrating two distinct digital landscapes into a single cohesive website. The biggest challenges included:
- Differing Content Strategies: CWB's site was optimized for SEO with a rich content library, while CVB's site focused more on detailed product pages. Balancing these different content approaches was crucial.
- Short Timeline: The project needed to be completed with a demanding timeline, delivering a high-quality, functional website, from planning to launch in less than four months.
- Outdated Technology: The old CWB site suffered from poor mobile optimization, slow speeds, outdated information, and a lack of interactive features. This hindered customer engagement and usability.
Goals for New Site
SilverTech identified four main goals for CWB's new website with the main goal of unifying the brands. The merger of the two banks presented a unique opportunity to take advantage of the best from both brands.
Solution and Implementation
Based on the insight gained, SilverTech devised a comprehensive strategy roadmap to address the challenges and deliver a seamless digital experience for the bank merger. It was SilverTech's recommendation that Kentico's newest hybrid CMS platform Xperience by Kentico would be the best solution for the new website. Xperience with robust features and functionality allowed SilverTech to create an exceptional digital user experience efficiently for CWB.
The Key components of the solution include:
- Unified Content Strategy: SilverTech developed a content migration plan that combined the SEO-rich content from CWB with the detailed product information from CVB. This approach ensured that the new site would benefit from both banks' strengths while avoiding duplication and inconsistencies.
- Modern Design and Functionality: The new website was built with Xperience by Kentico, featuring a modern, responsive design to enhance user experience across all devices. Key features included:
- Enhanced Interactivity: Interactive elements and engaging content to improve customer interaction and retention
- Improved CTAs: Clear, strategically placed CTAs to guide users through the site effectively
- Technical Upgrades: Faster loading speeds, improved reliability, and mobile optimization to ensure a smooth user experience
- New Functionalities: Inclusion of essential tools like product comparison tools, branch locator and more
- Accelerated Development Timeline: Despite the tight timeline, SilverTech employed agile development practices to ensure timely delivery without compromising quality. The team worked in sprints to continuously test and refine the site, leading up to a successful launch within the four-month timeframe.
HIGHLIGHTS
SilverTech's Chief Technology Officer, Derek Barka, Recognized as a 2025 Kentico MVP
3/26/25
Bedford, NH - March 21, 2025 - SilverTech, a leading digital experience agency, is proud to announce that Derek Barka, Chief Technology Officer, has been awarded Kentico Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for 2025. This prestigious recognition highlights Derek's expertise, thought leadership, and contributions to the Kentico community.
The Kentico MVP program recognizes a select group of digital marketing industry professionals worldwide who demonstrate exceptional knowledge of Kentico's digital experience platform and actively contribute to the community through knowledge sharing, innovation, and insights about Xperience by Kentico capabilities and implementations. As an MVP, Derek joins an elite network of experts who influence the future of Kentico digital experience technology.
"This recognition is a testament to Derek's deep expertise and dedication to delivering exceptional digital solutions," said Jeff McPherson, SilverTech's CDO. "His leadership in the industry and commitment to helping organizations maximize their digital experiences through Kentico make him truly deserving of this honor."
With over two decades of experience in digital transformation, web development, custom integrations, and inbound marketing technology, Derek has been instrumental in leading SilverTech's strategy, implementation, and innovation with Kentico solutions. His thought leadership, speaking engagements, and contributions to Kentico's developer and partner communities continue to make a significant impact.
"I'm honored to be recognized as a Kentico MVP," said Derek Barka. "Kentico's platform continues to evolve, offering businesses powerful tools to create seamless, personalized digital experiences. I look forward to collaborating with the MVP community and sharing insights that help businesses succeed."
SilverTech Wins Site of the Year Award
SilverTech received the Kentico Site of the Year 2024 for the award-winning Visit New Hampshire website, developed in collaboration with the State of New Hampshire Travel and Tourism Division. The Visit NH website highlights SilverTech's expertise in designing and implementing digital solutions that enhance accessibility, usability, and engagement for citizens and stakeholders alike. The new site features a newer and faster Kentico platform, Xperience by Kentico, with a creative design and an improved user journey.
For more information about SilverTech's Kentico expertise and digital transformation solutions, visit SilverTech.com
About SilverTech
SilverTech is a leading digital experience agency redefining how businesses engage with their customers. Founded in 1996, the national agency is changing the game for clients who seek an unexpectedly enjoyable experience to solve even the most complex business challenges. SilverTech sets the bar higher when it comes to smart and satisfying client-agency partnerships. Services include digital marketing, user experience strategy and design, advanced web and application design and development, data and technology integration, and digital business consultation. Clients include national and global brands such as Allison Transmission, Nova Scotia Power, Drexel University, The State of New Hampshire, Georgia Pacific, Renown Health, United Community Bank, Fulton Bank, and others.
