West Simsbury, CT (PRWEB) March 19, 2007 — www.07webaward.org — The Web Marketing Association, host of leading website awards competition WebAwards, recently released the Internet Standards Assessment Report (ISAR), which includes specific benchmarking data to help the bank and credit union industries create more award-winning websites.

"As the standard of excellence for websites continues to increase, web visitors are increasingly picky about what they consider to be an effective website," said William Rice, president of the Web Marketing Association. "The best credit union Websites inform and educate their members without overtly selling them on products and services. Meanwhile, online banking has transformed the banking industry by seamlessly integrating multiple services to customers who might only have had a checking and savings account in the past."

The WebAwards competition evaluates bank and credit union websites on seven criteria that combined create effective websites:
 

   Design
   Innovation
   Content
   Technology
   Interactivity
   Copywriting
and
  Ease of use

The latest ISAR Index indicates that banking web sites have narrowly tracked the ISAR Index for the past five years, with a slight under performance in 2005.

Credit Union Web sites have also consistently under performed the overall ISAR Index every year since 1999 and their scores tumbled to an all-time low in 2006.

Bank Websites tend to be well-written and interactive, but limited in innovation.

Credit Union websites scored highest in ease of use and effective design. However, their recent performance has resulted in them scoring well below the 3-year criteria average in all categories except interactivity and have earned the distinction of scoring the second lowest total average across all industries judged.

The 2006 WebAward for Best Bank Web site went to Carat Fusion for Wachovia Championship 17 and the 2006 WebAward for Best Credit Union Web site went to Webnbeyond for Union America Mortgage.

A complete list of past winners can be found at bank.webaward.org or CU.webaward.org.

Companies and organizations wishing to have their bank and credit union Web site evaluated against the ISAR Index and be considered for a WebAward, which can help boost a Website's credibility and marketing efforts, can learn more at www.07webaward.org

To request your copy of the 2007 WebAward ISAR report, please visit: http://www.webaward.org/isar_report.asp

2007 WebAward Call for Entries
The Web Marketing Association will soon be accepting entries into its 11th annual international WebAward Competition. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks that the Internet Standards Assessment report is based upon. The bank and credit union industries represent important categories in the WebAward competition, and the Web Marketing Association will again be honoring the Best Bank Web site and Best Credit Union Web site of 2007. Participants will receive valuable feedback and the opportunity to earn peer recognition. The deadline for entry is May 31, 2007 and the WebAward Web site is located at www.07webaward.org.

The Internet Standards Assessment report and the 2007 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organiztions: Burst Media, PRWeb, Misukanis & Odden, Small Army, SimpleFeed, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, NewsUSA, eComXpo, MediaPost's OMMA conference, TopRank Online Marketing, Creative Chocolate Printing Company, OTOlabs, Internet World UK, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Radio, Rovion's InPerson and eMarketer.

About the WebAwards
Now in its 11th year, the annual international WebAwards competition sets the standard of excellence in 96 industry categories by evaluating Web sites and defining benchmarks based on the seven essential criteria of successful Web site development. The goal of the Web Marketing Association, sponsor of the WebAwards, is to provide a forum to recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing some of the most effective Web sites on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from a Web site assessment by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented to an award-winning Web site. For more information, visit www.07webaward.org.