Best Financial Services Website of 2013 to be Named by Web Marketing Association in 17th Annual WebAward Competition

HARTFORD, Conn., March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Web Marketing Association is looking for the best legal websites in the world as part of their 17th annual international WebAward Competition for Web site development at www.webaward.org. The WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets benchmarks for 96 industries, including bank, credit union, insurance, investment, mutual funds and financial services websites, based on the seven criteria of a successful web site. The deadline for Financial Service websites to enter is May 31, 2013.

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"The financial services industry is very competitive when it comes to Web development and companies can benefit from the independent evaluation of their online efforts," said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association. "Financial websites going forward will need to find a balance between what the web visitor craves in terms of innovation and technology and what the industry demands in terms of regulation."

All financial service websites are judged on seven criteria including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use.

Entrants benefit from receiving valuable feedback in terms of their specific criteria scores compared against the average scores for their industry. They also may receive specific comments from the WebAward's professional judging panel on their Web site development efforts.

Recent winners of the Best Financial Services Website include:

• 2012 - InvestLab & Comrade for InvestLab Tradepop Branding & Design
• 2011 - Brightworks Interactive Marketing & RBC for RBC Better Student Life
• 2010 - Standard Chartered Bank and TBWA\TEQUILA\Hong Kong for The Standard Chartered Bank Homepage
• 2009 Standard Chartered Bank and TBWA\TEQUILA\Hong Kong for The Standard Chartered Private Bank Global Website
• 2008 Organic Inc for Bank of America Fees & Processes

Recent winners of the Best Bank Website include:

• 2012 - Cleartag SAL forAudi Card Artist Website
• 2011 - Finn Digital on behalf of Johnson Financial Group for Johnson Bank Website Redesign
• 2010 - Standard Chartered Bank and TBWA\TEQUILA\Hong Kong for The Standard Chartered Bank Homepage
• 2009 - Organic, Inc. for Bank of America - Morris on Campus (2009 Best of Show Winner)
• 2008 - TBWA\TEQUILA\ HK for Standard Chartered Bank/People in Action

Recent winners of the Best Credit Union Website include:

• 2012 - Boston Interactive for IC Federal Credit Union
• 2011 - Extractable for Security Service Federal Credit Union
• 2010 - Extractable for Citizen's Equity
• 2009 - America First Credit Union for www.americafirst.com
• 2008 - Delta Community for CU Delta Community Credit Union

Recent winners of the Best Insurance Web site include:

• 2012 - The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies for The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, Agency
• 2011 - American Family Insurance for www.amfam.com
• 2010 - Liberty Mutual, Hill Holiday, and RED Interactive Agency for 2099 Online Racing Game, Presented by Liberty Mutual
• 2009 - AXA Equitable for www.axa-equitable.com
• 2008 - Blue Shield of California for blueshieldcachatbox.com

Recent winners of the Best Investment Web site include:

• 2012 - Extractable forMotif Investing Website Redesign
• 2011 - John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• 2010 - Lending Club Corporation for Lending Club
• 2009 - Razorfish for Investor's Business Daily
• 2008 - John Hancock Annuities for jhannuities.com

Recent winners of the Best Mutual Fund Web site include:

• 2012 - John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Public Website
• 2011 - John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• 2010 - John Hancock Funds, LLC for Mutual Fund Financial Professional Website
• 2009 - John Hancock Funds, LLC for John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• 2008 - John Hancock Funds John for Hancock Funds Public Website

Financial Services Websites can be entered into consideration for the 2013 Best Financial Services Website and other related WebAward at the WebAward Website.

Participants can improve their chances on winning a WebAward by visiting the Web Marketing Association Facebook Page and becoming a fan of the page and receive hints and tips on how to improve your chances on winning a top award.

The 2013 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, PR Newswire, Burst Media, EContent Magazine, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, Internet World UK, SES Conferences, Webmaster Radio, and Website Magazine. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

About the WebAwards

The Web Marketing Association was founded in 1997 to help define the standard of excellence for online marketing. Our internationally known award programs, such as WebAward Competition for Website Development, Internet Advertising Competition and the MobileWebAwards, recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing the most effective online marketing programs on the Internet today.  Entrants benefit from assessment of their marketing efforts by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented by being recognized as an award-winning web developer.

SOURCE Web Marketing Association