According to the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, “as the COVID-19 pandemic places constraints on in-person retail banking and forces customers to increase reliance on digital service channels, banks are facing an important test.” The study highlights that “52% of retail bank customers classified as branch dependent before the COVID-19 pandemic, and successfully transitioning them to digital—without compromising customer experience—will be critical in the weeks and months ahead.”

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Due to the high demand for online and mobile digital services, S&T Bank’s newest website and online sales tool, Merlin, is designed to adapt to customer’s individual financial needs. “Our number one priority at S&T Bank is giving our customers the tools they need to meet their financial goals,” said Dana Wysinger, chief marketing officer of S&T Bank. “With the pandemic accelerating the shift of consumer behavior from visiting a branch to online, we’ve made strategic investments in our technology and innovation to deliver a best-in-class digital banking experience for our customers.”

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The new website contains relevant content, tips and tools to enable customers to become more self-sufficient and knowledgeable about their financial well-being. S&T Bank understands that their customers have unique financial needs that evolve over time, which is why the new website is designed to cater to individual needs—from saving for college to planning for home ownership to retirement.

S&T Bank’s new personified icon, Merlin, is designed to give customers an enhanced and simplified digital banking experience. Merlin guides customers through a quick and easy 3-5-minute financial assessment on stbank.com, and then allows them to apply for the products they need directly on the site through a new online shopping cart. “He’s our new financial wizard whose role is to help customers find the right product solutions that fit their financial circumstances,” said Wysinger. “Through the data and analytics collected, Merlin will help us learn more about our customers and provide a holistic view to further assist them with their financial journey.”

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