With creative engineering, I bring your website to more visitors with a single viewport. All of my sites are optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile viewing for an enhanced experience and a consistent message. As a specialist in the financial industry, your bank is in safe hands with Kristen’s Koncepts! I understand your specific needs and include enhanced security by default to ensure your bank, customers, and visitors are protected at the highest level.
My solid experience in web design and development enables me to provide solutions to any client: small, midsize, enterprise, and corporate. With over 25 years in the web development industry, I will provide you with the tools you need to have a successful, stress-free website experience.
All web designs and development needs are handled in-house. We collaborate with you to develop a site that you are 100% happy with. As a special value-added service, I also include security hardening as a built-in part of website development. This security hardening is important for the safety of your website visitors as well as the website itself. With security compliant with FDIC guidelines and The Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (GLBA), you can rest comfortable with the knowledge that you and your visitors are protected. Take a look at the slideshow below for some examples but note that not all sites were designed by me but they were all worked on by me, either design or code.
PeopleFirst Bank needed specialized development work done on their website. It was my honor to provide their solution for development needs, increase their website hardening, and to continue to provide ongoing services to this prestigious bank!
The First National Bank in Pinckneyville, Illinois needed someone to take over their daily maintenance and security on their website. It is my honor to provide this service!
The Bank of Calhoun County was in need of professional development services. Kristen's Koncepts was honored to have been selected to provide top-notch services for this valued client!
The First National Bank in Amboy, Illinois was in need of quick and efficient development work. We were honored to provide this service and to ensure the bank team was kept in the loop!
Site URL: https://www.fnbamboy.com
The State Bank of Pearl City Illinois required maintenance performed on their site to keep it secure and up to date. We were happy to install software updates, update security settings, perform additional security hardening, and ongoing maintenance for their website!
Site URL: https://www.pearlcitybank.com
Buena Vista National Bank in Illinois needed software updates applied securely to its website while keeping it up to date with server specifications and security requirements. We were honored to have been chosen to provide this service!
Site URL: https://www.bvnb.com
Federated Bank needed security hardening, maintenance, and updates applied to its website to keep it current and secure. In addition, We provide additional security hardening and ongoing maintenance and updates!
Site URL: https://www.federatedbank.com
Central State Bank of Illinois had an unexpected emergency situation with a server transition. I was brought in to rebuild the entire site on a new server. This involved creating a completely custom theme, migrating database information, migrating images, backing up page data, and rebuilding the site and all of its pages on the new server. As an emergency situation, I completed the initial transition work in one day (I worked more than a double shift that day!). Once the initial transition work was finished, I was able to take a little more time to rework the design on each of the pages, setting up the menu and navigation. Finally, I ensured the site was mobile-compatible.
Site Link: https://www.csb123.com
I will install and setup the software necessary to transform your website into a Web App! Your customers can install your web app right from your website, any time they visit from any mobile device, so it will be available to them right on their home screen with just a tap! They can also use this Web App to access your online banking platform. Visit this site on your phone or tablet to see an example of the Web App–it is installed on this site!
Every client receives the same enhanced security, regardless of size or location. I specialize in security for the financial industry. Never worry about your application audits again! As a website designer and developer who has specialized in financial institutions for years now, I guarantee website application compliance as a part of my services. Whether your site is for a bank, store, or personal venture, you can feel secure that your website is locked down tight!
Kristen has over 25 years of experience in web design and development. Our team is our family, literally. Kristen’s husband is a programmer with over 30 years of experience. Most designers graduate having learned only color theory and basic design principles, then go on to create templates that they use time and time again, changing only the smallest details from site to site. I call these cookie-cutter websites, and I do not design cookie-cutter-type sites. It is my extensive, decades-long experience that powers my knowledge of industry-specific security requirements, as well as my creativity and design expertise. I don’t offer cookie-cutter websites because I offer so much more.
25 years ago, I was building websites for banks who needed to establish their very first online presence and maintaining the email, DNS, and hosting servers at the same time! I also created a custom-coded website system that interfaced with a store’s point-of-sale system to update pricing and inventory YEARS before this became a standard technology. Today, I help banks to enhance and grow their online presence. In addition to my work in the financial sector, I enjoy working on e-commerce, blog, vlog, gaming/streaming, and all sorts of other websites! Staying up to date with current emerging technology is my superpower in this world of rapidly changing tech.
I give personal care to each and every client. You are too important to leave to a support ticket system– I am available via email, text, or phone from all of my clients whenever I am needed. I do not view my clients as customers: customers are impersonal, transaction-based short term relationships. I believe that a truly successful working relationship comes from the client-perspective where my clients are appreciated and nurtured in the long-term.
As an Independent Contractor, I utilize a 50/50 invoicing structure where you are invoiced for the initial 50% of your development cost plus your annual Maintenance fee and Web Application Firewall fee which are part of your bundled services. Upon receipt of the payment for the initial invoice, I begin work on your website.
When your website is ready to launch and go live, I invoice you for the final 50% of the development fee only. This means that the last invoice is actually lower than the first because the last does not include your annual bundled fees. The final 50% development fee secures the final launch of your new website to it’s production servers and your training on how to use your new website.
Two services are bundled into your web development service agreement: your Web Application Firewall annual subscription fee and an annual fee for your Maintenance and Updates service agreement with Kristen’s Koncepts. Your Web Application Firewall annual subscription fee consists of a yearly pass-through subscription fee for your Web Application Firewall, WordFence. This charge is $149 per year and is only a pass-through fee, meaning Kristen’s Koncepts does not profit financially from this fee at all. When we receive payment from you on your annual fee, we pay the Web Application Firewall annual
subscription fee on your behalf.
Also included is an annual Maintenance and Updates service agreement. With most companies, maintenance agreement services are performed once a month. Kristen performs standard updates and maintenance a minimum of 3 times per week, up to and commonly every day during the workweek. Your website uptime will be monitored and remediation measures taken on an as-needed basis should your site become unresponsive at no additional cost. As a standard part of this service, you will receive a weekly report on the maintenance work performed on your website.
For sites that are not part of the financial industry, we can also bundle an annual hosting and domain name into your package. Just ask for more information!
I offer website Maintenance and Updates at the most affordable rates available! The maintenance work performed on your site includes software updates, security scans, and minor content updates as needed. I also monitor your website for uptime and can recover crashed websites quickly without the need to bring in the server administrator in most instances. I will perform software updates, security scans, and filesystem backups a minimum of three times per
workweek and up to five days per week.
Your Maintenance and Updates agreement means that any time your site experiences downtime or any other problems, I am on the task regardless of the time of day or which day of the week it happens without additional cost to you. Most other companies only perform this maintenance once a month and charge premium fees for off-hours work if a site crashes. You will also receive weekly reports detailing the work performed on your website for your records. Most companies charge a lot more for a lot less work.
I specialize in developing WordPress websites. Any page builders needed in your design will be easy to use, and I always provide training. I gravitate towards using Elementor Page Builder because it is very easy for my clients to learn to use and provides a robust enough interface with advanced options that a seasoned designer can utilize for more styling and functionality.
My clients like that Elementor has an intuitive interface, extensive customization options, a wide range of templates for use, flexibility for different users and different levels of expertise, and a large community for support and help. I like that my clients feel comfortable using Elementor whereas they often feel like they need a special college degree to use other page builders like WPBakery, Divi, and others. Updating your site in an attractive way shouldn’t be hard for the end-user and I love that Elementor keeps it simple enough for my end-users to be comfortable.
I work with a close-knit team of systems administrators to ensure your site has the resources it needs to be a top performer. CBAI Web Hosting Services has been my hosting partner for financial institutions for over 25 years. They offer a highly specialized, secured host for financial institutions. For my non-financial clients, I utilize services by LiquidNet, Ltd. which has been a reliable hosting partner of mine for over 12 years.
This option includes the design of updated/modernized graphics and layout for the website. A theme will be selected and installed, then customized for your website design. This design will provide greater functionality and options for a larger website footprint than the Quick-Up Website. Stock photos will be used where appropriate when client-provided photos are not available.
Add-Ons Available:
Annual WordFence WAF License
Annual Maintenance & Updates
Progressive Web App install & Setup
Enhanced Security Package
This option includes the design of updated/modernized graphics and layout for the website. Installation and minor theme customization is included. This option will get you the fastest turnaround time. Stock photos will be used where appropriate when client-provided photos are not available.
Add-Ons Available:
Annual WordFence WAF License
Annual Maintenance & Updates
Progressive Web App install & Setup
Enhanced Security Package
This option includes the design of updated/modernized graphics and layout for the website. This design will provide greater functionality, a more modern approach, and options for a larger website footprint. This option is ideal for very large websites, highly interactive websites, or those who want plenty of room to grow.
Add-Ons Available:
Annual WordFence WAF License
Annual Maintenance & Updates
Progressive Web App install & Setup
Enhanced Security Package
Changing servers for your existing website? Need to switch Linux servers? We can transfer your site painlessly!
Add-Ons Available:
Annual WordFence WAF License
Annual Maintenance & Updates
Progressive Web App install & Setup
Enhanced Security Package
Changing servers for your existing website? Moving to a more secure Linux environment? We can transfer your site painlessly!
Add-Ons Available:
Annual WordFence WAF License
Annual Maintenance & Updates
Progressive Web App install & Setup
Enhanced Security Package
As technology evolves, it is increasingly important to stay on top of new and emerging technology. Search engines are constantly updating their algorithms. The impact of social media channels on website traffic has grown over 300% in the last two years!
I utilize Analytics to see what drives traffic to your site, which are the best-performing pages, and where improvement is needed. Leveraging search engine optimization is a simple way to increase traffic in an organic way that will continue to grow over time.
I have worked off and on with Kristen Rogers for more than 25 years. She is an exceptional WordPress developer and offers a high-end affordable website. She develops and deploys a website from front to back and understands the risks associated with each step in the development lifecycle and can mitigate those risks to ensure a smooth transition. She works closely with Linux engineers and knows the Linux server environment and what is required on the backend to ensure website functionality is always at its best and performs for your customers. She also knows the security and compliance requirements for financial institutions to have an online presence, mobile applications, online forms, including email. Kristen offers social media integration and understands how vital it is for everything to work together efficiently. Kristen enjoys what she does and shares her enthusiasm with her customers and will recommend an ongoing relationship and develop a website plan, so your website is fresh, delivers dynamic content, and interacts with your customers. Kristen is also our go to person for banks websites that have not retained an ongoing relationship with a web developer as well as assisting these banks to ensure their website is fully updated, patched, and reviewed for errors to ensure a smooth migration to CBAI’s new hosting infrastructure.
I have been brought in for special website security work, to recover from hacking attacks, to perform simple updates to content, and to do complete redesigns of websites. No job is too big or too small and I enjoy providing these services for my clients! Banking websites in particular are especially vulnerable to hackers and other cyber attacks simply because of the frequency with which bank websites are targeted. I understand that a successful bank website needs to not only present the public with a stylish and easy-to-use interface, but also must be fully protected against malicious threats, and must comply with all regulations governing web applications for financial institutions. When you put my specialization to work for your bank, you will be delighted with the difference you experience!
I believe that clients should be able to have a real working relationship with their developer. I do not utilize impersonal support ticketing systems or anything like that. I am always available to my clients via email, text, or phone call. Emergencies happen and you deserve immediate attention and resolution of your issues, not to have to wait in queue.
My experience in web design and development began in 1997 when I quickly learned that I could transfer my design skills over to websites fairly easily and the programming just came naturally. I have maintained my skills throughout the years and developed a specialization in WordPress. I first used WordPress when it was in pre-release beta and fell in love! Back then, there were no real themes or plugins, we had to hand-code everything ourselves! The availability of such a huge library of themes and plugins has simplified and sped up the development process compared to how it was back then.
I began working with financial institutions back in 2006 and have maintained a positive working relationship with the Community Bankers Association of Illinois. I understand the special concerns and regulations for banking websites.
Each person and each bank is unique, so why settle for a cookie-cutter website that looks almost exactly like everyone else? I will develop a custom site for you that fits into your fiscal needs and timeline requirements. From large-scale applications to more simple yet full-featured quick-start sites that can be ready within a week, I will create the site that you want and need. Utilizing my specialization in WordPress sites will ensure that you can easily publish updates yourself if you so desire, to keep important information up-to-date, such as interest rates that need to be updated regularly. As always, I am available to help you to get updates published or to show you how to do it on your own.
I am web developer with over 28 years of experience and a specialization in WordPress implementations for banks, including credit unions. I do create sites that are not for banks, but I do have specialized skills for financial industry websites. I have a background in DNS management, Linux Systems Administration (Red Hat Enterprise, specifically), and these experiences lend to strengthening my web development skills by helping me to understand and work with the processes and systems that support and drive the website. My first real employment as a web developer came after 9 years of freelance work, as Lead Web Developer for DBS, Inc (since bought out by and incorporated into LRS, Inc) in 2006. This is where I first began to build a relationship with Community Bankers Association of Illinois and Jenny Dial, Senior Vice President of Operations, as DBS was their main go-to company for IT services back then, including websites for their member banks. I discovered that I actually enjoyed working with community banks and CBAI and began honing my knowledge into that niche with State and Federal regulations, compliance needs, ADA needs, etc. It is all like a big puzzle and when you know where the pieces go and how they fit together, it makes for a strong and reliable website for banks in an industry that demands such an online presence, from the largest banking conglomerates down to even for the smallest of community banks.
DBS, Inc was owned and operated by a childhood friend of my husband, and he had asked us both to move from NC to IL to work at his company. We agreed and worked there for two years until my Mother-in-Law suffered a massive stroke. We moved back to NC to help take care of her during her recovery. I continued to work from home as much as possible but obviously I had to cut my working hours to care for my Mother-in-Law while her husband continued to work outside the home. During this time, I had a very difficult pregnancy but, as luck would have it, I could continue some of my work while on bed-rest. Not long after the birth of my son, I discovered that he has autism. I didn’t know how severely he had been impacted at this time, but his needs did require additional time and focus from both me and my husband. I continued to work from home as much as possible during his earliest years. As he has gotten older, I have been able to work more and more until I am back to full time work, albeit still from home where I can be available to him.
As I have gotten able to work full time hours again, I have experienced something that was totally foreign to me in the workspace before: ageism! I have actually been told by more than one potential employer that my skills and experience are perfect, but they just couldn’t justify investing in hiring me when I would reach retirement age much sooner than their fresh-from-college applicants. And so I have continued working as a contractor, providing web development and maintenance to banks in need, at some of the best prices in the industry. Currently, the only official affiliation that I have maintained is with CBAI through Jenny. She has become a very solid and trusted friend over the years, as well as a reliable and trustworthy professional associate. Through her, I have become an associate member of CBAI and provide discounted services to their member banks.
I did mention that I charge some of the best rates in the industry. I also provide personalized attention to my clients, all of whom I am on a first-name basis with. It’s not about the big bucks for me. It’s about supporting the community banking industry and trying to make enough to pay the bills at the same time. I have a small client base currently but to be honest, I like being able to respond to my client’s questions or requests within minutes rather than days. And I like that they can trust me enough to ask me questions not related to web development and they know I will be 100% honest and as helpful as possible. They like that they know I am on their side, I don’t nickel and dime them to death on development charges, and I don’t overcharge for services that really shouldn’t cost that much! The benefit to being an independent contractor is that I can set prices that both me and my clients feel is fair.
