31% of Fintech Companies Meet Web Accessibility Requirements

A study by TestDevLab analyzed 100 of Europe’s largest fintechs and found that only 31% fully meet basic web accessibility requirements regarding keyboard navigation and focus visibility. At least 51% of surveyed fintechs met requirements partly, with features that are not entirely accessible, available, or intuitive. The remaining 18% could not be analyzed due to various reasons.

Key findings ahead of the EAA

The study was conducted in the run-up to the establishment of the European Accessibility Act, an EU directive that will come into force on June 28, 2025. It demonstrates that despite the act coming into effect soon, many fintech companies are unprepared.

The study reviewed the home pages of multiple banking and fintech companies to ascertain if users can navigate them only using a keyboard–a basic requirement defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

The analysis focused on things like how easy it is to move around the page, if each element that receives keyboard focus has a visible focus indicator so that users can understand where they are, whether there are any issues with focus moving to invisible elements, if the keyboard allows users to move through the page in a logical order, and if users can easily close any content that appears over the keyboard focus, such as website popups.

The European Accessibility Act: a catalyst for change

The directive aims to ensure that online experiences, such as websites and mobile apps, are available to people with a variety of disabilities. Based on data published by the European Commission, an estimated 100 million Europeans have web accessibility limitations, which is 1 in 4 Europeans.

One study showed that accessibility and user improvements can significantly boost a company’s revenue, bringing back approximately €90 for every €1 invested. Despite that, many websites do not meet even the basic accessibility standards.

Financial service products should be accessible to everyone, but our study demonstrates that this is still far from the case. An inclusive internet environment is not only a basic right, but it also drives business, which stands to access a wider user base by making their websites accessible. As we prepare for the European Accessibility Act to come into force in June, businesses who begin to think about this now will benefit twofold – from the peace of mind that compliance brings, but also from the immense benefit and profit opportunity.
- Elīna Šiškeviča, Digital Accessibility Testing Department Lead

Fintechs meeting accessibility standards

Fintech companies are on the cutting edge of technology while simultaneously offering financial services. Their ability to ensure accessible online experiences is crucial to foster financial inclusion. However, with 70% of fintech platforms failing to meet basic accessibility requirements, people with disabilities are being marginalized, thus contributing to a widening tech accessibility gap.

Fintechs that fully meet keyboard navigation and focus visibility standards include N26 (DE), Bunq (NL), Starling Bank (UK), Adyen (NL), Zopa (UK), Curve (UK), Nets (DE), Funding Circle (UK), Atom Bank (UK), ClearBank (UK), Fractal Labs (UK), Finlex (PL), Bling (UK), Nuri (DE), Benevolent (UK), Mambu (DE), Skrill (UK), Plentitude (UK), Holvi (FI), Karat (UK), Plum (UK), Trov (DE), Fractional (UK), Ibanity (BE), TrueLayer (UK), Fintonic (SP), Eloomi (DE), Flink (DE), Concordia (UK), Banking Circle (DE), and Fractal Analysis (UK).

TestDevLab has used its in-house web accessibility testing services not only to conduct this study, but has also previously analyzed the accessibility of the telecommunications industry. In the run-up to the European Accessibility Act (EAA), every industry, regardless of vertical, will be subject to the basic web accessibility standards on internet platforms.

About TestDevLab

TestDevLab is a software quality assurance provider that supports companies across all industries to create high-quality software and digital solutions that meet user expectations.

With over 10 years of experience working with startups and Fortune 500 companies, TestDevLab offers a range of quality assurance services and custom software testing solutions tailored to its clients' individual needs.

FAQ

Most common questions

What are the business risks of not addressing digital accessibility in Fintech?

Not complying with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) by June 28, 2025, can result in legal penalties, fines, or, in some countries like Ireland, even jail time for severe breaches. Beyond legal risks, inaccessible platforms exclude 15% of the global population with disabilities, limiting your market reach and revenue. For example, 71% of users with disabilities will abandon an inaccessible website, impacting customer retention. Reputation damage from non-compliance or poor user experiences will also damage your brand trust as accessibility lawsuits rise globally (e.g., over 4,000 in the US in 2022). Get ahead of these risks and tap into a $1.9 trillion market.

How can fintechs start to improve accessibility to meet WCAG and EAA standards?

Fintechs should start with an accessibility audit, as we offer, to identify barriers like keyboard navigation or screen reader compatibility. Then prioritise high-impact fixes like captions on videos or accessible authentication processes, which are critical for financial platforms. Train your teams on WCAG 2.2 Level AA criteria, including the POUR principles (perceivable, operable, understandable, robust). Engage with experts like us for tailored testing and use automated tools alongside manual testing to make compliance easier. Start early and integrate accessibility into your development process to be ready for the EAA deadline and increase user inclusivity.

Is your fintech solution EAA compliant?

Contact us to learn more about our accessibility testing services and how we can help your business be truly inclusive and accessible to all your users.