As the June 28 compliance deadline for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a mere two days away, QA teams in the banking and financial services sector are under growing pressure to ensure their software and digital platforms meet rigorous accessibility standards.
But while the risks of non-compliance include fines and potential market bans, industry leaders say the focus should be on the long-term opportunity – not just the looming deadline.
Russell Webb, vice president for Europe at digital accessibility firm Level Access, argues that EAA compliance shouldn’t be viewed as a box-ticking exercise.
“Creating accessible digital experiences is fast becoming a priority for organisations,” London-based Webb stressed.
“With 1.3 billion individuals living with disabilities worldwide, ensuring that digital interaction is available to all should be common business sense,” he said.
At its core, the EAA makes accessibility a legal obligation for digital products and services across the EU. But not all firms are prepared.
“We are aware of a surprisingly large number of companies that have not even begun the process of taking action to ensure compliance,” Webb said.
He went on to suggest that financial services firms should begin with a clear audit of their digital offerings, both current and planned, to determine which are subject to the EAA.
Compliance
Importantly, compliance is not uniform across all jurisdictions. “Each of the 27 EU Member States has implemented the EAA through its national legislation, which may include additional requirements or specific penalties,” Webb explained.
In France, for example, companies will be required to publish annual accessibility action plans.
The next phase involves evaluating current digital assets against EN 301 549, the EU’s harmonised ICT accessibility standard. Webb highlighted the need for deep, hands-on testing.
“A comprehensive audit involves manual testing by experienced accessibility professionals. Ideally, this team of testers should include people with disabilities,” he said.
It’s also rarely a one-and-done process. Multiple testing rounds are often needed to validate and fine-tune accessibility fixes.
Finally, there is sustainable compliance, which is not just about fixing what’s broken today, it is about building accessibility into tomorrow’s code, Webb stressed.
He added that QA and development teams should “institute frameworks for testing code during development” to catch issues early.
He also advocated for user-driven testing: “Live monitoring of user experiences of new software and websites should also be instituted,” along with feedback mechanisms to capture user insights.
Financial services firms should also prepare their teams through targeted training. “Rather than thinking of this as an obligation, view it as an opportunity,” said Webb.
Training tailored to specific roles, from developers to designers and marketers, can help prevent future accessibility issues and embed inclusive thinking throughout the development lifecycle.
“Live monitoring of user experiences of new software and websites should also be instituted.”
– Russell Webb
Webb added that under the EAA, “accessibility training will become mandatory for many companies.” With cross-functional collaboration crucial, it’s key that everyone contributing to digital experiences is equipped with the right tools and awareness.
Finally, transparency is another pillar of EAA compliance. Webb recommended that organisations publish an accessibility statement outlining how their products meet relevant standards and offering contact details for user feedback.
But compliance is not the only reward. “Accessibility is more than a regulatory imperative, it’s a business advantage,” Webb said.
He pointed to the “curb cut” effect, where accessibility features benefit a broader user base than originally intended, from screen readers to simplified interfaces.
“When tech companies consistently build for accessibility, they create better experiences for everyone,” he concluded, adding that, for QA professionals in financial services, this is a call not just to meet the EAA standard, but to lead the way in building a more inclusive digital economy.
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