Comparative study of web application accessibility standards implementation in banking

Posted: Jan 01, 2022

• Sebastian Harris
• Sophia Nguyen
• Sophia Thompson

Abstract

The digital transformation of banking services has fundamentally altered how financial institutions interact with their customers, creating unprecedented opportunities for convenience while simultaneously introducing significant accessibility challenges. Web accessibility, defined as the practice of ensuring that websites and web applications can be used by people with disabilities, represents both a legal obligation and a strategic imperative for financial institutions operating in an increasingly regulated digital ecosystem. This research addresses a critical gap in the existing literature by conducting a comprehensive comparative analysis of web accessibility implementation across the global banking sector, employing a novel methodological framework that transcends traditional compliance-based assessments. Traditional approaches to evaluating web accessibility have predominantly focused on technical compliance with established standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), often neglecting the nuanced interplay between organizational factors, implementation strategies, and user experience outcomes. This study introduces an innovative accessibility maturity model that synthesizes technical, organizational, and user-centered dimensions to provide a more holistic understanding of accessibility implementation effectiveness.