How to Make Your Fintech ADA Compliant: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

Failing to meet accessibility standards isn’t just a legal risk—it can lead to lawsuits, financial penalties, and lasting reputational harm.

The urgency is real: U.S. courts have seen thousands of digital accessibility lawsuits each year since 2018, with 2024 continuing that trend. Regulators are also broadening enforcement to cover not just websites, but also web apps, mobile platforms, and third-party integrations.

At the same time, over 2.5 billion people globally rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice input, or captioning software. While accessibility improves user experience and market reach, compliance is now the baseline expectation.

This guide breaks down the key steps fintech teams need to take to stay compliant in 2025 and beyond. From understanding WCAG guidelines and ADA requirements to conducting thorough audits and designing for accessibility, you’ll learn how to reduce legal risk—and build inclusive products.

Understand ADA and WCAG Requirements

Financial services continue their digital transformation, yet accessibility remains a critical blind spot. What does this mean for financial institutions operating in these markets?

What ADA means for digital financial services

Under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), banks, credit unions, and fintech platforms are considered “places of public accommodation.” This means they must provide equal access to their services—including those delivered digitally.

The U.S. Department of Justice has clearly affirmed that websites, mobile apps, and other digital services must be accessible under the ADA. While the law doesn’t mandate a specific technical standard, the DOJ refers to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as a key reference point for compliance.

That means every digital interaction within fintech—from onboarding forms and dashboards to help centers and account notifications—should be designed with assistive technologies in mind: screen readers, keyboard navigation, voice input, and more.

Beyond ensuring technical compatibility, the ADA also requires effective communication across all digital channels—so that important information (like alerts, agreements, or legal disclosures) is perceivable and understandable to all users.

Bottom line: ADA compliance isn’t limited to physical spaces. For digital-first financial services, it’s a legal requirement, backed by enforcement and expected in every customer touchpoint.

Overview of WCAG 2.1 AA vs AAA standards

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) developed WCAG guidelines to create a structured approach to digital accessibility. The framework establishes three conformance levels:

• Level A: Basic conformance requirements
• Level AA: Standard compliance level, widely accepted for legal purposes
• Level AAA: Highest accessibility standard available

Among these, WCAG 2.1 Level AA has emerged as the practical and legal standard across industries. It’s the level cited by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in enforcement actions and was recently codified in the DOJ’s 2024 final rule for state and local government digital services under Title II of the ADA.

Courts have also used Level AA as the benchmark in lawsuits involving Title III businesses—including financial institutions and e-commerce platforms.

While Level AAA offers enhanced accessibility, even the W3C acknowledges that it is not always possible to meet this level for all content. Level AA remains the most practical benchmark for businesses aiming to reduce legal risk while improving digital inclusion.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) has required all private-sector businesses operating in the EU to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA by June 2025. This applies to websites, mobile apps, and digital self-service tools.

Why ADA compliance matters in fintech

Fintech platforms are significantly under-serving users with disabilities, creating both ethical and legal risks:

• A recent TestDevLab study of 100 major European fintech websites found only 31% fully met basic accessibility standards (keyboard navigation and focus indicators).
• Globally, the WebAIM Million study reveals that nearly 95% of the top million homepages contain detectable WCAG 2 failures—averaging 51 violations per page.
• Legal action is rampant: 97% of ADA accessibility lawsuits target website issues.

These accessibility failures expose fintech companies to:

• Legal risk – Litigation continues to surge as courts consider fintech sites “public accommodations.” Law firms aggressively pursue ADA compliance across industries.
• Customer loss – Users with disabilities and inclusion-focused customers are shut out, harming brand trust.
• Missed ROI – One study shows accessibility investments can yield ~€90 for every €1 spent.

Audit Your Current Fintech Platform

Where does your platform actually stand on accessibility? A thorough audit is the only way to know for sure. Systematic testing—both automated and manual—reveals the specific barriers preventing users with disabilities from accessing your digital services.

Run Automated Accessibility Scans

Automated testing tools offer a quick and scalable way to catch common violations of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) across your fintech platform. These tools, often powered by engines like axe-core (developed by Deque Systems), scan your site’s code to identify issues such as:

• Missing alternative text on images
• Insufficient color contrast
• Improper heading hierarchy
• Missing form labels

• Continuous monitoring across builds and deployments
• Custom scanning scopes (e.g., journeys like account creation or payments)
• Visual dashboards that help prioritize issues based on severity and user impact

But here’s the caveat: automated scans typically catch only 20–30% of real-world accessibility issues, according to Deque’s analysis. These tools can’t simulate human interactions—like navigating with a screen reader or recognizing misleading layouts.

Why Manual Testing Is Still Essential

That’s where manual audits come in. Human testers evaluate real user journeys—like completing a loan application or transferring funds—while using assistive technologies such as screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.

This kind of testing is essential for catching what automation can’t, including:

• Poor screen reader flow
• Keyboard traps that block navigation
• Ambiguous or missing error messages
• Instructions that are unclear or cognitively overwhelming

Think of automated tools as your early warning system. They catch the most obvious compliance violations and help you integrate accessibility into your development workflow.

But for full coverage—and legal defensibility—manual, human-led testing is non-negotiable. It validates the user experience in real-world conditions and ensures your platform meets both the letter and spirit of ADA and WCAG standards.

Conduct manual testing with screen readers

Screen reader testing offers crucial insight into how blind or visually impaired users experience your fintech platform. These tools convert on-screen text into speech or braille, making them essential for accessibility validation.

When running screen reader tests, focus on the user experience in high-stakes areas:

• Financial data should be read clearly and accurately, without confusion or omissions
• Transaction flows must be fully navigable without relying on visual cues
• Error messages need to be context-aware and easy to understand
• Interactive elements—buttons, links, forms—should have clear, descriptive labels (e.g., “Submit Transfer” instead of “Click Here”)

The most commonly used screen readers include:

• NVDA (free, Windows)
• JAWS (commercial, Windows)
• VoiceOver (built into Apple devices)

Each has unique behaviors, so it’s smart to test across multiple screen readers to catch different usability issues.

Manual screen reader testing uncovers real-world problems that automation misses—problems that directly impact user satisfaction, task completion, and your legal risk profile.

Evaluate keyboard and voice navigation

Users with mobility impairments often rely on keyboard or voice input rather than a mouse or touchpad. For your fintech platform to be truly accessible, it must support full functionality through keyboard-only navigation.

During testing, ensure the following:

• All interactive elements (e.g., buttons, links, form fields) can be accessed using Tab, Enter, and Space keys
• Focus indicators are clearly visible to show which element is currently selected
• The Tab order follows a logical sequence—typically top to bottom and left to right—matching the visual layout
• Skip navigation links are provided to help users bypass repetitive elements like headers or menus and reach core content quickly

Keyboard accessibility isn’t just a technical detail—it directly affects a user’s ability to log in, make payments, and manage their finances independently.

As screenless devices and voice-controlled environments become more common, voice navigation is growing in importance. Tools like Dragon NaturallySpeaking and Apple’s Voice Control allow users to operate platforms through spoken commands.

Some fintech companies—like PayPal—have already implemented keyboard shortcuts and optimized their UIs for voice interaction. Testing for compatibility with voice technologies ensures your product works for users who rely on speech instead of touch or clicks.

Check color contrast and text scalability

Color contrast plays a vital role in readability—especially for users with low vision or color blindness. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 require:

• A minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for regular text
• A minimum contrast ratio of 3:1 for large text (above 18pt or 14pt bold)

This is especially important in financial applications for:

• Account balances and transaction details
• Input fields and form labels
• Data visualizations and charts

For text scalability, WCAG 2.1 requires that content remains usable when zoomed to 200% without loss of functionality or the need for horizontal scrolling.

When testing for scalability:

• Ensure all content remains visible and readable at 200% zoom
• Avoid text overlapping or breaking layout containers
• Maintain full keyboard and navigation menu functionality
• Validate that all buttons and interactive elements still respond properly

For color-blind users, never rely on color alone to convey information in charts or graphs. Use patterns, labels, or textures alongside color to help distinguish between different data points. This is especially crucial in dashboards or financial reports where clarity impacts user decisions.

Build Accessibility into Your Design System

Auditing reveals problems, but sustainable accessibility requires embedding inclusive practices directly into your design foundation. A well-structured design system acts as your compliance backbone, ensuring every component and interaction follows accessibility standards from the start.

Use accessible color tokens and typography

Color decisions in fintech carry significant weight—misinterpreted information can lead to costly user errors. Your color system should meet WCAG contrast requirements with 4.5:1 ratios for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Smart implementation includes:

• Semantic naming conventions (e.g., "color-alert-error" rather than generic "red")
• Pre-tested contrast pairs that work across different backgrounds
• Pattern overlays for charts and graphs to support users with color blindness

Typography requires equal attention to accessibility. Financial data becomes meaningless when users can't read it clearly. Text must remain legible when scaled to 200%, particularly for account balances and transaction details where accuracy is critical.

Ensure semantic HTML and ARIA roles

Proper HTML structure provides meaning that assistive technologies can interpret. Use HTML5 elements like <nav>, <button>, and <header> instead of generic <div> and <span> tags. This approach delivers better accessibility with less code than adding ARIA attributes later.

ARIA roles should supplement semantic HTML when native elements don't meet your needs. As accessibility experts note, "Like semantic HTML, ARIA is a W3 standard that helps make interfaces more accessible to people who use screen readers". For fintech platforms, proper labeling ensures screen readers can communicate financial information accurately.

Create reusable accessible components

Component libraries with built-in accessibility save time and reduce errors. Each component needs:

• Clear focus states for keyboard navigation
• Descriptive labels for screen reader compatibility
• Support for multiple input methods (keyboard, voice, touch)

Your fintech components must accommodate users with different vision, hearing, and motor capabilities while maintaining functionality.

Document accessibility rules for consistency

Documentation transforms good intentions into consistent execution. Develop comprehensive guidelines that cover:

1. Specific color contrast requirements with visual examples
2. Typography standards and scaling behaviors
3. Component accessibility specifications
4. Testing protocols for screen readers and keyboard navigation

Teams need clear references to maintain standards without reinventing solutions. This proves especially valuable in fintech where multiple teams work across different product areas but must meet the same compliance requirements.

Implement Inclusive UX in Finance from Day One

Accessibility can't be an afterthought in fintech development. Unlike other industries where you might retrofit features later, financial services demand accessibility from the ground up. When users can't access their bank accounts or complete transactions, the consequences extend far beyond poor user experience.

Shift-Left Approach to Accessibility
What if you addressed accessibility before writing a single line of code?

According to Microsoft’s Inclusive Design Toolkit, teams that catch accessibility issues early in development can fix them in under one hour on average. That’s the power of a shift-left approach—integrating accessibility from the very start of the development cycle.

• Considering accessibility before writing any code
• Embedding automated accessibility tests into the CI/CD pipeline
• Resolving issues as they appear, not at the end of the cycle

Why it matters:

• Microsoft reports that shift-left practices save thousands of development hours over the life of a project
• Industry benchmarks confirm that fixing accessibility issues in development is significantly faster—and cheaper—than resolving them in production

Treat accessibility as a foundational part of your process—not an afterthought. You’ll not only reduce legal risk and improve user experience, but also unlock serious gains in productivity and time-to-market.

Collaborate across design and dev teams

Accessibility breaks down when designers and developers work in silos. Misalignment, last-minute fixes, and unclear ownership often result in inaccessible user experiences.

To avoid this:

• Schedule joint meetings and brainstorming sessions to share perspectives
• Conduct accessibility training sessions together
• Create shared design systems with clear accessibility guidelines
• Test designs using assistive technologies before writing code

As one expert puts it, "Accessibility is a shared responsibility". Both designers and developers need to understand how their decisions impact users with disabilities.

Avoid retrofitting by planning early

Adding accessibility features after development is like "adding blueberries to a muffin after it's baked—it just doesn't work". This analogy particularly resonates in fintech, where user flows involve complex authentication, sensitive data handling, and multi-step transactions.

The European Accessibility Act becomes fully effective in June 2025, requiring all products and services launched after that date to comply with accessibility standards. Companies that plan early will meet these requirements seamlessly, while those who delay face expensive redesigns and potential legal exposure.

Test, Monitor, and Improve Continuously

Accessibility compliance isn’t a one-time milestone—it’s a continuous process. In fintech, where access to personal finances is mission-critical, regular testing ensures your platform stays inclusive as it evolves.

Set Up Regular Accessibility Audits

To maintain accessibility over time, adopt a structured accessibility audit schedule that includes both automated and manual methods:

• Conduct quarterly comprehensive audits across your platform
• Perform monthly spot-checks on high-traffic user flows, such as login, transfers, or account setup
• Test after major feature releases or UI updates
  
• Combine automated scans with manual usability testing using screen readers and keyboard-only navigation

This approach helps ensure alignment with evolving WCAG standards and addresses common fintech-specific barriers—like secure authentication flows, transaction confirmation screens, and interactive charts.

Gather Feedback from Users With Disabilities

Testing by real users reveals usability issues that tools often miss. To improve inclusivity:

• Involve people with diverse disabilities in your usability testing
• Offer feedback channels where users can report accessibility challenges
• Provide key financial education content in alternative formats (e.g., captions, transcripts, sign language, braille-ready files)

Designing with users—not just for them—leads to better products and stronger customer relationships.

Use Proven Accessibility Tools

Incorporate specialized accessibility tools into your workflow:

• axe DevTools (by Deque Systems): A browser extension that identifies WCAG violations with minimal false positives
• Google Lighthouse: A built-in Chrome tool that audits accessibility, performance, and SEO
• NVDA: A free screen reader for Windows that enables manual testing from a user’s perspective

Automating audits with tools like axe and Lighthouse ensures continuous coverage, while manual testing validates real-world usability.

Track Progress Across Teams

To foster accountability and sustainable improvement:

• Integrate accessibility checks into your CI/CD pipeline
  
• Categorize accessibility issues in your bug tracking system for easy follow-up
• Prioritize issues based on user impact and legal exposure
  
• Share progress metrics with cross-functional teams to keep accessibility top of mind

Accessibility should be treated as a first-class development concern—on par with security, performance, and scalability. Continuous testing is what transforms guidelines into consistent, user-friendly digital experiences.

Making Fintech Accessible for Everyone

ADA compliance in fintech isn’t just about checking a legal box—it’s about expanding your reach, improving user experience, and minimizing legal risk. This guide has outlined the essential steps to accessible fintech: understanding ADA and WCAG standards, auditing your platform, embedding accessibility into your design system, and maintaining inclusive practices through ongoing testing.

By designing inclusive digital services from the start, they avoid costly retrofits, reduce exposure to lawsuits, and unlock a growing market that includes people with disabilities, aging populations, and users facing temporary or situational barriers.

With the June 2025 European Accessibility Act deadline now here, the urgency is real. Fintech companies operating in or serving the EU must ensure their digital platforms meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards—or risk noncompliance, fines, and user abandonment. Those who started early are already seeing benefits in usability, trust, and market expansion.

Key Next Steps:

• Audit your platform’s accessibility to understand current gaps and risks
• Embed accessibility in your design system, including color contrast, semantic HTML, and accessible components
• Shift accessibility left in your development process—start with inclusive planning, not retroactive fixes
• Implement continuous testing, combining automated scans with real feedback from users with disabilities

Accessibility is a core part of product quality, a legal requirement, and a reflection of your brand values. The steps you take today will lead to stronger customer loyalty, a more inclusive platform, and confidence in your compliance efforts.

Start building financial services that work—for everyone.