Access to Additional Ignition Source
The Barrier-Free Strengthening Act (BFSG), set to take effect on June 28, 2025, marks a significant step towards digital accessibility in Germany. This legislation, which aligns with the European Directive 2019/882, will require businesses, including banks, to make their digital platforms accessible to all users, thereby removing digital barriers.
Under the BFSG, banks must adhere to specific technical norms and standards to ensure their online services, such as online banking and banking websites, are accessible to users with disabilities. This applies to banks offering services like online banking and banking services, requiring them to adapt their digital presences to meet accessibility criteria.
Failure to comply with the BFSG can result in administrative measures and fines, underscoring the importance for banks to implement these changes promptly. Banks must ensure their websites and online services meet accessibility standards, which might require significant technical upgrades to ensure navigation, content, and functionality are accessible to all users.
Currently, many banks have not fully designed their digital offers to be barrier-free. Issues such as incompatibility with screen readers, insufficient contrast, complex navigation, and the lack of tactile markings or voice outputs make digital banking services difficult to use for people with disabilities.
To address these challenges, banks are encouraged to conduct accessibility audits, implement accessibility standards, provide training for staff, and regularly monitor and update their digital platforms to maintain accessibility. Notable examples include Lloyds in the UK, which has made their mobile apps and websites barrier-free, and the ANZ Bank in New Zealand, which has a special team focusing on the needs of customers with disabilities.
The social association VdK Germany emphasizes the need for bank branches to be barrier-free, accessible, and usable. Some banks, like Commerzbank, have already taken steps towards this goal, with action plans for inclusion since 2018. However, challenges remain, such as the installation of ATMs at heights inaccessible for wheelchair users.
The Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) has developed nine guidelines to improve the accessibility of ATMs. The Barrier-Free Strengthening Act provides an opportunity for banks to make their services more inclusive and better serve customer needs. With active participation from banks, investments in technology and training, and a commitment to equal access to financial services for all customers, Germany is one step closer to a more inclusive digital landscape.
- To better serve the growing demand for digital finance in the realm of personal growth and education-and-self-development, banks, in compliance with the Barrier-Free Strenghtening Act (BFSG), should incorporate fintech solutions that ensure their online platforms are accessible to all users, opening avenues for financial literacy and digital Inclusivity.
- Encouraging collaboration between banks and fintech businesses in the realm of business and finance, can lead to innovative solutions that remove digital barriers, thus enhancing the accessibility and usability of banking services for people with disabilities, thereby promoting equal opportunities and fostering a more inclusive financial industry.
