Financial sector accelerates digital accessibility efforts, 2025 survey reveals

Annie Mannion | 18 Dec 2025

Cover of Attitudes to Digital Accessibility report 2025 showing group of people in office setting

In 2024, the financial sector predicted that is would spend more on digital accessibility in the year ahead. 50% of financial sector respondents told AbilityNet in a survey in 2024 they expected spending to increase, compared to only 32% of all survey respondents. 

This year's Attitudes to Digital Accessibility Survey 2025, though, found that only a third of finance sectors expect their organisation to increase spending on digital accessibility into 2026. (This is, however, higher than the rate for all respondents by 7 percentile points.)

However, reassuringly, 65% of financial sector respondents told us their organisation increased its digital accessibility focus over the past year, which might indicate the provision of in-depth solutions put in place between ther 2024 and 2025 surveys. This is a six percent increase on all respondents.

The full Attitudes to Digital Accessibility report will help you benchmark your digital accessibility activities against other organisations, gain valuable insights into common issues in inclusion such as meeting the EAA requirements, and give you ideas for improvements you can make. 

Download the free 2025 report

Confidence and priorities in the financial sector

The annual survey was completed earlier this year by more than 507 business professionals worldwide, and the financial sector represented 7% of respondents.

The overall survey results highlighted a disparity between individual confidence in digital accessibility knowledge, with respondents showing lower confidence in their organisation's accessibility maturity than as individuals.

In general, compared to all survey respondents, finance sector respondents are more confident with their individual understanding of digital accessibility, with 82% feeling either extremely or quite confident, compared to 71% of all respondents. 

However, finance respondents perceive digital accessibility to be a much lower priority for their leadership teams compared to all respondents, with over half (55%) viewing it as a low or very priority, and none viewing it as a high or very high priority. 

EAA helps leadership buy-in

European flagThe overall results also again show a worrying indication that digital accessibility is a lower priority in 2025 than in 2024 and 2023, and show sector-wide uncertainty over European Accessibility Act (EAA).

Perhaps not surprising, given the funding and resource available, the finance sector reported that it prepared 'better' for the EAA deadline than other sectors represented in the responses.

Preparation for the EAA also looked different in the finance sector versus other sectors, with a higher percentage of all actions outlined: specifically, talking to legal team was the most chosen preparation for the EAA (46% compared to 18%).

Research indicates the EAA led to more senior buy-in for the finance sector, as 26% of finance sector respondents told us the EAA led to ‘leadership buy-in to accessibility', which is significantly higher than all respondents (12%).

two professional women smiling at deskNeed for more focus on getting training right

On another positive note, there are more opportunities to develop as a digital accessibility professional in the finance sector. Two thirds (67%) of finance sector respondents agree that their organisation helps individuals to develop the skills needed to deliver digital accessibility, compared to 54% of all respondents. 

Finance sector training opportunities are similar to all respondents, with attending free webinars leading the way.

How to build a successful career in Digital Accessibility
Alladin Elteira“As the 2025 results show regarding accessibility as a profession, building a career in digital accessibility is all about continuous learning, support, and community.
Like many of the respondents to the survey also note, training and free resources have helped me grow, too, but having managers and leaders who truly value accessibility makes the biggest difference. A positive firm culture where accessibility is a shared responsibility, not just a specialist task, creates space for real progress. Mentors have played a key role, offering guidance and encouragement along the way. Getting certified and joining professional groups has connected me with others who share the same passion.
Personal motivation and lived experience also matter—sometimes it’s your own drive or perspective that pushes you forward. The accessibility community is welcoming and always ready to share knowledge and support. Together, we’re making digital inclusion a reality for everyone, and I’m proud to be part of this journey."
- Alladin Elteira, Accessibility, Vulnerable Customer Strategy, Anti-Bias and Discrimination Lead, Chase UK and J.P. Morgan Personal Investing

However, in contrast to the training provided on an individual level, there's a growing need identified from all sectors that digital accessibility training should become mandatory. 

When asked to complete the sentence ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if…’  to describe the best way of making accessibility improvements at your organisation, a financial sector respondent said:

"Accessibility training was mandatory for every new starter. I think this would have the longer term trickle down effect that people interest in accessibility might be piqued early in their career and would hopefully keep it in the back of everyone's minds. This would mean less push back when it comes to asking for budget as there would be better base understanding for everyone"

And in response to What do you think would make it easier for you in your role to improve digital accessibility? another noted: "Mandatory role-based accessibility training for all staff to learn their responsibilities."

Man drawing diagram on large presentation paper with woman looking on Financial sector accessibility training from the experts
Is current EAA monitoring prompting you to get your organisation's accessibility policies and procedures in order? If not, it probably should be.
Start the year by equipping your staff with expert professional development to create compliant, accessible and inclusive products, services, and experiences and boost your ability to meet the needs of disabled customers.

Get 10% off our 10 for 8 training course bundle if you book before end January 2026.
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Two people in smart work clothes in a city buildingAccessibility is 'good for business'

Understandably, the finance sector is aware of the commercial value of digital accessibility improvements, and is more commercially motivated to deliver digital accessibility than other sectors, with ‘good for business’ ‘growing or protecting revenues’, ‘protecting brand reputation’, ‘differentiating us from competition’ all being higher priorities for finance respondents than for other sectors.

Other survey findings for the finance sector:

  • Barriers to delivering digital accessibility are higher for the finance sector. All barrier options were responded to at a higher rate for finance sector respondents. 
  • Finance sector has more approaches in place to implement digital accessibility. Defined accessibility roles were reported by finance sector respondents at 10 percentile points higher than all respondents, and documented accessibility policy at 20 percentile points higher. 
  • The finance sector may be doing more user research and testing, and is planning to do more, compared to all sectors. 
Financial sector attitudes: in their own words
What do you think would make it easier for you in your role to improve digital accessibility?
  • "Better examples of building in accessibility into standard testing plans and processes instead of it being seen as a stand alone process, often left too late"
  • "Senior leader buy-in and budgets, better data/metrics to show progress, embedding automated tooling at scale"


‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if…’  Complete this sentence for your organisation to describe the best way of making accessibility improvements at your organisation:

  • "Accessibility was seen as a core value in all our products"
  • "The product owners would prioritize accessibility, instead of always asking me if we can let this one thing slip because it's complicated and they want to ship the product already"
  • "Accessibility was the default rather than a bolt on to our product / services design"
  • "Accessibility becomes a KPI for C-Suite"

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