Accessibility of mobile banking apps in Poland – a legal analysis of recent developments

The rapid expansion of digital services in the financial sector has elevated the importance of accessibility, particularly for mobile banking applications. Despite the significant global advancements in digital accessibility, including the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the European Accessibility Act, there remains a notable gap in the accessibility of mobile banking applications, especially for individuals with disabilities. This study investigates the current state of mobile banking application accessibility in Poland, examining how international and national legislative frameworks influence accessibility standards and practices within the Polish banking sector. A comprehensive review of the literature highlights the persistent challenges and advancements in the accessibility of mobile banking applications across different regions. Additionally, this article presents the results of a survey conducted among 28 commercial banks in Poland, assessing the compliance of their mobile banking applications with WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2 guidelines. The survey findings indicate substantial gaps in accessibility compliance, with many banks failing to meet the basic accessibility criteria. These findings underscore the critical need for Polish banks to enhance the accessibility of their mobile banking applications to ensure equitable access for all users, including those with disabilities.

References/Bibliografia

 

Literature/Literatura

Adamiec, J. (2009). Bankowość elektroniczna. W: D. Grodzka (red.), Społeczeństwo informacyjne (3/19, 174). Wydawnictwo Sejmowe.

Alayed, A. (2023). Are Saudi Arabian banks' mobile applications accessible for blind or partially sighted users? A customers' perspective and evaluation. Universal Access in the Information Society, 24, 585–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-023-01082-y

Bajor, B. (2011). Bankowość elektroniczna – studium prawne. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar.

Borowska-Beszta, A., Smieszek, M., & Borowska-Beszta, B. (2023). Mobile banking apps in Poland and their accessibility for consumers with disabilities: A case study. Disability & Society, 40(3), 571–592. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2023.2263631

Chudzik, M. (2008). Obowiązkowe pośrednictwo uprawnionych banków w świetle znowelizowanego prawa dewizowego. Prawo Bankowe, (4).

KNF. (2024). Dane miesięczne sektora bankowego – kwiecień 2024. https://www.knf.gov.pl/?articleId=56224&p_id=18 (accessed: 26.06.2024).

Kowalewska, E., & Pisarewicz, P. (2017). Wybrane zagadnienia regulacji prawa bankowego i nadzoru nad rynkiem finansowym w kontekście praktyki ochrony klientów sektora bankowego. Zarządzanie i finanse. Journal of Management and Finance, (2).

NBP. (2020). System płatniczy w Polsce. https://nbp.pl/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/system_platniczy_w_polsce.pdf (accessed: 26.06.2024).

Ofiarski, Z. (2017). Prawo bankowe. Wolter Kluwer.

Ratalewska, M. (2017). Rozwój rynku aplikacji mobilnych. Prace naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu, (487).

Socha, A. (2000). Bankowe rozliczenia pieniężne a świadczenia pieniężne. Radca Prawny, (2).

Sołek-Borowska, C., & Mazurek, I. (2015). Aplikacje mobilne w sektorze bankowym. Nowoczesne Systemy Zarządzania, (10).

Wentz, B., Pham, D., & Tressler, K. (2017). Exploring the accessibility of banking and finance systems for blind users. First Monday, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v22i3.7036

Zalewska-Bochenko, A. (2021). Bankowość mobilna a marketing produktów bankowych. Marketing i Rynek/Journal of Marketing and Market Studies, XXVIII(7). https://doi.org/10.33226/1231-7853.2021.7.3

ZBP. (2023). NetB@nk, Bankowość internetowa i mobilna, płatności bezgotówkowe. Raport IV kwartał 2023. https://zbp.pl/getmedia/76bc15f6-a3f4-4df3-9c72-f8e4bdbde5b7/Raport-NetBank_IVkw2023 (accessed: 26.06.2024).

 

Legal acts/Akty prawne

Act of 23 April 1964, Civil Code, Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1610, as amended.

Act of 26 April 2024 on the Accessibility of Products and Services. https://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc10.nsf/ustawy/241_u.htm (accessed: 26.06.2024).

Act of 4 April 2019 on the Digital Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Entities, Journal of Laws of 2019, item 848.

Act of 19 August 2011, Payment Services Act, Journal of Laws of 2024, item 30, as amended.

Act of 28 August 1997, Banking Law, Journal of Laws of 2023, item 2488.

Act of 18 July 2002 on Providing Services by Electronic Means, Journal of Laws of 2020, item 344.

Act of 29 July 2005 on Trading in Financial Instruments, Journal of Laws of 2023, item 646, as amended.

Act of 23 March 2017 on Mortgage Credit and Supervision over Mortgage Credit Intermediaries and Agents, Journal of Laws of 2022, item 2245, as amended.

Act of 12 May 2011 on Consumer Credit, Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1028, as amended.

Directive 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32019L0882 (accessed 26.06.2024).

Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012, Official Journal of the EU L 176/1 of 27.06.2013.