Best prices Special offers for members of the PWE book club The cheapest delivery
Dr Marta Musiał
ORCID: 0000-0002-6855-1330

PhD in economics (finance); assistant professor in the Department of Finance and Banking at the Institute of Economics and Finance of the University of Szczecin, Poland; author of several dozen publications on household finances; Transformation.doc program laureate, NCN grant leader. Scientific interests: inequalities in access to financial services, with particular emphasis on the accessibility of retail banking services and gender-based differences in access to credit.

 
DOI: 10.33226/0137-5490.2025.3.4
JEL: G21, G28, K20, J14

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.

Keywords: accessibility; accessible banking; mobile apps; banking law; financial inclusion