Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your financial institution. It’s where trust begins…or quietly erodes. And right now, that trust is being tested in a new way.

Community banks and credit unions nationwide are facing increased scrutiny surrounding website accessibility and data privacy. Lawsuits, demand letters, and compliance complaints are becoming more common, and it’s not because institutions are careless; it’s because digital expectations are evolving faster than most websites.

The good news? Getting your website back in shape doesn’t have to be stressful. We’ve compiled a guide that goes over why data privacy and accessibility matter more than ever, where financial institutions’ websites often fall short, and what steps you can take to reduce risk while creating a better experience for your website visitors.

A Plain Language Guide to Accessibility & Privacy Legal Terms

If you’ve ever read an article or letter about website compliance and thought, “I know these words individually, but not together,” you’re not alone. We’ll start by translating some of the most common legal and technical terms you’ll hear thrown around.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) – Your website should be usable by people with disabilities, just like a physical branch. That means that someone who uses a screen reader, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technology should be able to access your content, complete forms, and navigate your site with ease.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) – WCAG is the playbook developers use to make websites accessible. It covers things like readable text, clear navigation, labeled forms, and keyboard access. Although WCAG isn’t a law, courts and regulators often reference WCAG when deciding whether a website meets accessibility expectations.

WCAG 2.2 AA – This is the current, widely accepted benchmark for accessibility. Following WCAG 2.2 AA (“2.2” = the version; “AA” = the level most organizations are expected to follow) means that your website is accessible to most users in most situations.

ADA Demand Letter – This is a formal notice claiming your website may not be accessible. It doesn’t automatically mean you’ve done something wrong, but it does mean that your website should be reviewed and addressed quickly. These letters are often sent before any lawsuit and are one of the most common ways institutions learn there’s a problem. They come with multiple barriers listed (that may not be true) and quick turnaround time for a response to increase the pressure of the institution to take action.

“Reasonable Effort” or “Good Faith Effort” – Auditing your site, fixing known issues, and monitoring changes over time can show that you’re actively trying to make your website accessible and privacy-friendly.

Data Privacy Laws (State Privacy Laws) – Many states now give consumers more control over how their data is collected and used, and your website is often where that control shows up. Even financial institutions that follow federal privacy regulations still need to think about how their website experience handles data transparency and choice.

Cookie Consent Banner – This tool tells visitors what data your website collects and lets them make a choice. Users should be able to accept or decline cookies and customize their preferences.

“Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” – This is a clear opt-out option that gives users control over certain data uses, especially where required by state privacy laws. Even when data isn’t literally being “sold,” this phrase has become a standard way to communicate user choice and transparency.

Global Privacy Control (GPC) – Some users’ browsers automatically signal that they want to opt out of certain types of data tracking. Honoring that signal means your website respects user privacy without the user needing to click anything.

Third-Party Tools – Third-party tools are anything embedded or added on your site such as chat tools, maps, Googe Analytics, Meta pixels, calculators, and forms.

Why Financial Institution websites are under the microscope

It feels like website compliance became a hot topic overnight. Here’s why:

Accessibility Expectations Are Rising

Website accessibility falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the ADA doesn’t set exact technical requirements, courts and regulators consistently look to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the standard for determining whether a website is accessible.

What that means: If someone can’t use your website with a screen reader, keyboard navigation, or other assistive technology, your institution could be exposed.

Note: Even if your financial institution operates in a state without specific website accessibility or data privacy laws, your website is still accessible to users nationwide. Because of this, institutions can face accessibility or privacy claims based on federal law or the laws of a visitor’s state, making proactive compliance a practical risk reduction step rather than just a regulatory checkbox—even for small financial institutions operating only in a state with no state data privacy laws.

“But surely a community bank is less likely to be targeted than a national bank, right?” No! Community banks and credit unions are just as likely to face scrutiny as large national banks.

Data Privacy Is No Longer “Just a Policy Page”

Consumers today expect transparency and control over how their data is used, and state privacy laws are reinforcing that expectation and changing each month. Requirements vary by state, but they increasingly affect what appears on your website, including: Cookie consent banners Opt-out options like “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” Honoring browser-level privacy signals.

Accessibility & Data Privacy Basics

So, what do accessibility and data privacy actually mean for your website?

Website Accessibility (ADA + WCAG)

Accessibility ensures that people of all abilities can navigate and use your website. That includes individuals who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, voice commands, or other assistive tools.

WCAG covers things like: Clear navigation and page structure Readable color contrast Properly labeled forms and buttons Keyboard-friendly menus and popups.

Data Privacy on Your Website

Privacy compliance is about choice and clarity. Visitors should be able to understand what data is collected and easily control how it’s used.

On websites, this often includes: Clear cookie and tracking disclosures Options to accept, decline, or customize cookies Visible opt-out pathways Respecting user privacy preferences automatically.

Where Bank & Credit Union websites usually fall short

Most compliance issues don’t come from bad intentions; they come from small, easy-to-miss gaps that add up over time.

Here’s a quick list of high-risk pages to review first: Your homepage and main navigation Online banking login paths Loan, account, or application forms Contact forms and branch locators Rate and disclosure pages.

These are the most heavily used (and most heavily scrutinized) areas of your site.

Common Accessibility Issues & Privacy Pitfalls We See

Concerned about your site? We can conduct an audit to note where your website is regarding current accessibility and data privacy standards. Here are some common issues we see: Forms without clear labels or accessible error messages Menus or popups that can’t be used with a keyboard Missing alternative text for images Low color contrast caused by brand color choices PDFs that are not readable by screen readers Third-party tools (chat widgets, maps, calculators) that don’t meet accessibility standards Cookie banners that only offer an “OK” button No clear opt-out option for data sharing Tracking scripts running before consent is given Privacy signals from browsers being ignored.

How We Can Help

At forbinfi, we build websites specifically designed for banks and credit unions, and that focus matters.

Our BankWeb™ CMS is designed with security and compliance in mind. Features like role-based permissions, revision history, and audit logs help reduce risk while giving your team flexibility to manage content safely. We also help institutions: Audit and improve website accessibility Implement privacy-forward website experiences Navigate changes without disrupting marketing or operations Keep you apprised of changes in accessibility and data privacy requirements.

Looking to refresh your site to the latest standards? Contact us today!

Quick Recap

If your website is falling short of current accessibility and data privacy requirements, here’s a plan of attack to help you move forward:

Step 1: Assess where you are.Take a look at your key website templates and high traffic pages, all third-party tools and embedded services, and your current cookie, consent, and privacy setup.

Step 2: Conduct an accessibility audit. Combine automated audits with hands-on testing to identify issues and prioritize fixes.

Step 3: Fix, document, and monitor. Accessibility and privacy are not “set it and forget it” items. Ongoing best practices include updating core templates and forms, utilizing third party widgets, monitoring new content and updates, and reviewing reports regularly. This shows a good-faith effort to maintain a compliant site to the best of your ability (and helps to prevent future problems).

Remember: Community banking is built on relationships. Accessibility ensures everyone can engage with your website, and transparency around data builds the same trust online that customers expect in your branches.