Digital Accessibility Compliance Audits for BFSI
Independent, regulator-aligned accessibility audits for banks, NBFCs, insurance providers, capital market intermediaries, and financial platforms.
SEBI circular-aligned audit scope
WCAG 2.2 (A, AA, AAA) coverage
RPwD Act & IS 17802 mapping
Reports suitable for SEBI submissions and internal audit committees
Auditors credentialed: IAAP CPWA, CPACC
Why BFSI Faces the Highest Digital Accessibility Risk in India
The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sector operates under some of the most stringent digital accessibility obligations in India — and globally. SEBI has made it explicit: investor-facing digital platforms must be accessible to persons with disabilities. Non-compliance is no longer a design question — it is a governance failure with direct regulatory, legal, and reputational consequences. Accord Compliance audits BFSI organisations as an independent institution. Our findings are designed to withstand regulatory review, legal scrutiny, and enterprise due diligence.
Methodology & Independence
Why Accessibility Compliance Is a Regulatory Obligation in BFSI
Accessibility in financial services has moved from voluntary best practice to formal regulatory expectation. Regulators in India and globally now expect financial institutions to demonstrate that their digital services are accessible to all users — including persons with disabilities.
SEBI Circular on Digital Accessibility
SEBI has issued guidance requiring regulated entities — including stock brokers, depositories, mutual fund houses, investment advisers, and portfolio managers — to ensure their digital platforms conform to accessibility standards. The circular references WCAG 2.1 as the applicable technical standard and sets expectations for ongoing compliance, not one-time remediation. Entities subject to SEBI oversight must be able to demonstrate compliance, produce audit evidence, and integrate accessibility into their digital governance cycle.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016
The RPwD Act places a statutory obligation on establishments — including financial institutions — to ensure their services are accessible to persons with disabilities. Digital services are covered under this mandate. Non-compliance carries legal risk and is increasingly referenced in complaints and regulatory enquiries.
RBI and Digital Accessibility
Reserve Bank of India guidelines on digital financial products and customer service increasingly incorporate accessibility expectations. For regulated entities offering digital lending, payment, or banking products, accessibility is part of fair access obligations.
Global Regulatory Obligations for BFSI
Financial institutions with international operations, listings, or user bases face parallel obligations: - United States — ADA and Section 508 apply to financial platforms serving US users - European Union — European Accessibility Act (EAA) covers digital financial products from June 2025 - United Kingdom — Equality Act 2010 applies to digital services - Australia — Disability Discrimination Act applies to digital financial services
Who This Audit Is For
Accord Compliance BFSI accessibility audits serve organisations including:
Listed companies and IPO-bound entities with investor-facing digital properties
Stock exchanges, depositories, and market infrastructure institutions
Asset management companies (AMCs) and mutual fund platforms
Brokers, sub-brokers, and registered intermediaries
Banks, NBFCs, cooperative banks, and microfinance institutions
Insurance companies, aggregators, and intermediaries
Fintech platforms operating under SEBI, RBI, or IRDAI oversight
KYC registration agencies and CKYC infrastructure
Investor portals, grievance redressal systems, and disclosure platforms
What We Audit in BFSI
BFSI digital ecosystems are complex. Our audits cover the full range of investor-facing and regulated digital touchpoints:
Investor & Customer Portals
- Login and authentication flows
- Account dashboards and portfolio summaries
- Transaction history and statement access
- Grievance filing and redressal mechanisms
- KYC update and nomination management workflows
Public Websites and Disclosures
- Publicly accessible regulatory filings and annual reports
- Fund fact sheets, scheme information documents (SIDs), and KIMs
- SEBI-mandated disclosures, circulars, and investor education material
- PDF-based documents for accessibility (PDF/UA compliance)
Mobile Applications
- iOS and Android apps for banking, trading, and investment management
- Mobile-first onboarding and eKYC journeys
- OTP flows, biometric authentication accessibility
Transactional Flows
- Fund purchase, redemption, and SIP management
- Brokerage order placement and portfolio management
- Insurance policy issuance and claims initiation
- Loan application and EMI management interfaces
Our Audit Approach for BFSI
Regulatory Scope Alignment
Before testing begins, we formally map applicable SEBI circulars, RPwD Act provisions, and WCAG success criteria to your digital asset inventory. This ensures no regulated touchpoint is left outside audit scope.
Manual Expert-Led Testing
Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
Mobile-specific assistive technology on iOS and Android
Keyboard-only navigation across all flows
Magnification and colour contrast tools
Evidence-Based Compliance Documentation
Internal compliance and legal teams
Statutory and internal auditors
SEBI and regulatory review
Board and governance committees
Why Independence Matters in BFSI
Because:
Regulators do not accept self-certified accessibility.
Procurement committees require third-party validation.
Courts expect defensible methodology.
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Ensure BFSI Accessibility Compliance
Meet SEBI, RPwD, and global requirements with an independent, audit-ready assessment of your platforms.