Online banking achieves WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standard

27 November 2025

3 min read

Committed to making banking accessible for everyone

Our Co-operative Bank and smile online banking platforms have achieved the WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standard from the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC). This is a significant achievement that demonstrates our commitment to ensuring online banking is accessible to all our customers.

What you can expect

We've made significant changes to improve online banking accessibility. Here are some highlights:

  • simplified content - we've removed long, complicated paragraphs, to make it easier to find and understand information
  • enhanced features - we've built and improved accessible components, such as providing clearer descriptions for calendar-related tasks and making navigation easier for those using screen readers
  • helpful tooltips - new tooltips within the payment journeys guide you through each step
  • clear button descriptions - all buttons now feature clear and descriptive text, aiding navigation for users relying on assistive technologies

Why this matters

We recognise that 1 in 4 people live with a disability and that many face challenges in the digital world. Accessing banking services should not be an obstacle. Our enhancements are not only designed to make it easier for everyone to bank online, but they also reflect our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

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