Make Banking Accessible for Blind and Partially Sighted People

Blind and partially sighted (BPS) people still cannot access personal finances equally with many online banking services and apps inaccessible. 

This really matters because it means we, as blind and partially sighted people, cannot easily access our financial information, carry out transactions and manage their finances in the same way as everyone else. 

We want to change that. Help us take action by writing to your MP to demand change.  

By sending a letter to your MP, you can help us to demand equal and consistent access to financial services for blind and partially sighted people. 

Why is This a Problem? 

Comparebanks statistics show most people, more than 70%, in the UK bank online or by using apps. In comparison, RNIB research shows more than half of BPS people are dissatisfied with their provider and 22% cannot bank without help from another person. 

Thomas Pocklington Trust believes the problem is twofold: 

• Increasingly inaccessible digital services. All too often, online registration demands vision, with security measures cited as the reason for avoiding the best accessibility standards. We see banking becoming less accessible for people with sight loss, just as ease of use seems to rise for most others. This is inequitable and directly at odds with the Equality Act 2010. 

• Replacement of bank branches with new banking hubs. This shift aims to give customers access to all high street providers in shared locations, but it limits opportunities for face-to-face help from your preferred provider. BPS people value this, especially for help with the often difficult first step of registration for online services and, even with the new hubs access to in person help will be restricted. 

We are now calling on MPs to help us deliver better accessibility standards. 

• Designing apps and websites inclusively to make independent on-boarding possible to BPS people. Relying on others, who might be complete strangers, just to register, removes the privacy and autonomy afforded to others. 

• Retaining accessible services like phonelines which are easy to use.  

• Committing to improved standards, with  Financial Conduct Authority  endorsement to enforce them. We need accessibility to become a pillar of UK banking so that it works for everyone. 

What Do Others Have to Say? 

Fintech firm Hyperjar are one of the organisations committed to learning how to best serve its BPS customers. 

Harrison McEwan, Principal Product Designer at HyperJar, explains: “We reached out to Thomas Pocklington Trust to better understand user experiences and hear suggestions from BPS people. Our visit to their offices led to a hugely insightful discussion on best practice and we are now reviewing what we learned and would urge other banking and finance providers to involve BPS people in their work.” 

Mike Bell, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at Thomas Pocklington Trust adds: “It’s not an equal society if BPS people are still relying on others to access their personal finances. We need to put pressure on the regulators to ensure that the needs of BPS people are considered from the design stage and kept at the forefront of upgrades and changes in access to personal finances.” 

Join our action to get your local MP onboard by sending a letter.