Accessible Online Banking

persontypething

Firstly, although I haven't posted before, I must say I adore this site- so full of invaluable information on all manner of topics- so busy reading that I never seem to have time to write!!

Could anyone help? I need to find out which online banking accounts are most accessible for someone who is visually impaired? My partner is totally blind, and uses a screenreader and other equipment to gain access to information. He really wants to switch to internet banking, as it would make things much easier for him. He also seems to get loads of hassle from his bank, as it is their company policy to interrogate him on security issues, as when he uses phone banking, he uses a talking note-taker, and they suspect there is a person with him, possibly coercing him or goodness knows what. Well what if someone did have to read out his account number...how else can he tell them the details??

We are also trying to find out through visually impaired newsgroups etc, but as you chaps are so whizzo, I thought someone might now...

Many thanks,
Emmie

realaledrinker

The Co-operative bank may be a possibility. I use their internet banking service which is more or less the same as smile's without the odd bell & whistle.

Their web site quotes under Accessibility:

"We are continually working to improve the accessibility of internet banking by making it more accessible to different operating systems and browsers which may be used by customers with disabilities."

We have designed the service to meet the W3C 'A' standards recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium, which has been set up to promote world wide standards of access and to encourage wider use of the internet."

Their customer service is on 08457 212 212 . Cut through the automated answering by pressing the # key which connects you to an advisor. Ask to speak to the Interent Banking team if you get a numpty.

grumbler

Nationwide in 'Preferences' has an option to 'Change Site Colours' between 'Default Stile - Red, White, Blew and Grey' and 'High Contrast - Black, White and Grey'.
They write: 'Change how the site looks from our default colour scheme to a high contrast one which is ideal for visually impaired members'. I cannot confirm that this actually makes any difference.

Changing text size to the lagest one via IE menue works on their website too.

P.S. They have a 'demo':
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/Demos/InternetBankingDemo/default.htm ,
but I checked - changing colours does not work here.

P.P.S. I think you already know that you can change font size by changing screen resolution? Control Panel -> Display->Settings->Screen Area

crana999

Um, if the man in question is totally blind, a high contrast colour scheme or magnification is unlikely to help him much.

Tony_H_3

May'be the banks should consider a "Freephone" telephone banking service for visually impared customers, Cahoots telephone service is very easy to use but it's at a premium (0870).

grumbler

crana999 wrote:

Um, if the man in question is totally blind, a high contrast colour scheme or magnification is unlikely to help him much.

Oops! I thought 'screenreader' is some device or software for optical or digital magnification ...

MoneyBags

All banks should be accessible online banking by law - see here

Maybe worth pointing this out to banks.

crana999

grumbler wrote:

Oops! I thought 'screenreader' is some device or software for optical or digital magnification ...

No, it usually refers to software that reads aloud the text on the screen. I can see why you were confused though.

To the OP: I read a webchat where Nationwide were talking to customers, and one lady said she was having trouble with her screenreader. They said to contact them ASAP and they would help her get it sorted out. I'm with them and they seem to be pretty good for people with disabilities. I don't know that much about their facilities for total blindness - my friend is visually impaired and uses Nationwide, but she's able to use internet banking with magnification.

persontypething

crana999 wrote:

No, it usually refers to software that reads aloud the text on the screen. I can see why you were confused though.

To the OP: I read a webchat where Nationwide were talking to customers, and one lady said she was having trouble with her screenreader. They said to contact them ASAP and they would help her get it sorted out. I'm with them and they seem to be pretty good for people with disabilities. I don't know that much about their facilities for total blindness - my friend is visually impaired and uses Nationwide, but she's able to use internet banking with magnification.

Thanks for that-I think I will check out the Nationwide first, as we are probably going to get our mortgage through them. We are both keen to transfer our current accounts as we are not entirely impressed with our treatment at a certain West Yorkshire based former buidling society, now bank. Soooo much to organise now with buying our first house, so all advice helps cut down on research time a bit- Many thanks.

crana999

I've always found their customer service to be excellent and better than any of the other banks I've had accounts with (which is a fair few), so I imagine they'll be good here as well. :-)

(Incidentally, I know they can supply things like cheque templates and stuff as well if that would help him. They have a whole booklet on services for customers with disabilities in their branches.. It might be available online too)

BenL

I believe the Abbey online banking site can be used with screen readers.

I used to work in another part of the group on online banking design and we needed a guy with screen reading expertise.

We borrowed him from the Abbey marketing team.

Its part of the Disability Discrimination Act to allow screen readers and have facilities for braille passwords to be sent out - that was a particular mess trying to arrange.

Ben