A major federal lawsuit against a prominent U.S. bank regarding inaccessible online banking services for visually impaired customers.
In 2022, Linda Roberts, a visually impaired woman from New York, filed a federal lawsuit against Bank of America, one of the largest banking institutions in the United States. Linda, who uses screen reader technology, was unable to access her bank account, review transactions, or pay bills through the bank’s website and mobile app. The lawsuit alleged violations of **Title III of the ADA** and **Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act**.
The case was filed in the Southern District of New York, arguing that banks are public accommodations under ADA law and that digital inaccessibility equates to financial discrimination.
Linda’s legal team identified multiple accessibility failures preventing her from managing her finances independently.
The experience left Linda unable to manage her finances independently, which she described as “a denial of digital access to essential services.”
Bank of America responded by announcing a major digital accessibility initiative to settle the case.
They launched an internal program to ensure all customerfacing technologies meet ADA standards, including mobile apps, ATMs, and online banking. This case became a wake-up call across the **financial sector**, showing that accessibility isn’t just about compliance it’s about equal access to essential financial services for millions of Americans with disabilities.
FINANCIAL
ACCESSIBILITY
Focuses on banking, essential financial services, and compliance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
At GetADAAlert, we specialize in helping financial institutions, insurance companies, and fintech brands identify and fix accessibility risks before they escalate into lawsuits. Our detailed ADA audits and WCAGcompliance reports help ensure safe, accessible, and inclusive banking experiences.