Accessible payments now mandatory under new EU law

By Vriti Gothi

On June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force, requiring companies across the EU to ensure their products and services are accessible to people with disabilities.

The legislation is designed to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access and use a wide range of products and services on equal terms, including key areas such as eCommerce, telecommunications, transportation, and financial services.

One of the most impacted sectors will be the payments industry, which now faces new legal obligations around how systems are designed, implemented, and maintained. The directive mandates that payment terminals, ATMs, online banking platforms, and other digital payment channels must be fully accessible to users with a variety of physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments. The legislation applies not only to EU-based companies but also to any business providing relevant products or services in the EU market, underscoring its far-reaching scope.

Under the EAA, accessibility is no longer an optional design feature, but a regulatory requirement. Payment systems will need to accommodate multiple forms of user interaction, ensuring, for example, that a customer with visual impairment can navigate a terminal through voice prompts or tactile cues, while someone with motor impairments can complete a transaction with minimal physical input. Systems must also include redundancies and alternative feedback methods, such as visual displays with high contrast, audio guidance, and tactile responses.

The transition to accessible design presents both challenges and opportunities for the FinTech sector. Legacy systems that were not built with accessibility in mind may require substantial upgrades or complete redesigns. Additionally, staff training, internal audits, and new development frameworks will be essential to achieving and maintaining compliance.

Beyond regulatory compliance, there is a growing consensus that inclusive design benefits all users, not just those with disabilities. Features like clearer interfaces, simplified navigation, and alternative feedback channels often improve the overall customer experience and foster greater trust in digital services. For FinTech firms, this offers a strategic advantage in an increasingly competitive and consumer-driven marketplace.

Jöerg Stahl, POS Product Management Director (EMEA) at Fiserv, said, “The European Accessibility Act requires all payment products and services to be usable by individuals, regardless of disabilities such as visual, auditory, or motor impairments, meaning new POS devices must support at least two sensory channels like visual displays and audio output with clearly presented processes, high contrast, and large fonts, while also providing accessible cues such as voice guidance or tactile feedback to communicate payment status; overlooking these requirements not only risks non-compliance but also alienates over 15% of the global population and represents a missed commercial opportunity.”

As the EAA comes into force, the payments industry must respond with urgency and intention. Financial service providers and FinTech innovators alike have a pivotal role to play in shaping a more inclusive digital economy. Whether driven by legal necessity, ethical commitment, or business opportunity, the move toward accessible payments is no longer optional; it is the new standard.