ADA Audit and Website Checklist for Credit Unions

Credit unions face many of the same regulatory compliance requirements as other financial institutions, yet have additional responsibilities owing to being owned and run by members themselves.

Complying with ADA compliance will help your credit union draw in new members while showing your dedication to social responsibility, avoiding criticism from examiners or lawsuits in the form of reviews and potential fines or lawsuits.

ADA Accessibility
As a credit union, it is vital that they comply with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) standards – particularly with regard to your website. Credit unions should make certain their sites are accessible for people who may have visual, auditory or motor impairments and this compliance shows your commitment to serving all members equally.

Audits to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act can be complex processes, but being compliant can help your bank or credit union avoid legal challenges that have costly financial and reputational repercussions. An ADA compliant website can significantly boost SEO rankings and attract more visitors, as well as demonstrate that your bank or credit union is socially responsible – something which may make your business more appealing to new customers and employees alike. WCAG guidelines don’t impose rigid requirements on meeting these requirements, so a well-maintained website will meet most or all WCAG criteria.

Website Usability
Credit unions should establish procedures to gather additional risk-related information on individuals considered high-risk. This should include their income sources, employment history and address.

Usability testing is an invaluable way to gain real user feedback and make your website simpler for them to navigate – thus decreasing calls to your help desk, increasing conversion rates and making users happier!

Accessibility standards allow for some flexibility as no two websites are alike and web technology evolves quickly. Evaluation is always going to require some human judgment; that’s why having a team of professional staff on hand can be so essential; they can weigh the risks against benefits to help achieve compliance while making sure your website remains engaging, helpful and attractive for visitors of all kinds.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Credit unions rely on websites to reach members, provide necessary information and build brand identity. But many sites can be inaccessible to people with disabilities – WCAG audits help identify accessibility issues as well as areas for improvement.

A WCAG audit can assist in identifying issues that impact search engine optimization (SEO). SEO involves the process of optimizing content so it ranks higher in search engines, potentially increasing organic traffic and visibility.

Credit unions must meet regulatory compliance by having certain policies in place, including an effective system of internal controls; developing and documenting policies including choices and variables; filing suspicious activity reports (SARs); and offering comprehensive training programs on policies.

Security
Security is of utmost importance in any credit union that handles sensitive data like finances and identification of its members, since without strong cybersecurity measures in place their information could be stolen by cybercriminals and exposed.

Therefore, credit unions must create an actionable plan on how they will safeguard their digital systems. This may involve adopting regular internal auditing practices as well as policies on when information can be shared externally to safeguard against potential breaches.

Additionally, having an effective system in place to monitor and report suspicious activity is crucial. This should include filing reports to FinCEN when any transactions may indicate money laundering or other criminal activities. Credit unions should implement policies for vetting vendors and creating due diligence processes as soon as they become necessary – making the policy available to employees for awareness purposes and auditors for operational transparency purposes; additionally it would be prudent for the credit union to seek guidance from individuals with relevant experience in order to optimize compliance efforts.