Sydney, 4 December, 2006: Organisations and individuals with an interest in web accessibility and security can make a submission to the Consultation Draft Guiding Principles for Accessible Authentication issued today by the Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA).
The ABA has released the draft Guiding Principles to coincide with International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December, with the theme this year being accessibility to information technologies “E-Accessibility Day”.
The ABA is seeking feedback on these draft Guiding Principles developed to provide guidance to banks and other financial institutions adopting stronger authentication technologies as part of their electronic banking platforms.
The aim is to provide a framework to banks and other financial institutions to reach a workable balance between security requirements, commercial strategies and equitable access to banking products and services.
The draft Guiding Principles have been developed by a working group of representatives from; banks, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), Abacus Australian Mutuals1, representatives from disability communities, and consultant Tim Noonan, who specialises in accessibility and usability issues related to IT and telephony services.
David Bell, Chief Executive of the ABA, said: “Advances in technology and the emergence of electronic banking has increased the convenience of banking and accessibility for people with disabilities and Older Australians.
“As increased security is added to electronic banking platforms, banks are aiming to consider the needs of all bank customers, including people with disabilities and older Australians, in the design and operation of authentication technologies.”
“Banks have invested significant resources, time and effort into designing and implementing banking services that are widely accessible. The aim is to enable all customers to access and manage their finances independently, securely and effectively.”
Banks are continuing to seek out security enhancements for online banking, for example, an on-screen keypad which is designed to prevent the incidence of keystroke logging fraud by removing the need for a keyboard to enter in passwords and two factor authentication services. (See below: Notes for editors)
The ABA has also released its 2006 Progress Report on Accessibility of Electronic Banking. This report provides specific examples of progress against particular initiatives as contained in individual banks’ Disability Action Plans (DAPs) and other banking industry service commitments and electronic banking practices.
Some key outcomes include:
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Maximising technology developments to expand accessibility for retail banking, including upgrading ATMs and increasing the number of audio-enabled and enhanced frontal access ATMs available across the ATM network;
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Removing barriers to banking and financial services through revising policies and procedures, including reviewing and revising Disability Action Plans and other service commitments on accessible banking; and
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Improving customer service standards by raising staff awareness of the accessibility needs of customers, including providing appropriate awareness training in understanding how people with disabilities access online services.
This report comprises an affirmation of the banking industry’s commitment to the voluntary Industry Standards covering accessibility of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Electronic Funds Transfer at the Point of Sale (EFTPOS), Telephone and Internet banking released in 2002.
The ABA recognises that banks have made significant progress on making banking services increasingly accessible to people with disabilities and older Australians and the industry is continuously looking to improve service to all customers.
Notes for editors
Two factor authentication requires two independent authentication steps for a customer to access Internet banking. Customers will authenticate their identity and access to the system twice, first with something they know and then with something they have. Some banks are offering this service through an SMS payment security service, which sends a unique code via SMS to a customer's mobile phone to authorise online payments. Others provide their customers with tokens which generate a number which is then keyed in at the desktop (as well as a password) to enable access to an Internet banking session.
The draft Guiding Principles can be found on the ABA website at the following link: www.bankers.asn.au/draft_principles
Submissions should be sent to:
Diane Tate
Director, Corporate & Consumer Policy
Australian Bankers’ Association
Level 3,
56 Pitt St
Sydney, NSW 2000
Or via email: reception@bankers.asn.au