WASHINGTON, DC (June 11, 2018) — National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU) President and CEO Dan Berger issued the following statement in response to another win for credit unions facing litigation over unclear website requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A federal district court in Virginia again found that the plaintiff to such a lawsuit did not have standing to sue Roanoke Valley Community Credit Union.
“This is the sixth complaint we have seen dismissed against a NAFCU-supported credit union and we are pleased to see the courts recognizing that these plaintiffs have no standing,” said Berger. “We will continue to defend our members against these meritless lawsuits.”
NAFCU filed an amicus brief in support of this credit union, which was noted in the court’s decision.
Credit unions, banks and other entities have faced a rash of lawsuits in the past year related to website accessibility. NAFCU and its members strongly support the protections of the ADA and efforts to ensure individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against and have equal access to financial services. However, this is best achieved through clear guidance and standards for website compliance, not through meritless and costly lawsuits.
NAFCU has been active on ADA, engaging with various stakeholders on this issue, including with Congress, states’ attorneys general and the Justice Department to clarify regulatory standards for websites.
The National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions is the only national trade association focusing exclusively on federal issues affecting the nation’s federally-insured credit unions. NAFCU membership is direct and provides credit unions with the best in federal advocacy, education and compliance assistance. For more information on NAFCU, go to www.nafcu.org or @NAFCU on Twitter.
