Bank integrates assistive technologies and solutions to enhance customer experience for People of Determination
Dubai, UAE: As part of its long-term commitment to creating a disability-inclusive society, Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Turkey) region, has reaffirmed its commitment to continue transforming its branch network and operations to provide People of Determination with convenient user experiences.
The bank has integrated also assistive technologies and devices as part of its commitment to further financial inclusion under its #TogetherLimitless platform, the bank’s flagship advocacy programme for people of determination.
Over 60% of Emirates NBD’s UAE branch network provides disability-friendly access. The 43 disability-friendly locations span across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates, and about half of these feature additional disability-friendly branch elements including assistive technologies. The group’s efforts are aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and UAE Vision 2030’s goal of building a cohesive society.
To enhance mobility access, the branches are equipped with ramps with handrails, and accessible low-height ATMs, teller desks and cheque writing counters. Tactile floor indicators and disability signage including Braille signage have been installed for ease of direction. The branches also offer priority queuing and a dedicated waiting area that offers a more convenient branch experience to people with disabilities.
In addition to making the facilities more physically accessible, the bank has trained more than 1,800 employees on disability etiquette and understanding sign language across its branches. The bank also uses KinTrans, a technology that enables easy two-way communication between sign language communicators with hearing disabilities and people who use spoken languages. Emirates NBD was the first bank worldwide to pilot this revolutionary technology in 2017.
For the benefit of customers who use hearing aids, select branches have a Hearing Induction Loop system that can be used to communicate with tellers, customer service executives or to attend meetings. This device amplifies sound to more than 50% of hearing abilities and also cuts out unwanted background sounds for clear communication.
The bank also enables customers with visual impairments to open accounts using documents printed in Braille. Additionally, the bank enables customers with low vision or colour blindness to be able to read forms, cheques, and documents comfortably and conveniently through Traveller HD video magnification devices.
As a voice of equal opportunities, Emirates NBD also promotes and contributes to diversity and inclusion in the workplace through its Careers Network Programme in partnership with the Community Development Authority, Manzil and Sustainable Square, employing staff including those with cognitive and physical disabilities to create one of the most inclusive environments that encourages the success of people from all backgrounds.
Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Emirates NBD, said: “We are committed to making banking easier for all and our investments in infrastructure enhancement and assistive technologies are a reflection of this. In addition to being the right thing to do as a society, we believe that the integration of people with disabilities makes economic sense as well as positively impacts talent resourcing and social responsibility.”
To find your nearest disability-friendly branch and to obtain a complete list of our disability-friendly branches and their accessibility features, please click here.
About Emirates NBD:
Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading Banking Group in the MENAT region. As at 31st December 2020, total assets were AED 698 Billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 190 Billion). The acquisition of DenizBank represents a significant milestone for Emirates NBD with the Group expanding its presence to 13 countries, servicing over 14 million customers. The Group is ranked among the top 20 in the Forbes’ list of the World’s Best Regarded Companies, securing a leading spot among global brands.
The Group has a significant retail banking franchise in the UAE and is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 94% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group announced the creation of E20., a digital business bank for entrepreneurs and SMEs while Liv., the lifestyle digital bank for millennials continued to be the fastest growing retail proposition in the UAE. Emirates NBD was named ‘UAE’s Best Bank’ in 2020 for a fifth consecutive year by Euromoney. In addition, Emirates NBD received the ‘Excellence in Leadership in the Middle East’ award, introduced this year in light of the Covid-19 impact, as a recognition of its efforts in responding to the Covid-19 crisis. The Bank is ranked 87th in The Banker’s list of the World’s Top 1,000 Banks. Emirates NBD was named ‘Bank of the Year – UAE 2020’ for the sixth year and ‘Bank of the Year – Middle East 2020’ for the third time by The Banker. In addition, Emirates NBD has been assessed as the ‘Strongest Bank in the UAE’ and ‘Fifth Strongest Bank in the Middle East’ by The Asian Banker 500 Largest and Strongest Banks Rankings.
The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 915 branches and 4,029 ATMs / SDMs. The Group has a large social media following, being the only bank in the Middle East ranked among the top 20 in the ‘Power 100 Social Media Rankings’, compiled by The Financial Brand for 2019. Emirates NBD is a major player in the UAE corporate segment and has strong Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets & treasury and brokerage operations.
Emirates NBD is an active participant and supporter of the UAE’s main development and community initiatives, in close alignment with the UAE government’s strategies, including financial literacy and advocacy for inclusion of People with Disabilities under its #TogetherLimitless platform. The Group is recognised for the pioneering efforts in employee volunteering and corporate social responsibility by IMPACT2030, the corporate volunteering arm of the United Nations. Emirates NBD Group is a Premier Partner and the Official Banking Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai.
