Aiding the blind and impaired
HSBC will be rolling out talking ATMs in order to aid blind and partially sighted customers in the UK.
The bank has been investing in new machines and software across the UK since a nationwide roll-out in 2012. New software enabling ATMs to audible communicate will be made available by early 2015.
There are almost two million people in the UK living with sight loss, estimated to rise to 2.25m by 2020. Research shows that only 29 per cent of blind and partially sighted people say they are able to manage their finances independently even though most would like to, whilst a Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) study found that 89% find it difficult or impossible to use an ATM independently.
Brendan Cook, Head of UK Retail Banking and Wealth Management at HSBC said: “I am delighted to announce HSBC’s roll-out of HSBC talking ATMs in the UK. We are committed to ensuring banking services are accessible to all of our customers and members of the public who use them. We will continue to invest in new technology both in branch and digitally so that all of our customers can manage their finances the way they want to.”
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