Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, has expanded its disability-friendly branch network to include the Hamriya, Rashidya and Al Aweer branches, in addition to the Jumeirah and Jumeirah Emirates Towers branches. The bank has also implemented the distribution of Braille currency in its Jumeirah branch for customers with vision disabilities, and will remain committed to enabling financial inclusion for people with disabilities in the UAE into 2017.
In its first phase of modification, employees of Hamriya, Rashidiya and Al Aweer branches were trained on disability etiquette and the privileges offered to Sanad Card* holders. To enhance mobility access, branches have been equipped with sliding doors, accessible low-height ATMs and cheque writing counters, in addition to designated car parking spots. To provide people with visual impairment ease of direction within the branch, tactile floor indicators have been installed. All branches also offer priority queuing and a separate waiting area to provide an easier and more elevated branch experience for people with disabilities.
Commenting on the announcement, Husam Al Sayed, Group Chief Human Resource Officer at Emirates NBD said: “Step by step, we are working to transform our entire
institution into one that caters to the needs of people with disabilities in the UAE and furthers their financial inclusion and independence. The three additional branches that have been transformed this year attract a large percentage of Emirates NBD’s customer base with disabilities and we are happy to provide them a far superior and inclusive customer experience.”
The bank will also be launching the distribution of Braille currency, issued by the Central Bank of the UAE, in its Jumeirah branch to further empower its customers with visual disabilities and offer them the independence of processing their own branch transactions.
Ahmed Al Marzouqi, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Retail Distribution at Emirates NBDadded: “With the introduction of Braille currency in our branches, we hope to set an example in the UAE banking industry and offer our customers with visual disabilities the ability to manage their own cash transactions. Starting with the Jumeirah branch, the distribution of Braille notes will extend to the rest of our branches and we envision a society in which disability-friendly currency will be the norm. Going forward, Emirates NBD will continue to find more ways to elevate the customer experience of people with disabilities and offer them products and services that support both their integration and independence financially.”
Emirates NBD’s commitment to people with disabilities supports the ‘#MyCommunity’ initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council that aims to transform Dubai to a disability-friendly city by 2020. Under #TogetherLimitless, its flagship advocacy program, the bank has undertaken several initiatives in the past year to foster the sustainable long-term improvement and integration of people with disabilities into the community, including launching the Careers Network to facilitate workplace inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities, opening disability-friendly bank branches, promoting financial inclusion by offering Sanad card holders (privilege access card developed by CDA for people with disabilities) the Emirates NBD ‘Beyond from Personal Banking’ package, exempt of minimum salary as well as publishing a research report on the banking and financial habits and attitudes of people with disabilities in the UAE. The advocacy platform won the Arabia CSR Awards in the Partnerships and Collaborations category in 2015 for its strategic partnership with Manzil’s PRIDE (People Receiving Independence and Dignity through Empowerment) programme.