Danske Bank has signed up to the Equality Commission’s ‘Every Customer Counts’ initiative to help make its services more accessible to those with disabilities.
It is the first bank in Northern Ireland to sign up to the initiative and joins other organisations such as Titanic Belfast, The Mac, Libraries NI and the Consumers Council.
Stephen Matchett is Deputy CEO and the senior management sponsor of Enable, Danske’s disability network. He said that Danske helps make its services more accessible in many different ways: “For example, all of our cash machines are ‘talking’ which means they have been adapted for visually impaired customers and last year we worked with the NOW Group to become a JAM Card friendly organisation.”
JAM Card allows people with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier tell others they need 'Just A Minute' discreetly, easily and for free with a plastic card or an app on their phone.
Stephen continued: “We have worked with the Alzheimer’s Society to become dementia-friendly. Today we have 170 trained Dementia Friends across our branches, contact centre and support teams.
“Of course, there is always more we can do to improve, which is why we have made this commitment to keep focusing on accessibility.”
Dr Evelyn Collins CBE, Chief Executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said “statistics show that 21% of the adult population in Northern Ireland have a disability.
“Each of those people requires access to banking services, from opening a bank account to more complex financial transactions. We look forward to working with Danske Bank on delivering on the commitments it has made to ensure Every Customer Counts.”
