Given concerns that visually impaired customers have around ATM usage, and the ever-present risk of fraudsters, this is the latest step in improving and increasing self-service banking usage in South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a bank with more than 8 000 ATMs across South Africa, we are constantly seeking ways to make the experience more accessible to customers from all walks of life.<\/p>
\u201cFrom multiple languages on ATMs, braille to audio prompts, we have been on a constant journey to improve Absa\u2019s self-service channels.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur latest partnership with the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind will have long-term benefits for visually-impaired customers using ATMs, regardless of who they bank with,\u201d said Tshiwela Mhlantla, managing executive: physical channels, retail and business bank for Absa.<\/p>\n
As part of the partnership, Absa, with the support of Metal Techniques and Bytes Technology, installed a fully functional ATM at the association\u2019s headquarters in Paulshof to assist with the training of guide dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity concerns have always been a major impediment to ATM usage for the visually-impaired community.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an organisation, the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind aims to enhance the mobility and independence of people with visual, physical or developmental needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe effort to insert an ATM card into the machine and key in the PIN can be exhausting and the act of a service dog retrieving the card and giving it to them makes the task less onerous.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving access to our own ATM will allow us to teach our clients and dogs in a relaxed, controlled environment without disturbing others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can show our clients how to instruct their dogs and practice as much as they need to,\u201d said Vernon Tutton, executive director of the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n R4R aims to help animals through sterilisation<\/a><\/p>\n Help bring Mercy home<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Furthermore, the association provides training to student orientation and mobility practitioners (O&M practitioners) and directly to people who are visually-impaired.<\/p>\n \u201cWe currently have nine O&M practitioner students who will also be taught the skills needed to train people with visual impairment on how to use an ATM.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce they are working in the community, they are able to teach these skills to approximately 40 people with visual impairment a year,\u201d Tutton said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll our future students will also undergo this training.<\/p>\n \u201cOur deepest appreciation goes to Absa Retail and Business Bank (RBB SA) for their support, and for empowering us to train clients and service dogs, which will ultimately assist customers from all the major banks, not just those who bank with Absa.\u201d<\/p>\n To ensure maximum flexibility and relevance, the nature of training will be enhanced and fine-tuned in line with real-time insights from the initial programmes.<\/p>\n Feedback from customers and the dogs\u2019 uptake of the training will be closely monitored to ensure that this is meaningful for both ATM users and their furry friends.<\/p>\n In addition, Absa will analyse first-hand customer experiences and feedback to inform ongoing enhancements and functionality on ATMs, to further improve the experience for visually-impaired customers.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking a meaningful contribution to the communities in which we operate, particularly the vulnerable (and differently-abled), is of paramount importance.<\/p>\n \u201cGaining insights and learning is critical in tailoring our offerings to cater for all our customers.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsa is proud to support the training of both guide dogs as well as the blind community on the use of ATMs,\u201d said Mhlantla.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
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