By Alex C
Keystone Bank Limited has unveiled an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) gallery showcasing a new innovation, the provision of features that allow physically challenged persons to operate the machines without third party support.
Yvonne Isichei, Executive Director for Operations and Technology, Keystone Bank, said the gallery was set up as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, and chose the Maryland area of Lagos because of its unique positioning at the center of Lagos.
“It is all about touching the lives of people, to demonstrate our commitment to financial inclusion as a developmental goal as well as to align with the goal of sustainable banking, which is all about being conscious of the needs of those around its environment,” she said.
She expressed her optimism that the new suite of machines would further drive Financial Inclusion by reducing the exclusion of the physically challenged.
“We want to make financial services accessible. Financial inclusion is about encouraging everybody, taking it near the people as much as possible. It is about our channels and their workability. It is supposed to make life easier. We are happy to know that there has been an appreciable progress, but we still have a long way from achieving a 70 percent financial inclusion, which is the objective of vision 2020,” she added.
Obioha Ononogbu, Chairman, Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, who was in attendance at the launch of the gallery, urged other banks to follow the steps of Keystone Bank in reaching out to all groups of people in society.
According to him; “The world is for everybody, you don’t have to exclude some people. The disabled should also have the opportunity to benefit from banking facilities. The most important aspect is that it is made accessible for people on wheel chairs. I think that is the highlight of this system. This is a very good one for us that are on wheel chairs, so that we can have access and do it ourselves and not depending on anyone.”