FirstBank, West Africa’s oldest and one of its most trusted financial institutions, is preparing to launch a groundbreaking suite of services that will make banking more accessible for blind, partially sighted, and customers with disabilities—an initiative that promises to reshape the future of inclusive finance in Nigeria.
The new services reflect FirstBank’s enduring vision to drive financial inclusion and diversity. The Bank’s internal culture already mirrors this vision with progressive policies: women make up 41% of its workforce and hold 37% of management positions. Through initiatives like the FirstBank Women Network and its membership in UN Women, the Bank has shown commitment to bridging gender gaps and embedding fairness, inclusion, and non-discrimination at all levels.
Patrick Akhidenor, Chief Risk Officer and Chairman of the Bank’s Sustainability Committee, emphasized the heart of the initiative:
> “Everyone deserves access to financial services whether physically or digitally. We recognise this, and we are providing financial services that are both accessible and affordable to visually impaired and physically challenged customers at all our touchpoints. We are making it possible for them to manage their accounts independently and securely.”
The inclusive banking rollout will happen in phases across all FirstBank branches and subsidiaries. Customers will benefit from a range of tailored solutions, including ATMs with high-contrast screens and voice-prompt guidance, debit cards with tactile and braille features, transaction documents in braille, audio, large print, and digital formats, as well as enhanced soft PINs and secure tokens for seamless access to their accounts. Product brochures will also be provided in accessible formats to improve customer experience and understanding.
These innovations are fully aligned with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial inclusion agenda and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, reinforcing the right of all individuals to equal access to financial services.
By prioritizing accessibility, FirstBank is not only dismantling barriers that have long excluded people with disabilities from mainstream banking but also leading the charge in redefining ethical and socially responsible banking across Africa.
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1 comment
Great job First Bank. As you roll out the accessibility and diversity initiative, please ensure that people with disabilities are part of the conception, planning and execution. Also ensure that the ATM Machines are accessible to people who use wheelchairs and people who have visual, physical and other impairments. We hope other banks and various institutions and organizations will follow suit. Thank you.