Westpac reveals major update making cards more accessible
One major bank has unveiled a major update on its credit and debit cards that’s intended to help one group manage their money.
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Westpac has updated its cards to make them more accessible for blind and low vision customers.
The new designs on credit, debit and prepaid cards have a number or accessibility elements, most notably different notches along the short edge of the card to help distinguish one card from another.
The notches - square for credit card, round for debit card and triangular for prepaid card - also help customers identify which end of the card to insert into machines.
Each card also includes a braille market to further help distinguish between them.
The new suite of card designs will be progressively rolled out to customers.
Westpac’s chief brand and marketing officer Annabel Fribence said that the new cards would “make payments easier for everyone”.
“The features of the new cards are a simple but innovative step forward that will make a big difference in the day-to-day lives of many blind or low vision Australians,” Ms Fribence said.
“Our strategy is to continue to develop products and services that are accessible to all customers.
“This builds on a range of initiatives we already have in place such as accessibility mode on all our EFTPOS Now terminals, online applications that meet accessibility requirements and accessible digital card functionality when customers use voice-over and talk back.
The new card is a “simple yet impactful” measure for those who are vision impaired according to Blind Citizens Australia chief executive Sally Aurisch.
“Measures like this can go a long way to giving customers who are blind or vision impaired that extra bit of confidence and independence when stepping up to the payment counter,” she said.
Originally published as Westpac reveals major update making cards more accessible
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