Manx Blind Welfare Society has welcomed investment by Lloyds Bank to make access to banking facilities easier for blind and visually impaired people.
When the high street bank decided to install new Cashpoint machines at its branches in Prospect Hill, Douglas, and Parliament Street, Ramsey, it paid special attention to the needs of those with limited vision.
Each machine includes a socket which headphones can be plugged into so the customer can be talked through using the machine. That means visually impaired people who have previously been unable to use cash machines due to difficulties seeing the screens can now access a wide range of automated banking services, such as withdrawing cash and checking balances, without having to go inside the bank.
Lloyds Bank Business Development Manager Lucy Felton said: ‘We are always looking for ways to improve our service to all customers, and the installation of new Cashpoint machines was an opportunity to improve accessibility for our blind and visually impaired clients.
‘It was important to us that the new facility was useful and useable for visually impaired people, so we asked Manx Blind Welfare Society to trial the machines and were delighted they found them helpful.
‘We will continue our work with the charity to identify further ways we can enhance our services in the Isle of Man for visually impaired people.’
Manx Blind Welfare Society Volunteers Coordinator & Events Organiser Debbie Thomson was among those to trial the new machines.
She said: ‘The machines are simple to use and will give many visually impaired people the opportunity to use automated banking services the rest of us take for granted. Many of us are used to the convenience of being able to take out some money without having to go into the bank, perhaps in the evening or at weekends when they are closed. Now these automated services are more readily available to visually impaired people in the Island too.
‘The Society’s aim is to enable visually impaired people to live as independently as they choose, and we welcome the steps taken by Lloyds Bank to give people this additional tool towards independent living.
‘It is especially positive to know that in addition to making this facility available, staff inside the branches are on hand to assist new Cashpoint machine users as they get used to the spoken instructions.
‘We look forward to working with Lloyds in the future as they introduce further improvements for visually impaired customers.’
To find out more about the work of Manx Blind Welfare Society visit www.facebook.com/manxblindwelfaresociety.
Photo - (from left) Lloyds Bank Business Development Manager Lucy Felton, Manx Blind Welfare Society Volunteers Coordinator & Events Organiser Debbie Thomson, Lloyds Bank Personal Banker Maureen Allan and Claire Radcliffe, Manager of Service at Lloyds Bank.
