Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB), in collaboration with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), unveiled the one-of-its-kind ATM on Monday.
Features like audio guidance, Braille stickers and headphones help customers of determination navigate the ATM. The new ATM was installed at the SCHS to offer four standard services to people of determination, including cash withdrawal, balance enquiry, mini statement and PIN change. It will be accessible to other people as well.
The initiative is part of the efforts to integrate people of determination into society and cater to their financial needs.
Mohammed Abdullah, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, said: "The move aims at helping people of determination and providing them with the supportive technology that enhances their independence and financial empowerment and help them integrate into the community.
"These efforts are in line with the UAE Government's orientation towards the empowerment of people of determination by implementing the best policies and practices which help them make decisions and have equal participation in society."
He added: "We are proud to be the first financial institution in the Middle East to launch such an ATM that serves two categories of people of determination: Those who are visually challenged and those who use wheelchairs, alike. It is not the first service offered by the bank to people of determination.
"SIB has opened the first ATM in the Middle East available to wheelchair-users, at the Al Thiqah Club for Handicapped, as well as another ATM for visually challenged at the Emirates Association of the Visually Impaired."
Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, director-general of the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, said: "SIB's initiative to ensure that people of determination have access to banking services showed a great sense of social responsibility. Providing banking facilities to the visually challenged enables them take control of their financial needs without external help."
She pointed out that the SCHS campaign launched on January 3 to promote social responsibility and increase contributions to build state-of-the-art facilities, will provide a better educational and training environment for people of determination. The estimated cost of the new facilities is about Dh500 million.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ibtisam Buzinjal, a visually challenged beneficiary, said that the new ATM made her feel self-reliant, as she didn't need anyone to help her with the transaction process. It also ensured that her money and account were safe, she added.
Kulaithim Obaid Al Matroushi, a wheelchair user, said: "I felt so great withdrawing Dh500 from the ATM without anyone's help."
