The National Bank advocates for financial inclusion of people with disabilities: Guidelines for banks and a brochure for people with visual impairment have been prepared
The National Bank is strengthening its activities to improve the lives of people with disabilities by facilitating access to financial services. To this end, the central bank has developed Guidelines for Greater Inclusion of People with Disabilities as Consumers in the Banking Sector, which include greater facilitation of physical access to locations and installation of digital platforms, involvement in the design of banking products, as well as better information for these users of banking services. The National Bank has also developed and printed a Brochure intended for people with visual impairments, which would contribute to their greater financial education and better information about their rights.
At the presentation of the Guidelines and Brochure at the National Bank, which was held in front of representatives of banks and competent institutions, the Governor Anita Angelovska-Bezhoska sent a message to institutions and banks to jointly ensure integration and support for people with disabilities in all aspects of life, including in the economic sphere and finances.
“Although banks recognize the need to adapt the ways in which people with disabilities use services, a survey conducted by the National Bank since the beginning of 2024 found that a greater number of counters and ATMs adapted for people with disabilities are needed, as well as ramps for access to banking facilities. It is also necessary to improve the legal framework in this area, i.e. to prepare internal acts that will ensure better accessibility to financial services for people with disabilities. According to the submitted responses to the survey, banks very rarely provide advertising materials for people with disabilities, specific lending designed for this group of citizens, as well as special programs for financial education for people with disabilities. This data shows that this is an area in which we must work together,” said Governor Angelovska-Bezhoska, calling on banks to take the Guidelines into account and actively work to improve the accessibility of their services for people with disabilities.
Presenting the Guidelines and the Brochure, the Director of the Consumer Protection and Financial Education Directorate at the National Bank, Elizabeta Nedanovska, emphasized that facilitating access for people with disabilities to financial services will significantly increase their potential for economic independence and social integration.
“Within the framework of the MBA, we conducted a survey on the accessibility of financial services for people with disabilities, from which we gained insight into the situation in the sector and from which recommendations and guidelines for action emerged that each of the institutions will individually implement. In addition, the MBA has also established an Education Committee, which provides training for employees on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and strengthening their communication skills,” noted the Vice-President of the Macedonian Banking Association, Mr. Bojan Stojanoski.
“The inclusion of people with disabilities in the banking sector is not only an obligation, but also an opportunity for banking institutions to demonstrate that they are leaders in innovation and social responsibility and inclusion. Through such steps, we can create a more inclusive society where everyone will have equal access to financial services. Let’s make our banks accessible to everyone – because everyone deserves to be part of the economic life,” emphasized the President of the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, Mr. Limko Bejzaroski.
According to data from the World Health Organization, about 15% of the world’s population suffers from some type of disability and these people often struggle with poverty and unemployment. Therefore, in recent years the National Bank has been undertaking activities to improve accessibility to financial services for people with disabilities, which is also foreseen as a need in the documents adopted by the National Bank, namely the National Strategy for Financial Education and Financial Inclusion and the Circular on the Protection of Consumers of Financial Services. The efforts relate to the inclusion of people with disabilities, following international standards and regulations, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
