Sberbank Rossii : takes first place in rating of credit organisations’ financial accessibility for disabled clients

24 April 2018, Moscow - Sberbank has taken first place in a rating of the 20 largest Russian banks' level of accessibility for disabled clients. The rating was put together by the National Financial Information Agency (NFIA) following the completion of the first stage of its research titled 'Assessment of Financial Accessibility for Disabled People in 2017-18'.

The NFIA complied its rating with help from disabled experts who tested out the banks. They analysed the level of accessibility of information on banks' websites and the possibility of receiving services and information over the phone and also when visiting banks in person.

As of today 45% of Sberbank's branches are adapted for disabled people. More than 3,000 cash machines are adapted for blind clients and have audio ports; more than 9,000 cash machines have braille engravings, and more than 16,000 cash machines are located at low levels for wheelchair users.

The research also discovered that 92% of disabled people have bank accounts, 82% have bank cards, and 40% have deposits. This group is twice less likely to use loans (16%) than the general population. The overwhelming majority (86%) of blind clients stated that accessibility of financial services is an issue for them. Two thirds (64%) of deaf people stated that they have problems with accessing financial services. Almost half (46%) of disabled people said that it is more difficult from them to use financial services compared to able-bodied people.

The Bank of Russia summed up its rating of credit organisations' efforts to create a barrier-free environment for disabled clients. The regulator talked about how banks are carrying out its recommendations to create an accessible environment for the disabled, elderly and those with limited mobility.

According to the Bank of Russia, 43% of banks on the whole have acted on its recommendations (as of the end of last year), and 25% of banks are currently working on increasing the level of accessibility for this group of clients and plan to finish this work in 2018-19. Around a third of banks have ignored the regulator's recommendations.