Inclusion
Within the framework of initiatives aimed at enhancing a culture of sustainability and in line with the objectives of Agenda 2030, ABI and the banks are committed to crucial issues such as accessibility, financial and social inclusion, as well as the promotion of a culture geared towards valuing diversity and combating gender-based violence, including economic violence, with a strong social impact.
This effort is carried out in cooperation with various public and private stakeholders, both nationally and internationally, (including authorities, professional associations, ministries, non-profit organisations representing people with disabilities, manufacturers of assistive technologies and the academic world). The initiatives concern in particular:
- Physical and digital accessibility to banking services and products, to facilitate the usability of services for all, including customers with special needs, in compliance with national and European regulations;
- Education for economic citizenship to prevent social exclusion and help overcome gender inequalities;
- Attention to people of different nationalities and cultures, with products and ways of relating designed to meet their specific needs;
- Initiatives to support communities, families and people in difficulty, such as bank moratoria and other support measures for those facing economic and social fragility, including those affected by natural disasters;
- Valuing the female gender and combating stereotypes and violence, particularly gender-based violence, including economic violence;
- Promoting intergenerational and cultural balance in the world of work to foster an inclusive environment
Accessibility and financial and social inclusion
Accessibility and usability of banking facilities, products and services are a fundamental objective of the balso and dahe ABI, in the logic of maximum financial and, therefore, social inclusion of all people.
Protocol on the European Disability Charter
The ABI, as part of its commitment to the issues of attention to diversity, inclusion and accessibility by persons with functional limitations, signed a Memorandum of Understanding together with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Acri aimed at promoting and enhancing the instrument of the "European Disability Charter" for the valorisation of initiatives directed at customers and aimed at improving dialogue with persons with functional limitations.
The choice of how to implement the commitments in the 'Charter' is left to the determination of each participating bank.
Carta Europea della Disabilità - Promossa dalle banche e dalle fondazioni di origine bancaria
Press release
12 August 2024Memorandum of Understanding ABI, Presidency of the Council and Acri
27 June 2023Protocol with the National Board for the Deaf
The Protocol between the ABI and the Ente Nazionale Sordi (National Board for the Deaf) to foster relations with people with hearing disabilities through various cooperation plans, in particular the carrying out of joint info-educational activities but also the identification of technological and multisensory solutions aimed at improving the use of banking products and services by the deaf.
Interested persons can contact the organisation for details on cooperation with the banking world.
Table launched to strengthen the relationship between banks and people with hearing impairments
Press release
29 July 2023Protocol with the National Board for the Deaf
Text signed on 30 June 2023
12 July 2023ABI Protocol - Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired
The Protocol between the ABI and the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired ETS-APS (UICI) provides for various cooperation plans, in particular the implementation of experimental projects and joint info-educational activities.
Thanks to this collaboration, numerous financial education initiatives have been developed in the form of audio guides and podcasts, as well as experimental projects, coordinated by ABI and in synergy with Bancomat, concerning
- the safe accessibility of touch screen Pos i.e. without raised buttons
- the accessibility of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) withdrawal flows
- the use of Pos for blind merchants.
- Downloadable Protocol, Documents and Audio
Interested persons can contact the Union for details on cooperation with the banking world.
ABI, project with Uici and Bancomat for the visually impaired
Press release
Online audio guides for the use of ATMs and POS by blind and visually impaired people
Press release
29 December 2018
Protocollo, Documenti e Audioguide
- The ABI-UICI Memorandum of Understanding
- POS Accessibility Guide - Pdf
- Audio Book POS Accessibility Guide
- Atm Accessibility Guide - Pdf
- Audio Book ATM Accessibility Guide
- Audio guide - Guide against economic violence
- Audio Guide - Identity Theft
- Audio Guide - Circular Economy Vademecum
- Audio guide - Brexit
- Audio Guide - Your Rights 8 September 2021
- Audio guide for sustainable finance
- Audio Guide on Total Cost Indicator (CCI)
- Vademecum against scams - Pdf
- Audio guide Vademecum against scams
- Audio Guide - Basic account: what it is and who can get it free of charge
- Audio Guide - MiFid2: clearer and more comprehensive information on investment costs and charges
- Audio Guide - Loans - more attention to deadlines and repayments
- Audio Guide - How online payments change with PSD2
Initiatives for foreign nationals
Financial and social inclusion concerns a set of initiatives aimed at fostering theaccess fair and conscious by people and organisations to banking services and the opportunities offered by the financial markets. A special focus is on foreign nationals. To facilitate financial integration, land banks, supported by ABI, propose specific solutionssuch as financial education programmes and services bankers dedicated.