HSBC UK has collaborated with Alzheimer’s Society to launch an innovative series of cards designed to assist individuals with dementia, along with those experiencing visual impairments, learning difficulties, and dyslexia.
These uniquely designed cards feature a vertical layout, equipped with an arrow at the top and a carved notch at the bottom to indicate the correct orientation for insertion into card readers and ATMs. Tactile raised dots have also been integrated to aid visually impaired users in distinguishing between credit and debit cards, as well as personal and business accounts.
Visually, the cards enhance clarity with flat-printed card numbers, improved color contrast, and larger fonts that make it easier to read the card details. In alignment with a global initiative announced in April, these new cards will be produced from recycled PVC plastic (rPVC).
Maxine Pritchard, Head of Financial Inclusion and Vulnerability at HSBC UK, commented, “Many customers often find it challenging to differentiate between their credit and debit cards or to read card details as the numbers fade over time. These obstacles are encountered daily by individuals with disabilities. Prioritizing accessibility in our card designs has been essential, so we are excited to offer features that cater to a variety of abilities and needs, available to all our customers as standard.”
Morven Lean, Senior Strategic Change Manager at Alzheimer’s Society, highlighted that there are approximately 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. “Everyday banking tasks that many take for granted, such as recognizing the correct orientation of a card, can prove to be significant challenges,” she stated. “These accessible cards represent a vital step in ensuring that individuals living with dementia feel supported and acknowledged as equal members of society.”
In a parallel initiative, Nationwide Building Society recently began issuing embossed and recycled bank cards featuring ‘dot and notch’ designs, certified by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).