Dear Accessindians , In response to some of the questions with regards to accessible banking, we have the following points to make. 1) A thumb print recognition system is a workable alternative. As of now XRCVC and CMC are working on the joint testing of the system. We are hopeful that banks will adopt this system soon given the fact that the IBA guidelines are recommending them. 2) Even now with the present rules in place, a bank will have to find its own way of thumb print recognition. They will have to be gently reminded of the new rules. Dr. Sam Taraporevala Director------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) St. Xavier's College, 5 Mahapalika Marg Mumbai - 400001 +91 22 22620661-5 (extn: 366) +91 22 22623298 (direct) +91 9967028769 (mobile) [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:54:03 +0530> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected]> Subject: Re: [AI] New Banking Guidelines from I B A> CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > first of all, hearty gratitude to XRCVC for their massive effert in> regards to banking guidelines for the visually impaired.> Since I am oblivious from laws and policies for visually impaired,> wanted to ask several queries.> Many times I've seen that persons at the banks denies VI people to open account.> generally, they argue to those who uses thum impression.> I stalwartly believe that thum impression is the most secured way of> operating bank account in this world of frauds. Therefore, I would> like to use the thum impression even though I do signature in general.> Can you please tell, what are the provision for those VI people who> wants to open bank account, but wants to use their thum impression for> further operations> Though I've read the circular and it states following in the context:> "Banks should not deny any services to visually impaired customers> including visually impaired customers who use their thumb impression> for operating the bank account."> However, in one of the lines in same circular, the following is written:> "Further, we have seen demonstration of finger print technology being> developed by software firm which would enable banks to store thumb> impression of visually impaired persons in place of signature in their> system. Cheques authenticated by them with thumb impression can be> scanned and the image compared with that stored in the system to honor> the cheque. It is suggested that when this technology is fully> developed and made available in the market, banks should consider> integrating it with their core banking platform so that cheque book> facility can be extended to a larger segment of visually impaired> persons"> now, the question is that what would be the provisions mean while the> technology develops completely?> Can a VI person who uses thum impression still issue checks?> If yes, then what would be the parameters of it's authentication?> If no, then what may be other alternatives for the person who wants to> use his/ her account independently?> Hope I managed to keep my query finely.> In waite of your responses,> Aisha sahani.> > > On 11/19/08, Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged, St.> Xavier's College <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> >> > Dear Fellow Access Indians,> >> > It gives us great pleasure to inform you that close on the heals of the RBI> > circular in June, The Xavier's Resource Center for the Visually Challenged> > (XRCVC) had lobbied intensively with the Indian Banks Association (IBA) to> > come out with a set of inclusive guidelines for visually challenged bank> > account holders . They have just issued their circular which we are pasting> > below for your record. This circular shortly will also be available on the> > IBA and XRCVC websites.> >> > A big thank you to the IBA management and also to Kanchan Pamnani for all> > their help and work.> >> > Dr. Sam Taraporevala> > Director> > XRCVC> >> > IBA CIRCULAR> > No.CE/RB-1/vip/1766> > November 18, 2008> >> > The Chief Executives of all Member Banks> >> > Dear Sirs,> >> > Providing Banking Facilities to Visually Impaired Persons> >> > We refer to our circular No.CIR/RB/1230 dated February 4, 2006 enclosing> > procedural guidelines on the captioned subject. Subsequent to which, we have> > received several representations from visually impaired persons regarding> > the facilities and services being provided by banks and the ground level> > difficulties being faced by them. As you are aware, procedural guidelines> > were issued in the context of the order dated September 5, 2005 passed by> > the Court of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, New Delhi> > regarding facilities to be provided to visually impaired persons.> >> > Following complaints from Visually Impaired Persons, the Commissioner for> > Persons with Disabilities had again issued an advisory to the Finance> > Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in May 2008 to take necessary> > steps to ensure that visually impaired persons are not denied normal banking> > facilities.> >> > Subsequently, the RBI, vide circular DBOD.No.Leg BC.91/09.07.005/2007-08> > dated 4th June 2008 advised banks that all banks must render the same> > services to a visually impaired person as it would to any other person> > without discrimination. The Circular stated that the banks, must provide the> > visually impaired with every facility viz., cheque Book facility, ATM> > facility, net banking facility, locker facility, retail loans, credit cards> > etc.> >> > Following the above RBI circular, we had examined the need to revise the> > procedural guidelines issued in February 2006 in consultation with IBA> > Sub-committee on Customer Service and Customer Rights. We also had> > interactions with a Mumbai based voluntary organization working for the> > welfare of Impaired persons. The interactions indicated that technology> > innovation in the recent years had greatly empowered visually impaired> > persons in leading a normal life. Technology applications such as screen> > readers for computers and mobile phones, which are being used by the> > visually impaired persons for online/net banking, were demonstrated to us.> > Visually impaired persons can read and understand printed documents etc. by> > first scanning them and then getting them read out by the screen reader.> >> > -//-> >> > PAGE : 2 :> >> > Further, we have seen demonstration of finger print technology being> > developed by software firm which would enable banks to store thumb> > impression of visually impaired persons in place of signature in their> > system. Cheques authenticated by them with thumb impression can be scanned> > and the image compared with that stored in the system to honor the cheque.> > It is suggested that when this technology is fully developed and made> > available in the market, banks should consider integrating it with their> > core banking platform so that cheque book facility can be extended to a> > larger segment of visually impaired persons.> >> > Our attention was also drawn to the United Nations Convention on the Rights> > of Persons with Disabilities, which clearly commits to rights of persons> > with disability and their access to services. Article 9 of the Convention> > enables persons with disabilities to live independently and participate> > fully in all aspects of life and also gives them access to facilities and> > services open or provided to the public, both in urban and rural areas.> > Additionally, Article 12 states " Parties shall take all appropriate and> > effective measures to ensure the equal right of persons with disabilities to> > own or inherit property, to control their own financial affairs and to have> > equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit,> > and shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not arbitrarily deprived> > of their property."> >> > It is expected that the guidelines issued by the RBI would result in an> > increase in the number of ATM cards issued to visually impaired persons.> > This would enhance the case for installation of talking ATMs to facilitate> > hassle free operations by visually impaired persons. Banks are requested to> > consider installing talking ATMs wherever feasible.> >> > Keeping in view the above, we have revised the procedural guidelines for> > providing banking facilities to visually impaired persons, copy of which is> > enclosed. While finalizing the document the Sub-Committee took into> > consideration that request for ATM facilities, online banking facilities> > etc., would come only from visually impaired persons who are capable of> > using the applications. Members are requested to kindly consider the revised> > procedural guidelines and issue necessary instructions to the operating> > staff.> >> > Yours faithfully,> >> > K Unnikrishnan> > Dy. Chief Executive> >> > Encl:A/a> >> > PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR BANKING FACILITIES TO> > VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS> >> > I. General Instructions> >> > Banking facilities for visually impaired persons should be offered at all> > branches of the bank.> >> > Banks should not equate visually impaired customers with illiterate> > customers.> >> > All Banks must provide the same facilities to a visually impaired> > customer/prospective customer as it would to any other customer. But at the> > same time the customers should be made aware of the risk involved in some of> > these facilities which may be higher than that for a normal customer.> >> > Additional facilities like reading and filling up of forms, slips, cheques> > should be provided to a visually impaired customer, if required.> >> > Banks should not deny any services to visually impaired customers including> > visually impaired customers who use their thumb impression for operating the> > bank account.> >> > A visually impaired customer must not be forced to operate the bank account> > jointly with any person or in the presence of any person.> >> > Visually impaired customers may be allowed to appoint a person/persons as> > their Power of Attorney or Mandate Holder to operate their bank> > account if the visually impaired customer so desires.> >> > II. Opening of Bank Accounts> >> > All banking products offered by the bank should be made available to> > visually impaired persons.> >> > The bank must follow the same procedure for opening the account of a> > visually impaired person as it does for its other customers.> >> > He / She must be allowed to open the account either singly or jointly with> > others.> >> > The Bank must allow the visually impaired customer to open a joint account> > with anybody that he/she chooses including person(s) who is/are visually> > impaired.> >> > The Officer / Manager of the branch should read out the rules of business> > and other terms and conditions in the presence of a witness, if required by> > the customer.> >> > The bank branch manager must inform a visually impaired customer/prospective> > customer of his rights and liabilities before opening the account.> >> > The documentation requirements of a visually impaired customer must be the> > same as any other customer.> >> > The account has to be clearly marked as "the account holder is visually> > impaired".> >> > III. Withdrawal of cash / Cheque book facility> >> > Facilities for withdrawal of cash as are provided to all customers regarding> > cash payments must be provided to visually impaired customers.> >> > In case a visually impaired customer makes cash withdrawals at the bank then> > the payment must be made in the presence of another bank employee/officer.> > No outside witnesses are required unless the visually impaired customer> > requests that such witnesses be present.> >> > Operations should not be restricted to self-withdrawals.> >> > Cheque book facility should not be denied to visually impaired person.> >> > All procedures pertaining to the use of such cheque books by visually> > impaired customers must be in accordance with that the other customers.> >> > Cheques issued by visually impaired persons to third parties should be> > honoured, if otherwise in order.> >> > IV. Credit Cards /Debit Cards> >> > Visually impaired customers must be issued credit cards/debit cards on> > request.> >> > All rules and regulation regarding credit/debit card must be available on> > the web-site of the respective bank in accessible format. These should be> > read out to visually impaired persons and perceived risk factors explained> > to them.> >> > Banks may consider issuing Credit/Debit Card with Photograph. This> > Photograph will work as a identification/verification.> >> >> > V. ATM/Debit Cards> >> > Visually impaired customers must be permitted to avail of ATM facilities.> >> > Banks should also ensure that the ATMs are accessible to other categories of> > persons with disabilities such as the orthopedically disabled.> >> > VI. On Line Banking / Mobile Banking and Tele Banking/Phone Banking> >> > All banks must have Accessible websites and conform to international> > accessibility standards.> >> > All customer facing applications such as web applications, desktop> > applications and mobile applications should be accessible to visually> > impaired persons.> >> > The banks should have alternate methods of user authentication/password> > verification.> >> > All features especially those related to customer security must be> > accessible visually impaired persons.> >> > VII. Lockers> >> > Visually impaired customers should be provided with locker facility on> > request.> >> > Suitable lockers conveniently located for operations may be allotted.> >> > Bank procedures for issuing a locker to a visually impaired customer must be> > the same as to any other customer.> >> > A visually impaired customer may be given the following options for> > operation of locker:> >> > Operation – Singly> > Operation - Singly with the assistance of a reliable person, as per the> > choice of the Applicant.> > Operation - Jointly.> >> > A visually impaired customer may request the person in-charge of the locker> > to be present when the locker is opened or to check if nothing has been left> > behind or fallen after the locker is closed.> >> > VIII. Loans> >> > Loans must be made available to visually impaired customers as are offered> > to other customers and their impairment of vision should not be a criterion> > for sanctioning/denying a loan.> >> > No additional burden of interest payment, collateral and other terms should> > be imposed on the visually impaired customer.> >> > **********> >> > _________________________________________________________________> > Register once and play all contests. Increase your scores with bonus credits> > for logging in daily on MSN.> > http://specials.msn.co.in/msncontest/index.aspx> > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with> > the subject unsubscribe.> >> > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please> > visit the list home page at> > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in> > _________________________________________________________________ Searching for weekend getaways? 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