Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and Ajman Bank have strengthened their commitment to inclusion through a new initiative “designed to expand access to the digital economy.”
The Touch Card is “an accessible payment card that will allow blind and partially sighted people to easily facilitate payments and distinguish between their cards.”
There are few effective ways “for those who are blind or who have reduced vision to quickly determine whether they’re holding a credit, debit, or prepaid card, particularly as more cards move to flat designs without embossed names and numbers.” Mastercard is “addressing this challenge with a simple innovation and has introduced a system of notches on the side of the card to help consumers use the right card, the right way.”
Mohamed Amiri, Chief Executive Officer, Ajman Bank, said:
“At Ajman Bank inclusion is an integral aspect of our corporate culture and social responsibility. Innovation has the power to change the world for the better. We are delighted to partner with Mastercard to be the first movers to help drive this innovative solution that will help us to respond to everyone’s needs. For visually impaired customers, selecting the right card can very often be a challenging experience.”
He added:
“Touch Card allows consumers to quickly distinguish which card they are using through the three distinct notches. We’ve always appreciated Mastercard’s vision for thinking of new ways to innovate and do things differently to serve more people,”
Moza Al Akraf Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Development said:
“Accessibility is a human right and this latest initiative by Mastercard will open new possibilities for the inclusion of individuals with visual impairment into the digital economy. Ajman Bank’s collaboration with Mastercard will make daily life easier for a lot of people. It aligns with UAE’s social and community goals to promote an inclusive environment for everyone by tapping into the infinite power and potential of technology to enrich people’s wellbeing regardless of their capabilities.”
Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and President of Healthcare, Mastercard, added:
“This initiative is taking inclusion to the next level as we look to promote accessibility in new and meaningful ways. This world-first collaboration with Ajman Bank to introduce the Mastercard Touch Card will offer a greater level of independence and security to blind and partially sighted individuals across the UAE.”
The Touch Card has been “designed to work with point-of-sale terminals and ATMs, ensuring they can be deployed at scale – the credit cards have a squarish notch; debit cards have a rounded notch; and prepaid cards have a triangular notch.”
As well as blind and partially sighted consumers, anyone in a low-light environment or reaching into a wallet or purse one-handed “can benefit from the Touch Card design.”
The Ajman Bank Touch Card further “offers benefits to suit each cardholder’s unique needs, including cash back benefits of up to 10 per cent that can be selected from across four categories: fuel, online spend, groceries and school fees.”