Bank Rakyat introduces notched cards for visually impaired users
KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Rakyat has introduced a new tactile feature on selected cards to help blind and partially sighted customers identify their debit, credit and prepaid cards by touch.
The Mastercard's Touch Card feature includes notches on the short edge, rounded for debit, squared for credit and triangular for prepaid, allowing users to distinguish between them without needing sight.
Bank Rakyat will apply the feature to two cards namely the Muslimah Credit Card-i, which will have a square notch and the Debit Card-i, which will have a rounded notch.
Chief executive officer Ahmad Shahril Mohd Shariff said the initiative follows consultations with the Malaysian Islamic Association of the Visually Impaired (Pertis).
"This reflects our commitment to making banking more accessible to all Malaysians," he said in a statement today.
"We worked with Pertis and Mastercard to better understand the needs of the visually impaired and deliver solutions that address real challenges," he added.
The first 30 Pertis members to receive the updated cards will be given a RM200 incentive via the Bank Rakyat Debit Card-i.
Mastercard Malaysia and Brunei country manager Beena Pothen said the Touch Card offers a "simple and intuitive way" for visually impaired individuals to identify their cards and enjoy the convenience and security of card payments.
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