National Bank of Egypt & Mastercard launch Touch Card for the visually impaired

By Gloria Methri

The National Bank of Egypt (NBE), in collaboration with Mastercard, has launched the Touch Card to empower customers with visual impairments.

The Touch Card has been meticulously crafted to seamlessly integrate with existing point-of-sale terminals and ATMs, ensuring widespread accessibility. It features distinct notches on the side, with debit cards having a rounded notch and prepaid cards bearing a triangular notch, helping users to identify and distinguish between their cards easily.

This unique card represents Egypt’s first innovative payment solution designed for sight-impaired and partially sighted individuals. It builds on NBE’s longstanding partnership with Mastercard and both parties’ shared vision of delivering innovative financial solutions tailored to these groups and driving financial inclusion.

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and are confident that the Touch Card will make a profound impact on the lives of individuals with visual impairments in Egypt, empowering them to manage their finances with greater ease and confidence. This initiative aligns with Mastercard’s global vision of a world where everyone has the tools and resources they need to thrive in the digital age,” said Adam Jones, Division President, West Arabia, Mastercard.

To increase access to financial services, the National Bank of Egypt has appointed 100 visually impaired employees and trained 400 staff members in sign language across 230 branches. It has also introduced Braille-equipped banking models in 60 branches, operates 1,288 ATMs specifically designed for visually impaired users, 34 ATMs catering to individuals with mobility disabilities and 28 mobile ATMs equipped with specialized lifts, and provides 60 financing programs under the “Hemma” program for individuals with disabilities.

Karim Soos, Retail Chief Executive Officer at the National Bank of Egypt, stated that this initiative aligns with NBE’s growing recognition of the importance of financial inclusion for individuals with disabilities. The Touch Card will empower these individuals to manage their finances confidently and participate fully in the digital economy.