Union Bank to Open 100 ‘Talking ATMs’ for Visually Impaired

Union Bank of India (UBI) plans to open nearly 100 “talking ATMs” for visually impaired customers across the country in 2012–13, Mr D. Sarkar, Chairman and Managing Director, said. So far, UBI has four such ATMs — in Mumbai, Lucknow and Gujarat — and their usefulness has prompted the bank to increase the number.

In a talking ATM operated by a visually challenged person, the ATM’s monitor screen remains blank. The customer is provided with a headphone to listen to the instructions and follow them accordingly.

Overall, UBI plans to increase the total number of ATMs from 4,000 to nearly 5,000 in India. UBI, which has overseas branches in Hong Kong, Sydney and Abu Dhabi, is set to open a branch in Dubai soon and is awaiting permission to open one in Belgium.