November 13, 2016, Abu Dhabi – As part of its digital innovation strategy, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading financial institution, will install voice-activation technology on its ATMs to enable visually impaired customers to use their voice to easily and securely conduct their transactions.
ADIB, which has the largest ATM network in the UAE with more than 770 ATMs, has partnered with NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), a global leader in omni-channel solutions, on this initiative. It is also the first UAE bank to use this technology, and will begin to roll out the new voice-activated ATMs in phases commencing with 20 ATMs in December.
Philip King, ADIB's Head of Retail Banking, commented: "In line with the Central Bank's commitment to the visually impaired, we are pleased to be partnering with NCR in our efforts to better meet the needs of visually impaired customers, and to empower them to take control of their transactions and have secure access to our ATM services. ADIB continues to look for ways to utilize innovative technology to bring convenience and flexibility to our customers' everyday banking transactions, and deliver a superior customer experience every time."
Wael El Aawar, Managing Director for NCR in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, said: "This is the first of its kind project in the UAE and is a bank-wide digitization initiative. NCR ATMs are designed as per Access for All (AFA) standards and comprises accessible key pads, voice-guidance technology, Braille stickers and multi-lingual capability that allows visually challenged customers to securely execute standard ATM transactions such as withdrawals, deposits and payments without any help."
Approximately 98% of all ADIB's cash transactions are conducted though ADIB's ATMs, which also offer other services including utility bill payments, money transfers and charity donations. ADIB was also first to introduce the region's first biometric ATM readers in cooperation with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. ADIB's digital innovation strategy aims to provide its customers with the highest level of convenient services to all its customers.