We call on organizations and citizens to join the development of barrier-free accessibility in Ukraine as early as today

This year, Banker.ua is presenting its first ever Banker Awards 2024, which recognizes the best Ukrainian banks and companies for their achievements during the year. These businesses have become the drivers of the country's development, financial sector and economy, so recognizing their efforts will encourage them to further improve their products and services, automate processes and digitalize. So, we are pleased to present the winners and their nominations, and publish exclusive interviews with them.

Oschadbank is the winner in the “Inclusive Bank” nomination

Today, Oschadbank has the largest network of branches in Ukraine - about 1,200, of which more than 70% are certified in accordance with state building standards for inclusiveness. They are equipped with ramps, tactile tiles, manager call buttons, etc.

Separately, the Oschad network has 23 branches designed according to its own barrier-free project - the bank calls them super-inclusive. These branches are additionally equipped with low cash desks, specialized bathrooms, ATMs, and terminals with tactile markers and headphone jacks. Oschadbank has 72 ATMs and 66 self-service terminals specially equipped to serve visually impaired people. Last year, Oschad was also the first bank to launch mobile units based on vans, which provide banking services in those communities where no other bank operates. The bank also created a separate service model called “My Accessibility”, under which employees underwent a specialized training course, including basic medical training.

Recently, the bank's list of services included onboarding, which is the online signing up of new individual clients. Oschadbank has also introduced onboarding for individual entrepreneurs and is an active participant in the state business assistance program eRobota, including the area aimed at supporting veteran entrepreneurship. Besides, since April 2024, Oschad has been the first bank to launch a special loan program for veterans called “Business 4.5.0.”

In addition to the above-mentioned projects, special courses on veterans' services for staff, and assistance in starting/developing their own business, Oschadbank is implementing two other major initiatives: an adaptation program for its own veterans and participation in partnership projects designed to help rehabilitate Ukrainian military and civilians injured as a result of the full-scale invasion of the aggressor country.

Sergii Naumov, Chairman of the Management Board of Oschadbank, spoke about how the bank implements the principles of inclusiveness in its work and why everyone in Ukraine needs to join barrier-free programs today.

—  Mr. Naumov, what is the basis of Oschad's inclusive banking programs?

— We rely on our own experience, research and best international practices. At the end of last year, we launched a special program called “My Accessibility”, one of the goals of which is to scale up the accessibility of Oschadbank's services for millions of Ukrainians with disabilities and for veterans separately. The internal component of the program covers three main areas: physical accessibility, communication barrier-free access (staff training), and development of digital services tailored to the needs of people with disabilities.

As part of this program, we conducted a large-scale training program for all employees called “Inclusively Welcoming”. It provides specialized training in proper communication for understanding and accepting human diversity, as we must provide quality service to all categories of customers. Special attention was paid to the rules of interaction with female and male veterans.

In implementing the idea of inclusive banking, Oschadbank is committed to the availability of financial services, social responsibility, partnership with the government and international organizations, transparency and ethical standards.

— What other components of the My Accessibility program exist?

— Oschadbank is actively expanding access to banking products and services throughout the government-controlled territory of Ukraine and among groups of people who need special services. We do this, in particular, by digitalizing and improving the physical accessibility of branches. This year, we also launched mobile branches based on vehicles that operate near the contact line.

We have a separate area of assistance programs for veterans aimed at their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

In addition, Oschadbank, together with Visa, supports public discussion on inclusiveness. In the spring, we jointly organized a large conference on barrier-free accessibility, which was attended by more than 160 companies, including Nova Poshta, Ukrzaliznytsia, Fozzy Group, Novus, McDonald's, etc. The forum discussed methodological and practical aspects of how barrier-free accessibility should be developed in Ukraine.

With the support of Oschadbank and Visa, prosthetic soldier Oleksandr Budko, nicknamed “Teren,” created the first inclusive travel show, “Leg Dump or All inclusive,” in which he explored the barrier-free nature of Ukrainian cities. This project had an impact not only on businesses but also on society as a whole due to the large public response. For example, some mayors have initiated changes in the streets of their cities based on the results of Oleksandr's inspections. Soon, Oleksandr will be promoting the topic of inclusion in a new show with his participation - The Bachelor. Oschad has also joined this project.

— How does the bank cooperate with NGOs and government agencies to support inclusive financial initiatives?

— Implementation of barrier-free solutions is a task for all stakeholders: government, business, and the public sector. Oschad sees its mission in this area not only in improving its own inclusiveness, but also in helping to unite concerned citizens and organizations around this movement.

One example of such cooperation is the bank's participation in the Business Without Barriers community, a group of companies united around First Lady Olena Zelenska's initiative “Without Barriers”. Business representatives meet regularly, present their inclusive initiatives and participate in joint projects.

For example, Visa and Oschadbank community members, in partnership with the Mindy Foundation, the CMU Mental Health Coordination Center, the NGO Bezbariernist, Zhytomyr RMA, Ovruch City Council, and other RMAs, have started creating a network of rehabilitation modules in small towns of Ukraine, installing a pilot rehabilitation mobile module in Ovruch. The next step is to launch three more such facilities.

As part of the inclusive program “My Accessibility”, Oschadbank supported the Ukrainian Paralympic movement, which includes many veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

On the initiative of the NBU and the EBRD, Oschad joined the Charter on Financial Inclusion and Reintegration of Veterans, according to which the bank undertakes to support the reintegration and re-socialization of war veterans into civilian life and protect their economic interests and opportunities. The list of similar initiatives implemented by Oschad together with its partners is long.

Implementation of barrier-free solutions is a task for all stakeholders: the state, business, and the public sector. Oschad sees its mission in this area not only in improving its own inclusiveness, but also in helping to unite concerned citizens and organizations around this movement.

— What plans does Oschadbank have to expand its inclusiveness in the coming years?

— Having the most extensive network of branches, we are working to ensure that 100% of our network meets the state standards of inclusiveness - the percentage of our institutions that have been certified for compliance with state inclusive standards is constantly increasing. We also plan to increase the number of inclusive branches, developed in-house - these branches significantly exceed the current inclusion standards. We will increase the number of our mobile “branches on wheels” that operate in places where no other bank is present. Additionally, we are also planning to expand the network of specialized ATMs and self-service terminals for the visually impaired.

And, of course, we will continue to raise awareness of the need for inclusive changes. This is part of the process of Ukraine's integration into the European community.

— What challenges does the bank see in implementing inclusive practices, and how does it plan to overcome them?

 — For many decades, no one in Ukraine has given much thought to the fact that the country should live by barrier-free standards. As a result, the number of changes needed to ensure that all categories of Ukrainians have equal access to various opportunities is enormous. No single organization or even the state can fix this situation on its own. For example, we have built a fully inclusive department where people with disabilities can comfortably receive all the necessary services. But how, for example, will a person in a wheelchair get to this department if their home does not have a ramp, and public transportation does not have special facilities that allow people with disabilities to use it? A barrier-free Ukraine is a titanic task, but with the joint efforts of all partners, we will gradually move closer to European standards in this area. Join the barrier-free movement already today!

https://banker.ua/uk/projects/banker-awards-2024-oshhadbank-interview-2/