BBK, Bahrain’s leading retail and commercial bank, held an event to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, at a ceremony held at its Budaiya branch on Saturday, 3rd of December, 2022. The bank invited many of its valuable special needs customers, along with special needs institutions in the Kingdom to celebrate this occasion. The Bank also introduced a series of initiatives that will help special needs customers with their personal finances.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an internationally recognized observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992 and this year’s theme is titled; ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world’.

Noting the occasion and the initiatives introduced by the Bank, Dr. Adel Salem, General Manager of Retail Banking at BBK stated: “BBK is committed to inclusivity, diversity and social responsibility and our observation of this important day reflects that. We continue to work to assist our customers in any way that we can and are pleased to introduce several initiatives that will provide customers with special needs with more choice than ever before.”

“BBK is truly committed to giving back to the community, and therefore, we do not miss an opportunity to harness our resources to support initiatives that address the most pressing needs in society,” said Dr Salem.

Many of BBK’s branches are accessible and equipped for disabled people, ensuring that customers with a variety of special needs are able to attend a bank branch and undertake their banking requirements in a convenient manner. The Budaiya branch was chosen to host the occasion due to its prominent facilities that assist customers with impairments, disabilities and accessibility issues. 

BBK is introducing a range of retail offerings for customers with special needs to reflect the occasion. These include; reduced interest repayments for certain loans, preferable deposit rates and the opportunity for an exclusive upgrade for a BBK Visa Signature credit card. 

Additionally, BBK customers with special needs are given priority queuing at branches, can access voice assisted ATMs, and will be provided with a special needs booklet, along with a free Al Rawi audio book subscription. Moreover, employees at BBK branches are trained to provide first class service for customers with special needs and to actively assist them with their requirements.