CIBC today announced the introduction of Audio Access ABM service as part of plans for improving access to and upgrading of its extensive network of ABMs across the country.
The new ABMs allow customers with visual impairments and the elderly to plug personal headphones into an audio jack and follow natural sounding voice instructions in English or French for completing any ABM transaction using the number keypad. Audio access customers can protect their privacy by choosing to blank out the bank machine screen so they can feel confident that no one is observing their transactions.
CIBC’s roll out of Audio Access ABMs begins with installation of 27 units at selected branches in cities across the country by the end of October. The banks says a total of 600 Audio Access ABMs will be in place at more than half of CIBC branches by September 2003.
“Installing Audio Access ABMs at all of our branches is a key part of our plan to help virtually all Canadians to do their banking at ABMs conveniently and with confidence,” said Christina Kramer, vice-president, ABM channel and card management services, CIBC, in a news release.
The bank benefited from the expertise and assistance of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in the development and testing of the Audio Access ABM service to ensure that it meets the needs of the over 100,000 CNIB clients and Canadians who are unable to read print because of a disability.
Other upgrades to the bank’s ABM network include:
- providing ABMs designed for persons using wheelchairs or having restricted mobility in all barrier-free branch locations;
- installation of 1,300 new or upgraded full function ABMs in branches featuring larger screens using high quality graphics and colors for greater readability and integration of passbook update capability; and
- replacement of 50 CIBC drive-through ABMS to ensure screens are readable in sunlight.