British banking major Barclays has introduced a new service to enable the customers with hearing difficulties carry out telephone banking.

All the hearing-impaired or hard of hearing customers can now opt to have a lipspeaker interpret their telephone conversations with the bank.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

The system will utilise customer system markers and nominated phone numbers to allow only authorised calls.

All conversations with the bank will be interpreted by a lipspeaker to ensure proper communication, enabling the deaf customers to conduct transactions.

The new service is developed following a direct customer feedback and is aimed at ensuring accessibility of telephone banking services to all.

Barclays UK head of customer and client accessibility Kathryn Townsend said: “Barclays puts accessibility at the heart of what we do, and places a lot of importance on getting this right for customers.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“The introduction of this new service for Deaf and hard of hearing customers provides another example of where we have listened to our customers, and made changes based on their feedback.”

To utilise the service, the customers are required to inform Barclays and provide a nominated mobile number for telephone banking. Subsequently, a unique marker will be attached to their profile.

The service will be available between 8am and 9pm throughout the year, the bank said in its press statement.

Action on Hearing Loss director of policy and campaigns Roger Wicks said: “This new service being implemented by Barclays is a great example to other organisations on the importance of accessibility.

“People with deafness and hearing loss frequently don’t enjoy equal or convenient access to banking services, so services like this are a hugely welcome addition.”