30 August - 5 September 2001

Enhancing accessibility

Bank of Valletta, is working in close collaboration with The Nat-ional Commission Persons with Disability through the organisation of a series of disability awareness talks for its branch managers and officials who are directly involved in servicing customers at BOV’s branches.
The talks, being held at the Commission’s premises c/o Centru Hidma Socjali, Sta Venera, are being delivered by Joseph Camilleri, Chairman of The National Commission Persons with Disability as well as other speakers. The talks deal primarily with sharing experiences related to individuals with visual impairment, intellectual impairment, mobility impairment, hearing impairment and mental health problems. The aim of these talks is to identify ways and means by which the Bank can improve its current proceedings in order to offer a better and more convenient service to people with special needs.
A total of 160 employees are expected to attend these talks. Speaking about this awareness drive among the Bank’s branch managers and their staff, Alfred Pace, BOV executive responsible for Personnel issues said: “Bank of Valletta has always been sensitive to the needs of the community in which it operates and this initiative goes in line with the Bank’s policy whereby we strive to seek the best possible ways which can improve overall accessibility to our premises and service outlets.”
Mr Pace added that “through these talks, our employees are becoming more aware of how to deal with people with special needs and how, through efficient customer relations, we can offer an optimal service especially to people with disabilities.”
Bank of Valletta has long been collaborating with The National Commission Persons with Disability on various issues related to enhanced accessibility to BOV services. One initiative in this regard will involve the replacement of a number of BOV ATMs with new machines which will improve accessibility for all, especially customers with special needs.