Beyond Barriers: How CARD Bank ensures financial accessibility for deaf clients

In a banking environment where spoken communication is central to daily transactions, CARD Bank, Inc., a microfinance-oriented rural bank, is redefining accessibility by creating spaces and initiatives that allow persons with disabilities (PWDs), particularly deaf clients, to access financial services with convenience and dignity.

Inclusive communication

Guided by national policies such as Republic Act No. 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, CARD Bank has made its deposit account opening and customer verification processes more inclusive. The goal is simple: make every client feel welcome from the very first step.

Across its branches, accessibility ramps and priority lanes help make physical access easier. Clear welcome signage at entrances and in Customer Service Sections lets Deaf clients know that fair accommodation is available and accessible to all.

To support smoother communication, branches provide Filipino Sign Language (FSL) booklets, easy-to-read product guides, and instructional videos with FSL insets. The staff, including guards, customer service representatives, and cashiers, are required to keep a pen and paper on hand at all times to facilitate immediate written communication.

They are also trained to guide clients through forms and requirements while adhering to the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) rules. Clients must still submit standard documents such as valid IDs and profile forms, and once their application is approved, they may open a deposit account with an initial deposit of PHP 200. In this process, accessibility goes hand in hand with compliance.

Financial inclusion across barriers

Inclusion at CARD Bank extends beyond physical modifications and documentation processes. It begins with a transformation in mindset.

On June 15, 2024, the bank held a whole-day Deaf Awareness Seminar at the CARD-MRI Development Institute (CMDI) in Bay, Laguna. Sixty staff and faculty members joined the session, led by Inclusion Consultant Bayani Generoso Jr. and six Deaf teachers.

Participants learned about Deaf culture, the basics of Filipino Sign Language, and the role of hearing individuals in advancing inclusion. Sessions covered visual-gestural communication, FSL guidelines, and practical ways to make financial services more accessible.

Through interactive activities such as practicing facial expressions, learning basic FSL signs, and joining open discussions, staff gain a deeper understanding of the Deaf community’s everyday experiences.

Feedback from the seminar reflected a renewed staff commitment to practicing inclusive communication. It reminded everyone that real financial inclusion means removing not only physical barriers, but also communication gaps and outdated mindsets.

Bukas, Para sa Lahat

As part of its social responsibility efforts, CARD Bank continues to work with underserved communities to improve lives through financial services, livelihood support, and capacity-building programs.

Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, Founder and Chair Emeritus of CARD MRI, emphasized this effort as part of promoting financial inclusion by removing barriers for persons with disabilities (PWDs). “Our mission has always been clear. Financial services should reach those who are often left behind. Financial inclusion is not just about opening accounts; it is about opening opportunities,” he said.

Meanwhile, CARD Bank, Inc. President Marivic Austria reaffirmed this commitment, stating, “When we remove barriers for persons with disabilities and other underserved sectors, we affirm their dignity and strengthen our communities.” She added, “Inclusion is not an option; it is our responsibility.”

Account opening services for Deaf clients are now implemented across CARD Bank branches in several provinces, including La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Tarlac, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Iloilo, Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, Marinduque, Bohol, Antique, Capiz, Masbate, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Cotabato, as well as in Metro Manila.

Alongside these services, the bank continues to introduce and promote deaf-friendly and inclusive measures to further improve banking accessibility. As of January 2026, CARD Bank serves 367 Deaf clients with active accounts.

By reaching out to the nearly 10% of the population living with disabilities, many of whom remain underserved by traditional institutions, CARD Bank, Inc. strengthens its ongoing commitment to inclusion.

Through accessible spaces, informed training, and active community engagement, CARD Bank shows that financial empowerment should not depend on one’s physical barrier. It is a shared right, open to all.