Believing that accessibility depends primarily on the understandability of the services offered, Alternatif Bank continues to expand its “Accessible Banking Term Dictionary” project, a first in Türkiye and the banking sector, within the scope of Inclusive Banking efforts. In the first phase of the project, the bank created special videos explaining nearly 30 key terms using sign language, audio description and simplified text. With the support of the Development Facility of the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE DF), the bank added 75 new terms to the dictionary, increasing the total number of terms to over 100.

As part of the “International Week of the Deaf” celebrated annually from September 23rd to 29th, Alternatif Bank is unveiling the new phase of its project to the public. The bank aims to make banking terminology more understandable, especially for individuals with hearing impairments, the elderly, and those with limited financial literacy.

Levent Ulusoy, Brand, Communication, and Sustainability Manager at Alternatif Bank, shared his views on the matter, stating, "At Alternatif Bank, we have embarked on a path to set an example for our industry in ensuring equal access to banking services for individuals with disabilities. For over 4 years, we have been implementing our Inclusive Banking initiatives with a rights-based approach and increasing momentum. One of our most innovative projects in this regard is the “Accessible Banking Term Dictionary” Today, there are various segments of society, particularly individuals with hearing impairments, who face difficulties in understanding banking terminology. Unfortunately, many banking terms have no equivalent in sign language or have yet to be translated. We view our dictionary project, which we initiated with nearly 30 banking terms in the initial phase, as a valuable solution to address this issue. Our bank has established long-standing, deep-rooted relationships with international financial institutions. In recent discussions with these institutions, sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) efforts have gained more prominence. Our work in Inclusive Banking has garnered significant attention in this context. Particularly, the recognition of our “ Accessible Banking Term Dictionary ” as an important project for financial inclusion by the EFSE DF marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. In the course of our partnership with the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) and its Development Facility, we have added 75 new terms to the “Accessible Banking Term Dictionary” bringing the total number of terms in the project to over 100. We highly value this collaboration, both for its international recognition of our project and for the expanded support it provides. Looking ahead, we aim to enrich this series even further, transforming it into an open-access dictionary that serves financial inclusion, accessible to everyone."

Within the scope of our collaboration, Chairperson of the EFSE Development Facility Andrea Hagmann also stated, "Through this initiative, we emphasize the pivotal role of banks in championing diversity and inclusion. Not only are we setting the stage for enhanced financial access and well-being for Turkey’s disabled community, but we're also reinforcing the banks’ vision for universal inclusion. Proudly marking the inaugural EFSE DF project dedicated to the disabled, we're steadfast in our journey towards a more diverse and inclusive future."

The “Accessible Banking Term Dictionary” video series can be accessed through Alternatif Bank's corporate website and official YouTube channel.