Banks are obliged to provide the necessary infrastructure for ATM access by visually impaired customers.
So, does every ATM of a bank have to serve visually impaired customers?
For ATMs located side by side or less than 50 meters apart, it is sufficient for only one of them to comply with the provisions of this article. Apart from this case, all ATMs must serve visually impaired customers.
So what are the details of the articles in the regulation?
The articles on access for visually impaired customers are below.
ARTICLE 7 – (1) ATMs suitable for use by visually impaired customers have a voice menu function that provides information such as the warnings, instructions, confirmation requests for customer inputs, and error messages shown on the screen.
(2) The privacy of the voice menu service on ATMs is ensured. The voice menu on ATMs is provided through an integrally accessible technology such as a headphone jack or a telephone handset. An option to turn the ATM screen off is offered before the transaction or at any stage of the transaction.
(3) The voice menu on ATMs includes, at a minimum, balance inquiry, cash withdrawal, cash deposit, credit card debt inquiry and credit card debt payment transactions.
(4) The symbols on the keys required by the voice menus on ATMs are embossed and can be distinguished from other keys by touch.
(5) It is ensured that starting the voice menu on ATMs is easily discoverable and can be used without additional training. If the voice menu is provided through headphones, the voice menu starts automatically when the headphones are plugged in and ends automatically when they are unplugged.
(6) The voice menu on ATMs has a repeat feature, and customers are allowed to adjust the volume.
(7) Care is taken to ensure that the wording used in voice menus and the menu order are standard across all banks. Coordination in this regard is carried out by the Banks Association of Turkiye and the Participation Banks Association of Turkiye.
(8) Tactile walking surface indicators on the ground, integrated with surrounding applications, are used to provide guidance for access to ATMs.
(9) The bank makes all the ATMs it operates suitable for use by visually impaired customers in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(10) For ATMs located side by side or less than 50 meters apart, it is sufficient for only one of them to comply with the provisions of this article. No compliance requirement under this article is sought for the other ATMs within such physical distance.
