Hanoi (VNA) – The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)has made an official request for all payment service providers to facilitate visuallyimpaired people as well as others with disabilities when they want to open abank account and get a bank card.

In Document No. 8343/NHNN-TT dated November 2, 2018, the central bank asks theproviders to review their procedures and application a customer is required to lodgein for a bank account and bank card, in consideration of difficulties the peoplewith visual impairs or other disabilities may face to make the application.

The SBVwants the providers to adopt new procedures and provide exclusive guidelinesfor those people to do so.

The payment service providers are also requested to traintheir staff and managers on how to properly help visually impaired people toapply for a bank account and bank card. They are recommended to take intoaccount the challenges facing the disabled people in providing necessaryinformation and papers for the process and warn these customers about risksassociated with the use of the bank account and bank card.

They must also coordinate closer with other members ofthe Vietnam Banks Association to exchange information on difficulties andproblems confronting the disabled people in opening and using bank accounts andbank cards, and share with each other proper guidelines to instruct thesepeople. –VNA