BankAbility

Attending the Project Nemo event on December 6th, 2024 in London was a significant moment for BankAbility. It was hosted by industry trailblazers Joanne Dewar and Kris Foster as founders of Project Nemo, alongside Kathryn Townsend - Government Disability & Access Ambassador and Head of Vulnerability, Accessibility, and Inclusion at Nationwide Building Society. The event spotlighted the crucial role of disability inclusion in financial services, emphasising the opportunity to better serve the UK’s 16.1 million disabled individuals and their collective £274 billion annual spending power ‘the Purple Pound’. This mission resonates deeply with BankAbility’s focus on hyper-personalised accessible digital banking solutions powered by inclusive design and ethical AI. Kathryn Townsend’s dual leadership roles in both the public and private sectors highlight the power of collaboration between financial institutions, government, and fintech innovators. Meanwhile, Joanne Dewar, Kris Foster and the Project Nemo team are driving systemic change through initiatives that educate, empower, and mobilise organisations to take meaningful action. Throughout the room the message was clear - now is the time for action so let's crack on! BankAbility is proud to align with such forward-thinking leaders and initiatives, working to ensure that financial services are inclusive, accessible, and empowering for everyone. Together, we can reimagine the financial landscape to meet the needs of underserved and vulnerable communities. 🙏 👊 🌈 #FinancialInclusion #Accessibility #Banking #ProjectNemo #BankAbility #InclusiveFinance Madeline Rose of Mencap, Matt Robinson of Barclays, Howard Taylor, Penny Roberts, Rajesh Agrawal and the Rt. Hon. Sir Stephen Timms Image Description: there are different images in one image here showing the entrance to the Bank of England, alongside two images from the Project Nemo event featuring Joanne Dewar and Kathryn Townsend.

What is your biggest weakness? I used to get asked this question a lot in interviews, and I always had the same answer, "my eyesight". Thinking about this now, it makes me sad that I saw being Registered Blind as my biggest weakness. What made it worse was the response from the recruiters. Some applauded my answer, some would agree that being Disabled was a weakness, and others would tell me how brave I was. There was nothing brave about this. What I was doing in these moments was shaming myself for being Disabled. I was allowing my internalised ableism to answer for me. I was self-loathing. Being Disabled never made me weaker. My lack of understanding of ableism did. My internalised ableism did. My complete lack of self-advocacy did. Image Description: A Disabled by Society quote graphic. A thick pink border outlines the page with a purplish/ blackish text box. Inside the text box, there's a blue speech mark, a quote and the Disabled by Society Logo. The quote reads, "Being Disabled didn’t make me weaker, society’s ableism and inaccessibility did." #ThursdayThoughts #DisabilityInclusion #DisabledBySociety #Recruitment

🎗️ Today is the 2024 UN International Day Of Persons With Disabilities – a time to reflect, raise awareness, and advocate for a world that works for everyone. 💡 Did you know that over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability, representing the world’s largest minority group. Yet, the financial sector remains one of the least inclusive industries, often sidelining individuals with disabilities due to inaccessible digital platforms, poor design, and a lack of tailored solutions. At BankAbility, we believe financial independence is a human right. Our mission is to ensure that everyone - regardless of ability - can access, manage, and thrive within the financial system. Here’s why International Disability Day is so critical to what we do: -     Inaccessibility excludes millions: many mainstream banking apps fail to meet even basic accessibility standards, leaving neurodivergent users, those with sensory or mobility challenges struggling to complete essential financial tasks. -     The impact is profound: when banking isn’t accessible, it’s not just a convenience issue - it’s a barrier to opportunity, autonomy, independence and dignity. -     We can change this: At BankAbility, we’re leveraging ethical AI, inclusive design, and community collaboration to create digital banking tools that will work for everyone. By focusing on accessibility from the ground up, we’ll empower individuals while tackling systemic inequities. On this International Disability Day , let’s ask ourselves: - Are we building systems that include or exclude? - How can we ensure the financial sector becomes a leader in accessibility and inclusion? 🌍 Together, we can unlock opportunity for millions. What’s one change you’d like to see in the way financial services support individuals with disabilities? Let us know your views in the comments! 🙏👊💜 #InternationalDisabilityDay  #Accessibility  #Inclusion  #FinancialIndependence  #BankingForAll  #BankAbility  #DigitalInclusion Image Description: A group of diverse individuals, including men and women with and without disabilities, gather together in front of a blue banner displaying the logos of the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) and the UNDP. The group is smiling and making the "I love you" sign in sign language, symbolising inclusivity and empowerment. The scene is set outdoors with trees in the background, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere. Some participants are seated in wheelchairs, showcasing a focus on accessibility and representation. Courtesy to the UN for this image.

We're looking forward to supporting Cressida Stephenson's excellent program of events in collaboration with Project Nemo all about unlocking disability confidence for employers during January - March 2025! #disability #accessibility #fintech #DisabilityConfidence

The business of making websites digitally accessible for everyone is not always straightforward, which is why 82% of sites failed accessibility audits in a recent research paper. It’s definitely not impossible though, but requires understanding and commitment from your designers. However, a growing number of website owners (who are looking for a ‘quick and easy fix’) who have discovered accessibility overlay widgets think that adding a single line of code is their tick in the ‘accessibility sorted’ box. Let me save you a lot of time and hassle - overlays are not THE solution. Please read this really helpful 5 minute article from accessibility expert Clive Loseby and you’ll understand why! 🤦♂️🙏💜

And the winner is… Congratulations to the wonderful Celia Chartres-Aris (née Hensman) who has just been voted the #1 in this year’s Shaw Trust 100! 👏👍💜

One week ago, Piccadilly Circus lit up for Purple Tuesday a celebration that felt like more than just a moment. It was a movement. It was a statement. It was history in the making. But today, I don’t want to focus on the event itself. I want to talk about the person whose vision brought it to life Mike Adams . Growing up, I never saw people with disabilities owning businesses, leading industries, or taking center stage in the media. And when we did appear, the stories painted us as victims—full of doom and gloom. But here’s the truth: we are more than the barriers people place on us. We are capable, we are resilient, and we are redefining what leadership looks like. “A future without limits begins with a vision of what’s possible.” Now, as we enter Disability History Month, it’s a time to honor the past. But let’s be clear—I’m not here to dwell on what’s been. I’m here to speak about what’s next. The future is where the focus belongs. A future where doors are no longer closed. Where the next generation doesn’t just see themselves represented—they see themselves celebrated. We are not going to be silenced. We are leaders. We are entrepreneurs. We are excellent. Mike Adams has shown us what happens when we break barriers and create space for talent to shine. His vision for a more inclusive world inspires me, and I know it inspires so many others. So, I leave you with this: What role will you play in this movement? Will you help create a world where difference is embraced and celebrated? Because together, we can transform industries, challenge perceptions, and make inclusion the standard—not the exception. Let’s rise. Let’s lead. Let’s build the future. #PurpleTuesday #DisabilityHistoryMonth #InclusionMatters #Leadership #DisabilityAdvocacy #RepresentationMatters #BreakingBarriers #FutureIsInclusive #TogetherWeRise #LeadWithVision Follow Project Nemo

How is BankAbility different to existing banking apps? Because we’re designing accessible financial services from the ground up with inclusivity at the core, so everyone has a better opportunity to manage their finances independently. Did you know that for 20% of users, like those with disabilities and the elderly, current digital platforms don’t work? They’re just a maze of complexity and frustrating inaccessibility. We’re pioneering the use of ethical AI to build a banking solution that makes banking online accessible – so that digital banking is truly for everyone, and not just the tech-savvy. Last month our co-founder Penny Roberts had the pleasure of addressing the Charity IT Leaders Conference 2024. She spoke with representatives from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, The Salvation Army, Reliance Bank Ltd and Mencap and others who all recognise that if mainstream banks keep overlooking vulnerable people facing digital exclusion, hundreds of thousands of people will be left behind. Here’s Penny’s presentation to the #Charity IT Leaders Conference: https://lnkd.in/eZSgVjJk We’re working to give everyone the digital access they want – working together to break down the barriers that vulnerable people face - so online financial services work for everyone. We now want to talk to charities, financial services and other organisations who understand the challenges people face – to make sure our platform works for everyone. Our app will also be able to support charity #fundraising activities, so why don’t you join us and get in touch? You can also join the BankAbility movement: https://lnkd.in/evYKthMH   #BankAbility #FinancialInclusion #Disabilities 🙏👊🌈 Penny Roberts, David Agar, Przemek / Prem Górecki, Joanne Dewar, Debra Ruh, Graeme K Whippy MBE, Kris Foster, Alex Manners, Rick Williams CFCIPD, Freddie Quek, Steve Robertson Chartered Director, MBA, Fellow IoD, Muryel Boulay, Clive Loseby, Merton Smith, Leslie Whiteford, Wasim Mushtaq, Simon Hanson Image Description: Here is the BankAbility logo showing the word ‘Bank’ in grey followed by the word ‘Ability’ in a mid-blue colour, symbolising the commitment to accessibility in banking services. To the left of the text is a blue circular icon with a simplified stickman figure standing with open arms, representing inclusivity and empowerment. The curved lines above the figure’s head suggest connectivity and reach, emphasising BankAbility’s mission to create accessible, user-friendly banking solutions for everyone, including people with disabilities. This logo represents an accessible and inclusive approach to financial services.

At last - digital accessibility will now be on the Financial Conduct Authority’s agenda. Maybe we are on the right track after all…😉 #DigitalAccessibility #FinancialInclusion #Banking #BankAbility

Who’d have thought this could be a thing Wasim Mushtaq??😉 #DigitalAccessibility #FinancialInclusion