UniCredit, in collaboration with Mastercard, is updating its debit, credit, and prepaid cards with Mastercard Touch Card technology. This innovation aims to promote accessibility for blind and visually impaired individuals by providing specific features that cater to their needs. The new cards are now available in Italy and will gradually be introduced in the 12 countries where UniCredit operates, totaling approximately 20 million cards by 2024.
The Mastercard Touch Card design includes lateral engravings that help users identify the right card by touch, making it easier for visually impaired customers to distinguish between their payment cards. This innovative feature aims to provide a greater sense of safety, inclusiveness, and independence for visually impaired individuals when making payments. In Europe, there are over 30 million blind and partially sighted people, with an average of 1 in 30 Europeans experiencing vision problems.
UniCredit’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the Mastercard Touch Card design. The card is made from recycled PVC, and each card features a Mastercard sustainability badge, certifying its sustainability credentials. Alberto Palombi, Head of Group Payment Solutions at UniCredit, emphasized the importance of offering an inclusive and sustainable payment experience for all customers in Europe.
Mark Barnett, President of Mastercard Europe, highlighted the company’s core value of inclusion and the importance of driving new payment card standards that promote inclusivity. The collaboration between UniCredit and Mastercard demonstrates a commitment to creating solutions that improve accessibility for all individuals, showcasing the power of partnerships in driving positive change in the financial sector.
In conclusion, this collaboration between UniCredit and Mastercard has resulted in a solution that aims to improve accessibility for visually impaired individuals while also promoting sustainability. With over 30 million blind and partially sighted people in Europe alone, this initiative is critical in ensuring that everyone can participate equally in the financial sector.