Many disabled people excluded from basic banking - report

Digitalisation across the banking sector has excluded many people with disabilities from conducting basic banking tasks.

A report by the National Advocacy Service (NAS) highlights "the systemic barriers" some disabled people in Ireland face in an effort to access and manage their own finances.

It says online platforms, complex authentication requirements, a lack of accessible information and automated customer support have prohibited many disabled people from basic banking.

The NAS, which is funded by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), works to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are upheld. It received over 3,100 enquiries last year, many of which were financial.

The report - 'Shortchanged: Barriers to Financial Autonomy for People with Disabilities in Ireland' - is based on those working with NAS as well as information gleaned from over 350 "active cases" last year.

While NAS acknowledges a "clear willingness" in the financial services sector to respond to challenges, discrimination on the grounds of disability is "a recurring concern" in current banking practice.

The financial sector tends to overly focus on people with disabilities as 'vulnerable' customers rather than citizens with rights according to the report.

They are often directed to the ‘vulnerable customer units’, when opening or accessing banking accounts and products, or asked to ‘prove’ that they have capacity to manage their money before opening a bank account, on the basis that they are disabled.

They are often encouraged to open a joint bank account with a third party to help them to manage their money and according to the report, this may be recommended without it being fully explained to the person or considering their wishes fully.

This, NAS says, "could be construed as discrimination".

There are times when the Carer’s Allowance or the Disability Allowance is viewed as "a source of income" for third parties which can result in "significant duress" by third parties in relation to the finances of the account holder.

"In some cases, control over a person’s money by third parties is facilitated, despite it not being legitimate (where there is no Enduring Power of Attorney or Decision Support arrangement in place). This stems from false beliefs about the assumed authority and rights of Next of Kin, yet there is no legal basis in Ireland for Next of Kin decision-making," according to the report.

NAS has witnessed many instances of savings being removed from people’s bank accounts to unknown locations by third parties without any paperwork or appropriate accountability to support this decision.

There is a distinct need for far more robust financial supports overall for people with disabilities according to the report, with a sustained focus on access, education, and financial capacity building.

It states that compliance must be consistent and points out that just because a law exists, it does not mean it is being implemented.

It recommends a clear legislative framework for responses to financial abuse and all forms of abuse (safeguarding) in Ireland.