Oct 14, 2020
Ulster Bank announced on 4 September to be the latest financial institution to train its staff to identify and support customers carrying JAM cards.
The 'Just A Minute' (JAM) Card allows people with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier to let others know in a discreet, non-verbal way that they need a minute of patience while using shops, services and public transport.
Developed by the Belfast-based social enterprise, NOW Group, the JAM Card is available for free as a plastic card or as a mobile phone app and has over 50,000 users.
It's part of a wider rollout of a bespoke service across Ulster Bank to assist vulnerable customers with their banking needs.
The 'Banking My Way' platform enables customers to securely and confidentially share with the bank any challenges they face, such as a disability or a bereavement, and outline what support they'd like from staff.
Information can be provided in branch, over the phone, via webchat or customers can add and amend their details themselves in their online banking portal.
"For customers with a disability or vulnerability, we understand that it could get quite frustrating having to share information about their situation every time they need support," Lisa Slattery, Ulster Bank's Head of Everyday Banking said.
"'Banking My Way' aims to alleviate this stress by making this important information available to colleagues - discreetly and sensitively - every time we serve these customers," she added. The company behind the JAM Card, NOW Group, welcomed the move by Ulster Bank to train its staff in the use of the card.
"It may be 'Just A Minute' but that extra time and understanding can really support and comfort those with communications barriers, helping to give them equal access to the services they need every day, like banking," NOW Group chief executive, Maeve Monaghan said.
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0904/1163272-ulster-bank-trains-staff-is-use-of-jam-cards/
