Forbes recognises our digital accessibility impact

We’ve been included on global media company Forbes’ Accessibility 200 list for the first time, in recognition of how we’re making banking more inclusive.

The list names the top 200 global ‘impact-makers’, recognising companies whose products and services are accessible for people with disabilities.

Presented alphabetically, this second annual list was compiled following more than 700 interviews and conversations with industry experts – and with input from an expert advisory board.

We’re the only global bank on the list (opens in new window) (opens in new window) (opens in new window), which includes many high-profile multinational organisations.

Accessibility for all

We were recognised for our digital accessibility programme, which helps to remove barriers and make everyday banking simpler and more inclusive for disabled, neurodivergent and elderly customers, across our digital channels.

The programme also benefits our employees, as it examines the accessibility of our colleague-facing systems.

“This recognition from Forbes reflects the progress we’re making towards our aim to be the world’s most digitally accessible bank – and the work our colleagues, from across HSBC, are doing to make banking more inclusive and give people financial independence,” said Mali Fernando, MBE, our Head of Digital Experience and Accessibility.

“When products and services are designed with inclusion and accessibility in mind, we create a better experience for everyone.

“It also helps us to deliver on our Group ambition to be the most trusted bank globally, putting customers at the heart of everything we do.”

What Forbes said

Alan Schwarz, Forbes Assistant Managing Editor, said that accessibility had evolved “from a legal mandate to a bustling frontier of innovation, impact and profit”.

“It’s now beyond ‘the right thing to do’ – it’s integral to a smart business,” he added.

Setting the standard for digital accessibility

Forbes recognised us for the measures we’ve introduced to help our customers manage their money on their own terms.

• We support more than nine million disabled and neurodivergent customers in 56 countries
• Our banking website is the most accessible in 11 of the 13 main HSBC markets – and in some regions we’re the only digitally accessible bank
• We’ve made British Sign Language training available to all our colleagues in the UK
• We were the first bank to use AI to deliver sign language for the deaf community in Hong Kong
• Our user research programme is set to expand into new markets, including India, Singapore and UAE
• In the last two years, thousands of people from outside HSBC have benefitted from our training

Visit the Forbes website (opens in new window) (opens in new window) for more information.