RBC is committed to being an employer of choice for people with disabilities and ensuring an inclusive and barrier-free environment for our staff, our clients and the communities we serve. In 2003, we also donated almost $900,000 to charitable causes that support people with disabilities.

Barrier-free service
At RBC Financial Group, we strive to build an inclusive and barrier-free environment that will earn the trust of clients and employees who have a disability.

RBC’s policy is that every new branch and branches undergoing major renovations must comply to barrier-free design codes and standards for physical accessibility, and must have universal access.

Over 98 per cent of RBC Royal Bank branch buildings are now wheelchair accessible, with exceptions being some historical/ heritage buildings, or older branches where there are physical or legal restrictions on retrofitting.

We also regularly partner with national and local groups to recruit and train people with disabilities for employment with RBC, and ensure the workplace environment supports their needs.

Talking ATMs
RBC Royal Bank has 296 talking automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada, including 71 that were introduced in 2003. These machines are designed to assist people who are blind and visually impaired, elderly and those with learning disabilities to bank independently and privately. The talking ATMs work the same way as any other full-service banking machine, except that they provide audio assistance to clients, guiding them step-by-step through their banking through audio prompts heard through personal headphones. The machines have received high praise for their user-friendly design.

RBC is also a leader in providing other banking features for clients with special needs. We were the first Canadian financial institution to introduce cheque-writing guides, large-print cheques and Braille banking statements.

Accessibility in the workplace
A cornerstone of our commitment to workplace accommodation is the I Make it Barrier Free program that provides managers with on-the-spot authority to approve up to $3,000 per employee annually in expenses related to workplace accessibility. Where this is necessary, on-site workplace assessments are conducted by the Canadian Council of Rehabilitation and Work to provide expert recommendations to the manager and to the employee. Overall, our Workplace Accommodation policies are communicated to managers to make certain they understand our commitment.

In 2003, a new training program on creating an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities was delivered to over 600 employees in our Western Canada Operations group. We also continue to promote our Removing the Barriers reference guide and online resource to help employees provide quality service to clients with disabilities.

Program offers skills training