Vashkar Bhattacherjee shockingly discovered that the private bank where he maintained his account for over a decade refused to give him a credit card due to his visual disability. He was denied from applying for a credit card first, and when he contacted the call centre and the credit card division of the bank, they also declined to offer the service, questioning his ability to manage the card.
“I have been managing a bank account with Dutch Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) for around 10 years. But they have declined to issue me a credit card despite my sound financial records,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
“If I am entitled to use a debit card, why not a credit card?” he asked.
Vashkar, a system innovation expert under the a2i project of the government’s ICT Division, is having to use a supplementary card issued against his wife’s credit card.
“If I can manage the cards, if I meet the eligibility criteria, why shall the banks deny the service?” asked the frustrated consumer, who not only won national and international awards, but is also an activist working for the persons with disabilities through policy formulation, advocacy, and innovating assistive and accessible technologies for the last 15 years.
The case, however, is not one of a kind. It is a common issue for people with disabilities. They face discrimination in accessing regular banking services such as loans, and credit and debit cards. In fact, they also face trouble while opening an account at certain banks.
What the law says
According to Bangladesh Bank, a credit card shall be issued only to an individual who is a citizen or resident of Bangladesh, who is above 18 years of age on the date of the application, who holds a valid TIN certificate and has independent financial ability to pay liabilities.
In most banks, a person is eligible for a credit card if he/she is a Bangladeshi national over 18 years of age, and has a minimum gross income of over Tk25,000 monthly for three consecutive months.
Although banks are to properly assess the credit risks before issuing credit cards to any applicant and carry out risk management checks as deemed necessary, disability has not been included as a factor in the risk criteria for getting a card.
In fact, according to the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013, persons with disabilities have rights equal to all citizens, including fundamental basic human rights that are mentioned in this act and other laws.
The act enables a person with disabilities the opportunity to lead their lives like other people without any obstacles.
If a person can avail a debit card, then he/she can also avail the credit card given that they meet the eligibility criteria, says Association of Bankers Bangladesh President Selim RF Hussain.
“Earlier, a signature was essential for credit cards to make transactions. However, most transactions can now be made through numeric pads in POS machines,” he said.
“If a person, despite being blind, can use a debit card, there is no bar for him to get a credit card, meeting eligible criteria, as well,” he added.
Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Serajul Islam, echoed, adding: “Rather people with a disability shall receive priority in getting services. If they are only denied for disability, then it will be unjust.”
He has assured of speaking to the banks regarding the issue.
A matter of concern
According to the banker community, regulator and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), they are looking into the matter of discrimination very seriously.
“I will look into it,” assured ABB President Hussain, adding that he was unaware of any bar on issuing credit cards to people with disabilities.
According to NHRC Chairman Nasima Begum, they are looking into the complaint of Vashkar Bhattacherjee very seriously.
“We have called the complainant, the bank and a representative from Bangladesh Bank’s governor office to discuss the issue in our next hearing,” she said.
Responding to queries on the matter, DBBL E-Business Division chief Md Shahjahan said: “There is a Bangladesh Bank guideline on how a person with disabilities can maintain banking facilities, but that does not include the credit card operation services.
“If a person uses a card inside the bank premises, bank officials can support him if needed. However, when he/she uses the card for shopping or merchant services, there is no way for us to support him which may lead to possible disputes.”
Shahjahan argued that if a person makes a purchase of Tk5,000 but the shopkeeper puts Tk10,000 in the POS machine, the user cannot verify the amount while confirming the transaction.
“Incidents like this can result in disputes,” he said, adding that if the central bank came up with a clear guideline on this, the banks would definitely follow it.
