Barclays Bank Launches Extended Helpline Hours For Deaf Customers Using BSL

Barclays Bank has become the first UK bank to launch extended customer helpline hours for deaf customers who use BSL, using the SignVideo service. The operating hours will now include weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.

The new hours will commence today, Monday 9th October and will enable deaf BSL-using Barclays customers to access their customer helplines between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays.

The SignVideo service is accessed via a video web link on Barclays website that connects to a live BSL interpreter who connects the call to a Barclays customer services agent, and interprets for the customer throughout the call.  The service is accessible on PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones and is free to users.

“Barclays has been proudly offering instant access to BSL interpretation since 2013 via our SignVideo service and we’re thrilled that we’re now extending the operating hours to include weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. This is a positive development for users of our service, offering greater flexibility in when they do their banking. Outside of the new extended hours, Deaf or hard of hearing customers can contact us 24/7 using the ‘live chat’ service in the Barclays Mobile Banking app” says Kathryn Townsend, Head of Customer & Client Accessibility, Barclays UK.

Great news and well done Barclays for extending your accessibility to the deaf community!