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The PrivatBank branch, which is among the five most successful in Ukraine, opened after reconstruction - it has become completely barrier-free for people with disabilities, reports Vecherny Kyiv.

Today, the largest PrivatBank branch in the capital, located at 27A Beresteysky Avenue, solemnly certified its compliance with the principles of barrier-free access.

The management of the state-owned bank cut the symbolic green ribbon, now the large space of the institution is accessible and convenient for everyone.

Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Marina Honda visited the renovated PrivatBank branch, got acquainted with all the implemented changes and talked with specialists who have undergone training and now help people with disabilities. After the meeting, she thanked the bank's team for supporting the principles of barrier-free access.

“PrivatBank is already including its branches in the barrier-free map of Kyiv. This is not a one-time decision, but the result of systematic work. I am grateful for this progress, because it sets an example for other banks that have not yet joined the initiative,” Honda emphasized.

She emphasized that creating accessible space is not only for people in wheelchairs. “Everyone should have full access to banking services. If a state-owned bank acts decisively in this direction, private banks should take the initiative. Moreover, PrivatBank serves a huge number of Kyiv residents,” said Marina Honda.

She also drew attention to the fact that some employees have mastered sign language and can, if necessary, advise clients with hearing impairments.

“This does not mean that other clients with hearing impairments are left without support. If a person has recently lost their hearing and does not yet know sign language, they can still receive the necessary services. The space in the branch allows this,” she explained.

Kyrylo Regan, head of the PrivatBank branch, told Vecherny Kyiv that there are 24 such branches in Ukraine, and this is the eighth branch in Kyiv where the service is adapted to clients with disabilities.

“For people with hearing and vision impairments, as well as for those who use wheelchairs. The renovation of this branch has been ongoing since August 2024 and was completed in March of this year. More than twenty thousand individuals and more than two thousand clients-legal entities are served here. These are private enterprises, LLCs and individual entrepreneurs,” the branch manager noted.

All the details in the space serve for convenience, such as special holders for crutches, which are on each table and near the terminals. There is also a separate cash desk, where people in wheelchairs can be comfortably served.

Ulyana Pcholkina, a well-known public figure and expert on accessibility, tested all the passes of the department. She shared her conclusions.

“This is a department with increased accessibility. Not everything is perfect here, but it has been done to the maximum. It is quite good here, I can go in and out, use the services, I don’t lack anything here, but there is still something to work on. We have already agreed that in the future we will help — I, as a consultant, how to implement the DBN in practice so that the physical spaces are safe and accessible.”

According to Ulyana Pcholkina, she has fewer comments about this department than about the previous ones.