Faysal Bank and State Bank Push Financial Inclusion for Persons With Disabilities
Faysal Bank financial inclusion efforts took a step forward on Friday, as the bank joined the State Bank of Pakistan for a financial literacy session for persons with disabilities in Gujranwala. The session took place at the National Institute for the Deaf in Satellite Town, and it aimed to bring banking, digital tools and healthcare within reach of people often left out of the formal financial system.
Faysal Bank organised the session with the State Bank’s Banking Services Corporation (SBP BSC). Staff demonstrated digital banking, opened accounts on the spot for eligible participants and introduced free digital healthcare for customers with disabilities through Oladoc, a Pakistani platform connecting patients with verified doctors. Basic check-ups were also arranged at the venue.
What happened at the session
The session was practical. Participants saw how digital banking works, asked questions, and could open an account there and then. That matters, because the gap between a person with a disability and a bank account is often a chain of small obstacles: a branch without a ramp, a form that cannot be read, a helpline with no sign language support.
The healthcare link was the other half of the offer. Through Oladoc, the bank’s customers with disabilities can book free video consultations with verified doctors, plus discounts on surgeries, lab tests and medicine deliveries. Faysal Bank first launched this package in December 2025, when it signed an agreement with Oladoc in Karachi. Friday’s session brought that offer to Gujranwala face to face, with check-ups on site.
Why Faysal Bank financial inclusion fits a wider policy
The session sits under the State Bank of Pakistan’s policy on financial inclusion of persons with disabilities, which pushes banks to make branches, products and services accessible. Faysal Bank has been one of the more active banks on this front. In June 2025 it was recognised at the Pakistan PWDs Finclusion Awards, winning the title of Most Disability-Friendly Branch Network and finishing runner-up for excellence in employing persons with disabilities.
The bank is also investing in the same district. In July it began work on a branch in Papnakha village, Gujranwala, as part of a drive to turn the village into a digitally enabled, cashless community. Friday’s session extends that work from a village to the city’s deaf community.
“At Faysal Bank, we believe that financial inclusion means ensuring equal access to opportunities and essential services for everyone. We remain committed to empowering Persons with Disabilities through accessible banking solutions, digital innovation, and initiatives that support their financial independence and overall well-being,” said Yousaf Hussain, president and chief executive officer of Faysal Bank.
Banking access still lags for many
Persons with disabilities in Pakistan face barriers at almost every step of banking: branches that are hard to enter, staff untrained in serving them, forms that assume sight and hearing, and apps that do not work with assistive tools. The State Bank’s policy asks banks to fix each of these, from ramps to Braille statements and sign language support.
The State Bank has pressed banks on inclusion: it has ordered banks to hire more women by 2028, run digital payments training for banks and said climate finance must reach women and farmers. The wider system is consolidating too: Mobilink Bank has acquired Apna Microfinance Bank, and small business financing has doubled to Rs1.2 trillion.
What to watch next
The test is what happens after it. On-spot account openings only matter if the accounts stay active. Demos only matter if participants keep using the apps once the bank’s staff have left. If Faysal Bank repeats the session in other cities, and other banks follow, the policy will start to show in daily life rather than in award citations.
Frequently asked questions
What did Faysal Bank and the State Bank do in Gujranwala?
They held a financial literacy session for persons with disabilities at the National Institute for the Deaf in Satellite Town, with banking demos, on-the-spot accounts and healthcare.
What healthcare benefits do Faysal Bank customers with disabilities get?
Through Oladoc, they can book free video consultations with verified doctors and get discounts on surgeries, lab tests and medicines.
What is the State Bank’s policy on disability inclusion?
It asks banks to make branches, products and digital channels accessible, from ramps and sign language support to Braille statements.
Has Faysal Bank been recognised for this work before?
Yes. In June 2025 it won Most Disability-Friendly Branch Network at the Pakistan PWDs Finclusion Awards.
How can a person with a disability open an account with Faysal Bank?
Eligible persons can open an account at a branch or at outreach sessions such as the Gujranwala event, where staff open accounts on the spot.
