OCBC banking app to roll out text size options to improve accessibility for seniors
The bank says that 70% of screens on its app have been redesigned to incorporate this feature, which will be launched from end-July
[SINGAPORE] Users of OCBC’s banking app will be able to choose larger text sizes from end-July, as part of the bank’s push to make digital banking more accessible for seniors with sight challenges or limited digital confidence.
Currently, most banking apps lack the option to directly resize text, said OCBC. While customers can adjust the size through their phone settings, doing so often causes technical issues on the app, such as inconsistent text sizing and layout disruptions.
OCBC’s new feature will allow its app users to choose from seven text sizes, including larger options that are easier to read. The update will include smart text resizing in English and Mandarin, meaning that the app’s interface will adapt to the customer’s preferred text size and device screen dimensions to avoid the typical technical issues.
The bank said that 70 per cent of screens on its app have been redesigned to incorporate this feature, including the functions that are the most used by seniors, such as account balance details, Money Lock, and Scan & Pay. Revisions for the remainder will be completed by the first half of next year.
Sunny Quek, OCBC’s head of global consumer financial services, said that through the move, the bank hopes to encourage seniors who are “on the fence” about digital banking. “With almost 40 per cent of our digitally active customers aged 60 and above, it’s clear that designing for inclusivity is not just a nice-to-have – it’s a necessity.”
The feature was the result of a year-long effort involving nearly a hundred engineers, designers and product managers. Development began after the bank’s staff observed that, in recent years, many older customers struggled with the app’s default text size and feared making mistakes while banking online.
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OCBC said that the roll-out of the update is timely, as Singapore is projected to become a “super-aged” society by next year, with more than one in five people expected to be aged 65 or older.
The feature was developed under the bank’s SeniorCare initiative, a S$2 million programme launched in March to benefit more than 180,000 seniors in the areas of health, wealth, literacy and lifestyle.
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