Scotiabank Jamaica has announced a raft of new initiatives designed to help senior citizens get more comfortable with its digital banking channels.

Today and next Saturday, the bank will open branches in nine locations to provide assistance and coaching for customers who wish to learn how to use digital banking, including the new features available at its automated banking machines (ABMs).

Labelled ‘Digital Saturdays’ the initiative has been endorsed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security which has been urging Jamaicans, particularly those vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19, to use remote channels for conducting business wherever possible.

“Digital Saturdays is an opportunity for us to spend time with our senior customers away from the bustle of our weekly banking hours and empower them to use our alternate channels as a way of reducing the number of times they will eventually need to return to the branch for routine transactions. We are very excited about the activity and look forward to welcoming them,” a release from the bank quotes Audrey Tugwell Henry, executive vice-president, retail banking.

“Across the board, our aim is to make our electronic channels more accessible for everyone. However, we are very keen on reaching and engaging this important customer segment through these special activities across our branches,” she added.

She further noted an expected increase in the volumes of customers at branches during the upcoming festive period, saying “It is important to us that our customers, including seniors, have the option to stay safe and conduct their banking from the comfort of their homes.”

Other initiatives include special tutorials in-branch about the use of Scotiabank ABMs, the Scotia Online banking platform, Scotia Mobile app. Special digital banking representatives have also been assigned to conduct training with seniors when they visit the branch. A series of video-based content and guides will be published at jm.scotiabank.com/digital seniors.

Training opportunities for seniors are also being coordinated through entities like the National Senior Citizens Council and various returning residents associations that will see Scotiabankers making visits to conduct training on its digital channels with their members.

To top off the new seniors initiative, Tugwell Henry shared that the bank had engaged well-known local comedians Oliver Samuels and Volier “Maffy” Johnson, who will both headline a national media campaign.

Scotiabank said it will continue to invest in and promote the use of digital banking to provide greater convenience and minimise banking disruptions amid the ongoing health crisis.