Oschadbank and Visa held the second forum, “My Accessibility: Real Life Stories”

On August 14, 2025, the Business Without Barriers community met in the capital at Oschadbank and Visa for the forum “My Accessibility: Real Life Stories.” The event brought together over 300 guests and became a platform for sharing experiences in implementing accessibility and inclusion in Ukraine.

Speakers at the forum included Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska, NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy, representatives of relevant ministries, local government, and civil society organizations, as well as leaders of companies that are members of the Business Without Barriers community.

Anton Tiutiun, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank, shared his own vision and Oschadbank's experience in creating a barrier-free environment. He talked about the path the team has taken from the first inclusive branches back in 2014 to today's projects aimed at removing not only physical but also communication barriers. According to him, ramps and call buttons are just the basics. True accessibility begins with the ability to communicate with customers in a way that takes into account their needs and capabilities.

"The bank is at a new stage of implementing inclusivity. Physical accessibility is a must-have, but true accessibility begins with accessible communication, especially for those who cannot read SMS messages or hear calls from the contact center. That is why we are implementing a model of individual accessibility so that we know our customers not only by their financial and demographic data but also by their behavioral characteristics. This enables us to consider the specifics of communication and personalize our approach to ensure that individuals receive service in a format that is convenient for them, without unnecessary barriers, stress, or additional explanations," stated Anton Tiutiun.

Today, Oschadbank has 710 inclusive branches and 10 mobile branches and is working to make sure that customers can get services without any obstacles at branches, through digital channels, or at the contact center.

Mr. Tyutyun cited examples of successful and not-so-successful initiatives, including television projects that drew attention to accessibility issues and at the same time served as lessons for the organizers. He talked about the opening of a barrier-free branch at the central railway station, where every decision was made with the real benefit to people in mind, rather than just for show.

He focused separately on supporting sports for people with disabilities. Oschadbank became a partner of charity football matches and tournaments, which helped raise funds for prosthetics for military personnel and gave both participants and spectators a thrill. The story of 10-year-old Mykhailyk from the Ivano-Frankivsk region was particularly touching. Thanks to the tournament, he was able to fulfill his dream and take to the field alongside the captain of Paris Saint-Germain.

In conclusion, Anton Tyutyun emphasized that the path to accessibility consists of simple daily steps that must be taken with faith and heart, without fear of mistakes, because they are a natural part of development.

The forum “My Accessibility: Real LIfe Stories” focused on practical experience: steps taken, mistakes made, lessons learned, and moving forward together. In particular, representatives of Visa and Oschadbank presented case studies on the implementation of inclusion in banking and payment technologies.

Oleksandr Yablunivskyi, Vice President of Products and Solutions at Visa in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, shared the company's global vision, where artificial intelligence is a key driver of inclusion, and talked about the opportunities that AI agents and the Visa Intelligent Commerce initiative open up for the development of barrier-free commerce. 

“For Visa, accessibility and inclusivity are not just a statement but a daily practice that we embody in products and solutions designed to make convenient digital payments available to everyone around the world. We support SMEs, women's entrepreneurship, veterans, and local communities because we believe that equal opportunities are the key to the prosperity of countries and economies. This was the focus of the My Accessibility forum—real action, not just big words, as well as the synergy between business, government, and the public, who continue to work together for an inclusive future for Ukraine," said Oleksandr Yablunivsky.

The venue also featured special interactive zones where visitors could experience sensory overload, learn about the rehabilitation of veterans with limb amputations, and experience firsthand the challenges faced by wheelchair users and people with visual impairments.

"Ukraine has already come a long way in implementing the philosophy of accessibility proposed by First Lady Olena Zelenska in terms of spaces, services, and how we interact. How we treat each other—accepting diversity and respecting experience—determines what our decisions will be. It's like changes at the molecular level: not always noticeable in the here and now, but inevitably changing the structure of everything they touch over time,“ said Oksana Zbitneva, head of the Barrier-Free NGO and director of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program ”Are You OK?"

The forum “My Accessibility: Real Life Stories” by Oschadbank and Visa is the second event by the partners that continues the discussion on building an inclusive environment in Ukraine. The first forum, “My Accessibility,” took place on April 24, 2024.