TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Fubon Bank’s implementation of sustainability practices and financial services for disadvantaged groups was awarded gold and silver awards at the fourth Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards on Aug. 8.
Taipei Fubon Bank Senior VP Kelly Kuo (郭佳綾) said the bank is on a mission to not only promote sustainability through internal operations but also public education. Kuo said the bank is committed to advancing financial literacy to often overlooked social groups through financial empowerment programs.
Taipei Fubon Bank has developed several programs to meet such goals, such as a youth financial camp held annually since 1998. Over the past 20 years, more than 7,100 students have participated in the youth financial camp, providing them with basic financial skills regarding savings, compound interest, and investment, per a Taipei Fubon Bank press release.
The bank has also created special courses for hearing-impaired students, visually impaired students, as well as students from rural communities. The bank is committed to providing resources for youth who would otherwise have little access to financial education.
To expand financial education and outreach to such students, Taipei Fubon Bank cooperated with Songshan High School of Commerce and Home Economics to develop an internship in 2021. This was the first workplace inclusion program in the banking industry in Taiwan, allowing students with disabilities to transition to employment.
In 2023, Taipei Fubon Bank began offering diverse educational resources for children between the ages of eight and 18. The program was founded with the goal of promoting inclusion and equality in financial education, winning a gold medal in this year's Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards.
Furthermore, Taipei Fubon Bank’s cooperation with the Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation to create a board game for seniors to learn about financial fraud and exploitation was also recognized with a silver medal. This honor shows the bank’s commitment to the elderly and a commitment to improving customer service for the most vulnerable groups.
Starting in 2021, the bank began communicating with disability rights groups to improve various barrier-free services. Progress in this area allows people with disabilities to enjoy equal access to financial services.
Taipei Fubon Bank invited visually impaired customers to film a video about the challenges that they experience in their daily financial affairs. The bank took note of these pain points to optimize online and offline service processes to create a friendly financial environment for the visually impaired. This collaboration was recognized with a bronze medal in the Taipei Golden Eagle Micro Movie Festival.
Taipei Fubon Bank expects to continue its role as a catalyst for positive social change through the promotion of financial education, expanding barrier-free financial services, and actively advocating financial equality to all social groups.
