Contact

Let’s talk. 

Legal notice

equalizent – Schulungs- und Beratungs GmbH
Obere Augartenstraße  20 | 1020 Vienna | Telephone: 0043 409 83 18, Telefax: 0043 409 83 18 – 21
Email: office (at) equalizent.com

Managing Director of equalizent: Marietta Adlbrecht
Project Coordination: Joanna Kinberger

equalizent is a registered company and is registered in Vienna. 
Registration number: 562372v | UID: ATU77219109

We are not responsible for the content of external links.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

© Financial Signs 2023
All rights reserved. Licenced to the European Union under conditions.

 

Services in the Czech Republic

The website offers financial information and support to deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

The website is available in plain language in Czech.
The texts have illustrations.
There are many different articles and guides.
You can access the website online or on your smartphone.
One tip is for example:
Be careful with loans.
Only borrow money that you can afford to repay it.
Make sure you understand the terms of the loan.

Household budgeting for deaf people

Services in Poland

Learn about different financial topics through WebQuests and Sign Language videos.

This is an Erasmus+ project.
Organisations from Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic work together.
The project is coordinated by the organisation Nadácia Viribus Uniti.
The project develops 30 education sets for deaf and hard of hearing people.
The sets use WebQuests.
WebQuests mean:
You get a task.
You solve the task with information from the internet.
The educations set cover many topics:

  • personal finance management
  • budgeting
  • online transactions
  • stress management
  • decision-making
  • consumer rights
  • employment search

There are interactive films in Sign Language.

Viribus Unitis

Get professional advice on various topics about crypto investing with International Sign videos.

Cryptocurrency means:
You use digital files as money.
Macius Chomski offers accessible financial advice on cryptocurrencies.
There are educational videos about investing in cryptocurrency.
In the videos you can learn:
How can I invest in cryptocurrencies?
How can I manage investment risks?
Marcius has one hundred thousand followers.

Maciuś Chomski on Instagram

Services in Slovakia

Get professional advice on various topics about finance and banking with videos in Slovak Sign Language.

There are educational videos for the deaf.
The videos help deaf people to learn financial skills.
What can you learn in the videos?
Information that helps you to manage your money.

Overview of 5peňazí:
The National Bank of Slovakia has educational activities.
The name of the activities is: 5peňazí.
What are the activities?

  • Educational content on the website.

For example: articles on finance, interviews, quizzes, videos.

  • Financial education for primary and secondary schools.
  • 5peňazí Learning Centres throughout Slovakia.
  • InfoSWAP college webinar.
  • Educational stories for children and adults.
  • Activities for parents with children.
  • Cooperation on other educational projects.
  • Information about financial skills in Slovak Sign Language.
 
5Penazi
Youtube

Learn about different financial topics through a video series in Sign Language.

ANEPS is a short word for the Slovak deaf association.
ANEPS produced a four-part video series on financial literacy. 
The series educates viewers about
managing their finances responsibly and effectively.
It covers these topics:

  • budgeting
  • saving
  • difference between debit and credit cards
  • investing

Video viewers learn knowledge and skills about money management.
Viewers can make better financial decisions.
The project got financial support from
the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic.

Video 1 (Youtube)
Video 2 (Youtube)
Video 3 (Youtube)
Video 4 (Youtube)

Video 1 (Facebook)
Video 2 (Facebook)
Video 3 (Facebook)
Video 4 (Facebook)

Aneps

Services in Hungary

Professional advice on various topics and issues with KONTAKT video with Sign Language interpreter.

For deaf customers, OTP Bank cooperates with KONTAKT.
KONTAKT is a video-based Sign Language interpreting service. 
It includes written communication.

Deaf and hard of hearing people have access to:
Accessible financial advice and banking
through KONTAKT video interpreting.
Written and Sign Language communication is available.

If the user is hard-of hearing and cannot sign,
it’s no problem.
The bank wants to provide accessible and barrier-free services
for all people with hearing loss.

Banking is a confidential business.
It is important that all information
is communicated clearly to the people concerned.

For example:
There is no room for misunderstanding
when someone is applying for credit or a bank loan.
The service can be used in any banking transaction:

  • applying for a loan
  • opening an account
  • payment by cheque
  • savings account information
  • financial bonds, investments
    and much more.
OTP Bank
Kontakt

Accessible government administration through KONTAKT video interpreting.

For deaf citizens, the government window cooperates with KONTAKT.
KONTAKT is a video-based Sign Language interpreting service.
It includes written communication.
Deaf and hard of hearing people have access to:
government administration
through KONTAKT video interpreting.
Written and Sign Language communication is available.
If the user is hard-of hearing and cannot sign,
It’s no problem.
Banking is a confidential business.
It is important that all information
is communicated clearly to the people concerned
The service can be used for any administration:

  • change of address
  • passport application
  • Application for an identity card
  • land registration of a dwelling
  • car registration
    and much more.
Kormanyhivatal
Kontakt

Financial advice for students includes Financial spending planning and tips for starting a life.

Sign Language is not taught in Hungarian schools.
Therefore, deaf people only achieve low levels of education.
For example, in maths and financial skills.
They face dangers:

  • Getting scammed.

This means getting cheated.

  • Getting into debt through personal loans
  • Unsafe or risky investments

Jelalapítvány provides videos in Hungarian Sign Language.
The videos help to build up financial awareness and knowledge.
The videos cover the following topics:

  • financial problems
  • car insurance
  • credit card use
  • financial advice for students
Jelalapítvány

Professional advice on various topics and issues with KONTAKT video with Sign Language interpreter.

For deaf customers, ERSTE Bank cooperates with KONTAKT.
KONTAKT is a video-based Sign Language interpreting service. 
It includes written communication.
Deaf and hard of hearing people have access to:
Accessible financial advice and banking
through KONTAKT video interpreting.
Written and Sign Language communication is available.
If the user is hard-of hearing and cannot sign,
It’s no problem.
The bank wants to provide accessible and barrier-free services
for all people with hearing loss.
Banking is a confidential business.
It is important that all information
is communicated clearly to the people concerned.
For example:
There is no room for misunderstanding
when someone is applying for a credit or a bank loan.
The service can be used in any banking transaction:

  • applying for a loan
  • opening an account
  • payment by cheque
  • savings account information
  • financial bonds, investments
    and much more.”
 
Erste Bank
Kontakt

Professional advice and presentations on various topics and issues by an advisor fluent in sign language.

Levente Lőrincz works as a financial adviser at Generali Hungary.
He is a personal adviser.
He can help deaf and hard of hearing people in their mother tongue.
He is involved with the deaf community.
His parents are deaf.
He is a hearing CODA.
He explains:
what to look out for when choosing insurance for

  • a home
  • a car,
  • a compulsory insurance
  • annual, monthly or quarterly breakdowns,

He suggests:
What to look out for when choosing a loan
For example for:

  • for an energy efficient home
  • for a new build or second hand property.

He gives advice on savings to help you
move towards a more conscious and financially stable life.

Levente Lőrincz

Services in Italy

Have real-time conversations with bank employees using online interpreting services.

Emil Banca is the first bank in Italy to offer:
a video-interpreting service for deaf people.
There are two ways to use it:

  1. the Emil Banca website
  2. Tellis App and website

When you can use the service:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays:
From 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

 

The bank plans to have longer opening hours in the future.
You can book an appointment at your branch:
How? Click the button on the bank website.
A video call to an interpreter will start.
Deaf users communicate in real time with the bank through the interpreter.

 

If you go to the bank:
You can also use this service.
You don’t need an appointment.
The bank employee will call the interpreter on their tablet.
The interpreter interprets the conversation.

Emil Banca
Tellis

Get barrier-free access to information about the Austrian National Bank, the Euro, and other topics.

The barrier-free videos are aimed at people who use Austrian Sign Language as their first language. 

Various topics are summarized and explained in 11 Austrian Sign Language videos.

The videos cover topics such as:

  • The Austrian National Bank,
  • The Euro,
  • Monetary policy, and much more.
Hier klicken

Get a handbook with explanations about: banking and financial information.
Watch 2 short story videos explaining: typical situations in everyday banking in Sign Language.

Signing Banks is an Erasmus+ project.
The project is innovative.
It focuses on human beings and technology.
The aim of the project is:
The promotion of full financial inclusion for:

  • people with disabilities / deaf people.

The project deals with:

  • tradition banking services.
  • alternative banking services.
  • online payment services.
  • financial transactions.
  • mobile banking.

The Signing Bank project lasts 25 months.
The project has 3 target groups:

  • Finance & banking world
  • Deaf people
  • Adult education specialists working with deaf people.

On the Signing Banks website, you find:

  • Research about:

What accessible services financial institutions offer.
What the deaf community experiences.

  • A smart map:

There are best practices for deaf financial inclusion.

  • Handbook for banks:

With information about:
How can banks meet the needs of deaf customer

  • Handbook for deaf customers.
Signing Banks

Get counselling from deaf employees on-site or via video.

The National Social Security Institute in Italy
facilitates access to its services for deaf people.
In 2014, they started the service “Voice for the Deaf desk”.

 

The service is only for deaf users
and it is managed by deaf employees.
The deaf employees are trained and instructed.
They communicate with deaf clients in Italian Sign Language.
The service is available at selected locations.
Deaf users get information about the service.
Deaf users can request an appointment via e-mail

 

The voice Helpdesk for the deaf is now active
in 52 bank branches in different regions:.
New branches are being added.

Voice desk for the deaf

Get professional counselling on different topics and issues with competent deaf advisors.

In 2019, BNL organised a diversity week.
BNL is a short word for the National Bank of Labour in Italy.

The BNL employees found out that:
Deaf people are potential future customers.
They can’t read typical financial contracts independently.
Why?
Deaf people are used to the structure of Sign Language.
The structure of written Italian is different.
In 2019, BNL hired the first 4 deaf employees.
The deaf employees give advice in Sign Language.
BNL organised workshops for deaf clients and colleagues.
BNL developed a service model
with communication in Italian Sign Language.
BNL gives their deaf employees special devices.
With the devices, they can communicate with people.
who don’t understand the Italian Sign language?
The devices translate speech into written language.
and written language into spoken words.
The aim is:
Communication is an access point, not a barrier.

Servizio Clienti Sordi BNL 1
Servizio Clienti Sordi BNL 2

BNL Paribas

Services in Austria

Get professional counselling on various financial topics and issues with Sign Language competent advisors.

The name of the Viennese deaf association is WITAF. WITAF provides counselling on various topics for deaf individuals. If you have questions about subjects such as: 

  • Debt counselling
  • Income tax
  • Consultation and support

with official documentation and visits to government offices and many more. Then WITAF is the right place for you. Appointments can be scheduled in advance. You can also attend open counselling on Wednesdays from 2 pm to 7 pm without an appointment.

WITAF

Get barrier-free access to information about the Austrian National Bank, the Euro, and other topics.

The barrier-free videos are aimed at people who use Austrian Sign Language as their first language. 

Various topics are summarized and explained in 11 Austrian Sign Language videos.

The videos cover topics such as:

  • The Austrian National Bank,
  • The Euro,
  • Monetary policy, and much more.
Austrian National Bank

Bank consultation in Austrian Sign Language

Two banks in Austria offer consultation services with Sign Language interpreters:

Bank Austria offers a service called SmartBanking in Austrian Sign Language. This allows deaf people to access Bank Austria’s consultation services by video call. Interpreters translate the contents of the consultation into Austrian sign language. SmartBanking in Sign Language enables you to conduct your banking transactions by video call. You can get in touch with your advisor using your tablet, smartphone, or laptop. This service is available: Monday to Friday, between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

Erste Bank offers consultation services in Austrian Sign Language. You can request an accessible consultation appointment through the Erste Bank website. The bank will provide you with an Austrian Sign Language interpreter.

There are two options:

  • You can book an appointment in person at the Erste Bank branch in Vienna, 1st district.

  • You can write in the “”additional comments”” section that you want to have an appointment by video call.

Bank Austria
Erste Bank

With the videos from the Ministry of Finance, you will gain knowledge about important financial topics. You can use this knowledge throughout your life.

There are videos in Austrian Sign Language on the website of the Ministry of Finance. These videos provide you with an understanding of the work of the Ministry of Finance. There are several videos covering three main topics:

  • Tasks of the Ministry of Finance
  • Digitalisation
  • Telecommunications & post

If you have ever wondered about:

  • what the Ministry of Finance does
  • why we have taxes
  • what the Digital Office is

you will find answers on the Ministry of Finance’s website.

Ministry of Finance

Check out this website for information about bookkeeping and business finances in Sign Language.

On the website of Sign Media Enterprise, you will find:
videos in Sign Languages
for people who want to start a company.

There is a section about finances.
Financial terms related to bookkeeping and business finances
are explained in Sign Language videos.

The videos are available in:

  • Austrian Sign language
  • Italian Sign Language
  • British sign language
  • International sign.
Sign Media Enterprise
Skip to content