To promote barrier-free banking transactions, Japanese Bankers Association published the “Zenginkyo Design of Pictorial Symbols for Communication Support” (Zenginkyo Pictographs) on January 22 to be used with bank customers that have difficulty hearing and foreigners who do not understand Japanese language in their banking transactions. The Zenginkyo Pictographs symbolize principal banking transactions and necessary operational procedures thereof based on the “Design Principles of Pictorial Symbols for Communication Support” (JIS T0103) and encourage better communication with bank staff during intended bank transactions.
This is the first attempt in Japan to make trade-wide pictorial symbols, and Japanese Bankers Association conducted a survey to collect opinions of people with hearing difficulties and foreigners who use banks with the help of the Accessible Design Foundation of Japan.
Customer convenience is pursued in that the symbols are trade wide and so customers can communicate with any bank using the same symbols, so Japanese Bankers Association is encouraging members to adopt the Zenginkyo Pictographs when using pictorial symbols in banking.