Nationwide has rolled out a new initiative across more than 500 of its branches. The banking provider has revealed it is introducing access guides for all its branches, offering customers 'clear information about disabled access.'

Sharing the news on Facebook, Nationwide said: "Around one in four people in the UK live with an access need. That's why we're working with AccessAble to launch detailed visual access guides for all 605 of our branches - giving clear information about disabled access before you visit."

In a video shared with the post, Head of Customer Accessibility Kathryn Townsend explained that Nationwide partnered with accessibility experts AccessAble to create the guides. Accessed via Nationwide's branch finder, the guides include features such as step-free access, hearing loops, lowered counters, and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters.

Nationwide has confirmed over 500 branch guides are now live, and it said all 605 will be published by the end of May. Nationwide has also promised to keep all 605 branches open until at least 2030, reports the Mirror.

In the Facebook video, Customer and AccessAble Ambassador Tanvi said: "There have been so many times in the past where I have made a decision not to go somewhere because of a lack of information.

"For me, it's really brilliant to know that Nationwide are working with AccessAble and providing this information. It's going to be a really great resource."

Nationwide customer Michael also reacted to the news. Michael said: "The commitment to keep branches open until 2030 is hugely important for me and for a lot of other people that have disabilities.

"Navigating alternative ways of banking are not always the easiest or most conventional for people with sight impairment. So having that luxury of being able to come into a branch, speak to someone face to face, and know that that environment is welcoming, knowing that I've not got to share my personal financial information, even if it is with loved ones or friends, knowing that I can do that independently gives me so much more control over my finances and my freedom."

The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers told Nationwide that 82 per cent of disabled people cite missing accessibility details as the biggest barrier to assessing accessibility, and 79 per cent said they struggle to judge a service's accessibility in advance.

Dr Gregory Burke, Founder and Executive Chair, AccessAble, said: "Clear, detailed accessibility information should be regarded as a basic consumer right, giving disabled people the confidence to plan and supporting dignity and independence - an approach we have developed over 25 years in collaboration with more than 1,500 groups of disabled people.

"Nationwide's commitment to publish our Detailed Access Guides for every branch is a significant step forward. The important next step for businesses is to ensure, as Nationwide have done, that accessibility information is also accurate, consistent and trustworthy."