An innovative design is revolutionizing payment transactions for blind and visually impaired people in Austria: Together with Mastercard, UniCredit Bank Austria is the first Austrian financial institution to introduce the Touch CardTM – a payment card that can be recognized by touch thanks to a notch.*

Different notches on the side of the card – round for debit cards and square for credit cards – enable blind and visually impaired people to identify their payment card independently and in a matter of seconds. And they can do this worldwide, both when paying online and in stores.

The Touch CardTM is not only a barrier-free innovation for blind and visually impaired people, but also a practical solution for anyone who wants to be able to recognize their cards immediately, even in poor light or in confusing situations.

The card design, developed in collaboration with renowned organizations such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and VISIONS, also combines inclusion with environmental awareness: Made from recycled PVC, each Touch CardTM bears the Mastercard Sustainable Card Badge.

Inclusion through Innovation

With this development, Mastercard and UniCredit Bank Austria are jointly setting a milestone towards a more inclusive society and at the same time strengthening their commitment to barrier-free technologies.

"Customer orientation also means breaking down barriers - for everyone," says Robert Zadrazil, Country Manager Austria UniCredit. "We have been committed to accessibility for over ten years and are pioneers in this area. It is therefore our aim to give all customers the best possible access to our services. We are the first bank in Austria to offer the Mastercard Touch CardTM, and in the future it will be the card of choice for all debit and credit cards from UniCredit Bank Austria, across the board."

"Together with UniCredit Bank Austria, we are setting new standards for barrier-free banking and showing how innovation and inclusion can go hand in hand," explains Michael Brönner, Country Manager Mastercard Austria. "Touch CardTM shows that great innovations do not have to be complicated. A simple notch makes card payments accessible to everyone - that is exactly what we mean by true inclusion."

The importance of this innovation is particularly evident in the life of the successful para-athlete Veronika Aigner and her sister and guide Elisabeth, who, together with their family, are part of an emotional campaign video for the Touch CardTM. The two women from Lower Austria, who recently won gold in the visually impaired women's giant slalom at the Para-Ski World Championships in Maribor, are enthusiastic about the Touch CardTM. Since 2023, Mastercard has also been the main sponsor of the two athletes and supports them on their sporting journey. "The Touch CardTM is a real relief for us in everyday life. We can finally distinguish between our cards independently and quickly - that gives us a new feeling of freedom and independence," explains Veronika Aigner.

Touch CardTM : A solution for an increasingly inclusive world

There are approximately 253 million visually impaired people worldwide[1], of which approximately 30 million live in Europe and around 300,000 in Austria.[2] Forecasts show that the number of visually impaired people worldwide could triple by 2050. The reason for this is an aging population and changing lifestyles.[3] The Touch CardTM therefore not only addresses a current need, but also a social development.

On June 28, 2025, the Accessibility Act will come into force in Austria, which increases the requirements for companies and allows people with disabilities equal access to certain products and services. With the introduction of the Touch CardTM, Mastercard and UniCredit Bank Austria are going beyond these requirements to actively contribute to a more inclusive society.

Strong commitment to more inclusion in Austria

Mastercard pursues the goal of promoting inclusion and equal opportunities worldwide. In Austria, Mastercard is committed to the inclusion of visually impaired people, in addition to the introduction of the Touch CardTM, through art education programs at the Belvedere and through long-term support as the proud head sponsor of the para-athlete Veronika Aigner and her sister and guide Elisabeth.

UniCredit Bank Austria is considered a pioneer in the field of accessibility and inclusion and is a leading provider of barrier-free financial services. 100 percent of the branches are barrier-free, including tactile guidance systems for people with visual impairments, mobile induction devices for people with hearing impairments, or self-service devices that are suitable for wheelchair users and have a keyboard with voice output. The bank also offers comprehensive barrier-free online services. The pioneering advisory service in sign language via video received the Zero Project Award.