Private sector lender, HDFC Bank has decided to upgrade its ATM network in a way to facilitate easier access by the visually challenged customers.

The first phase of upgradation will involve selected Diebold 450 (D450) ATMs which are smaller footprints as against the conventional ATMs in the country.

The upgraded D450 ATMs will have a 15 inch LCD screen which will bear Braille enabled function keys, facility for headphones as well as speakers which will provide audio guidance to the customer. Apart from this, advance skimming technology (ASD) and integrated digital video (IDV) will also be enabled in these ATMs to increase the level of security.

''ATMs are critical customer touch points and this upgrade now effectively allows us to offer a larger range of products to all our customers, irrespective of whether they have any disabilities or not,'' said Sanjeev Patel, executive vice president, direct banking channels, HDFC Bank.

Diebold and HDFC have tied up to increase security in branches of the bank pan India.