On July 30, 2025, we kicked off the EyeBrand Series with a powerful digital event titled Accessible Finance — bringing together industry leaders, accessibility innovators, and over 250 professionals from 7 countries. This online gathering explored the future of inclusive finance and how the financial system can be reimagined through the lens of accessibility.
What Is EyeBrand Series?
EyeBrand Series is a sector-specific event platform developed by BlindLook to spotlight accessibility and inclusion across industries. Each event serves as a stage to:
Assess the accessibility landscape of a specific sector
Showcase transformative practices and leadership visions
Amplify real stories from users who benefit from inclusive design
Accessible Finance marked the first step in this global inclusion journey.
Why Start with Finance?
Finance is one of the most digitized sectors — and yet, some of the most persistent inequalities remain here. From inaccessible interfaces to underrepresented user groups, financial services still fall short of reaching everyone equally.
But the tide is turning.
On June 21, 2025, the Turkish government issued a national regulation on “Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications,” laying a legal foundation for change.
Accessible Finance was designed to move beyond compliance — aiming to spark a deeper shift in mindset. Because accessible financial services are not just a tech issue — they are a human right.
Inclusive finance increases economic participation, reduces inequality, and strengthens opportunity for all.
Accessible Finance by the Numbers
250+ participants
7 countries, including Turkey, UK, and the US
Representatives from banking, fintech, insurance, government, NGOs, and consulting
Dozens of expert voices, sharing case studies, strategies, and challenges
This wasn’t just a webinar. It was a cross-industry exchange of ideas around accessibility in the financial world.
Highlights from the Event
Opening Remarks
BlindLook co-founders Sadriye Görece and Cihat Ersin Aydın welcomed participants with the story behind EyeBrand Series and its mission to embed inclusion into the DNA of industries — starting with finance.
Keynote: The Future of Financial Inclusion
Soner Canko, former CEO of BKM and a fintech pioneer in Turkey, opened the event with a compelling keynote. Drawing from his experience leading innovations like Troy and BKM Express, he emphasized that accessibility is not an obligation — it's a responsibility.
He discussed the role of mobile finance in emerging economies, shared insights on fraud prevention, and called for global accessibility standards.
Leaders in Action Panel
A stellar lineup of industry leaders shared real-world applications of inclusive finance:
Emre Çift, Senior Vice President, Consumer Banking and Digital Marketing, Akbank
Showcased how AI and Akbank Assistant empower visually impaired customers with personalized accessibility tools.
Hande Yağcı, Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Customer Experience, and Sustainability, Alternatif Bank
Spoke on embedding accessibility into internal culture through training and awareness, with a rights-based approach.
Yasemin Develioğlu Görgü, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Eastern Europe, Mastercard
Discussed innovations at the intersection of digital payments, security, and inclusion, including local accessibility efforts.
Ceren Sayar, Head of Digital Banking, Türkiye İş Bankası
Highlighted inclusive design in digital banking and the transformative power of AI in creating equitable customer experiences.
Human-Centric Finance Panel
This session explored the societal value of inclusive financial systems:
Emre Ertan, Co-Founder, Cenoa
Explained how blockchain and AI can democratize global trade and e-export for broader user bases.
Melisa Mumcu, Secretary General, Financial Literacy and Access Association (FODER)
Emphasized the importance of financial literacy for underserved groups and the social impact of inclusive education.
Gökçen Müftüoğlu Çapa, Financial Consultant and TV Host
Advocated for simplified, accessible language in financial communication and greater data access for blind users.
Global Vision: A Tech Giant’s Perspective
Christopher Patnoe, Google’s EMEA Lead for Accessibility and Disability Innovation, delivered an inspiring keynote. He shared how AI is reshaping lives for people with disabilities and emphasized a crucial fact:
“1.3 billion people live with disabilities — and many are forced to hide it.”
His message was clear: Technology must become a tool for dignity, not division.
What Participants Said
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Participants called for more events like this — across more sectors. They found the discussions inspiring, the insights actionable, and the vision of inclusive finance powerful and urgent.
Why We Were Here
We didn’t come together just to talk — we came to challenge the status quo.
Our goal was to:
-Assess the state of financial inclusion
-Identify the roadblocks
-Share strategies
-Co-create solutions
Because true inclusion goes beyond regulations — it requires intentional, collective action.
Let’s co-create a future where accessibility is the standard — not the exception.
