An app that shows people with cognitive disabilities how to execute important tasks now has its second U.S. bank customer: Huntington Bancshares.
More than 200,000 people are on the app, called Magnusmode, which allows users to learn about topics from safety to personal care. Neurodiverse people or their caregivers can select from a variety of card decks that outline illustrated steps.
Huntington's corner of the app includes instructions for nine common banking tasks: buying things with a debit card; using an ATM to withdraw money; using a mobile phone to deposit a check; creating an emergency fund; creating and tracking a budget; going inside the bank to deposit a check; going inside the bank to dispute a transaction; opening a checking account online; and setting up bill pay to manage bills.
"We started to look at what our most frequent bank transactions were and what all customers do," said Donald Dennis, head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington.
Dennis said Huntington selected the topics with current customers and potential new customers, who might learn about Hungtington via Magnusmode, in mind.
Huntington CEO Steve Steinour learned about the app from M&T Bank's CEO, René Jones. M&T
That introduction led to an hour-plus conversation between Steinour and Nadia Hamilton. Hamilton founded Magnusmode after creating step-by-step instructions for her brother, Troy, who has autism.
Magnusmode now counts 55 corporate partners, from grocery stores such as Trader Joe's to transit systems like the New York City Transit Authority. Its first bank partner was CIBC, and Hamilton said she is in talks with other interested banks in Canada.
"By empowering people to know how to use the banking services available to them, we're empowering people to grow into their full independence and be fully participatory members of their community," Hamilton said.
