Protocols Act 8/2021 support for people with disabilities

In July 2023, the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office, the banking associations (AEB, CECA and UNACC) and the Bank of Spain signed a cooperation protocol to ensure the autonomy of people with disabilities in relation to banking services and products.

This agreement established the means by which banking practice can adapt to the new legal treatment of disability established by legislation (Spanish Law 8/21), which encourages people with disabilities to make their own decisions, and aims to collaborate in the progressive promotion of the necessary adaptations so that they can operate on their own in the world of banking, including, among other things, information in accessible language.

Moreover, the protocol provides for the dynamic operation of a working group that addresses the problems that the adaptation to the law may reveal in day-to-day banking transactions, so that solutions are not only proposed, but also applied swiftly and efficiently for the benefit of the public, with the defence of these rights being one of the missions of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Similarly, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the banking associations signed a second supplementary protocol, the purpose of which is to protect the wealth interests of persons with disabilities or who find themselves in certain situations of vulnerability.

Said agreement establishes fluid communication between banks and the competent regional public prosecutor's offices for the reporting of situations that could endanger the economic security of the holder, by revealing situations of abuse or undue influence on their will, and which will activate an investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office.