TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2021 /CNW/ - In commemoration of
Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada, Scotiabank marks its one-year
anniversary of the Financial Access Pilot Project and today
announces its sustainable Financial Access Program and expanded
non-government organization (NGO) partnerships in Ontario, engaging with Voice Found in
Ottawa and Covenant House in
Toronto.
Scotiabank's Financial Access Program is the first in
Canada to work with NGOs to create
a referral system, linking survivors of human trafficking to
financial services to help them rebuild their financial
independence. This includes providing survivors a free chequing
account for 12 months, a savings account, as well as financial
literacy instruction with a specially designated advisor. The
program also expands on the pilot project, launched in British Columbia in partnership with The
Salvation Army Illuminate, offering the option for a credit card
and specially developed human trafficking awareness and sensitivity
training for branch employees.
"Once survivors enter the program, we take a trauma-sensitive
approach to onboarding them as customers, renew their access to the
financial system and enhance their knowledge of financial
literacy," says Stuart Davis,
Executive Vice President, Financial Crimes Risk Management,
Scotiabank. "Our goal is to empower survivors in their journey to
financial freedom, many of whom have had their financial identities
stolen by their traffickers."
Expanding NGO partnerships
Today's announcement builds on the Bank's commitment to
financial inclusion and literacy, and continued partnership with
The Salvation Army Illuminate, who co-led the development of the
pilot.
"These financial services may seem basic to many, but to those
who are recovering from human trafficking they provide a lifeline
of healing," says Larissa Maxwell,
Director of the Salvation Army Illuminate, who runs Deborah's Gate,
a live-in recovery program for survivors based in British Columbia. "This project paves a path
forward for survivors in regaining their financial
independence."
Scotiabank intends to evolve the Financial Access Program by
expanding its partnerships with NGOs across Canada. "We are delighted to partner with
Scotiabank on this much needed program," says Cynthia Bland, Founder and CEO, Voice Found.
"Survivors who have experienced the trauma of human trafficking
will now have guidance from bank personnel who understand their
unique needs and resources to help them rebuild their finances and
their lives."
For NGOs interested in participating in the Program, please
contact financial.access@scotiabank.com.
"This is only the beginning in the ongoing fight against human
trafficking" says Davis.
"We are hopeful that by expanding NGO partnerships we will connect
with more survivors right across Canada."
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our
purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families
and their communities achieve success through a broad range of
advice, products and services, including personal and commercial
banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and
investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of over 90,000
employees and assets of approximately $1.1 trillion (as
at October 31, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS).
For more information, please
visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter
@ScotiabankViews.
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SOURCE The Bank of Nova
Scotia