Banking in every language, including sign

Banking in every language, including sign

HSBC partners with Glassbox AI to explore an AI-powered text-to-sign language generation accessibility tool, promoting inclusive banking

HSBC, in collaboration with Hong Kong’s deaf community and  start-up Glassbox AI, is experimenting with AI-powered text-to-sign language generation accessibility tool to foster inclusive banking.

The objective of this collaboration is to redefine digital inclusion by utilising AI to produce Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL) videos to make complex web content, such as financial education and anti-fraud information, accessible to those who rely on sign communication.

“Our ambition is to become the world’s most digitally accessible bank,” said Malintha Fernando, Group Head of Digital Experience and Accessibility at HSBC,

“Joining forces with Glassbox AI is a key step in fulfilling our promise here in Hong Kong, enabling us to genuinely empower the community.”

Hong Kong’s deaf population faces a stark shortage of sign language interpreters – just 50 to 60 serve the entire city, compared with roughly 80,000 in the UK.

Important content, such as banking updates or fraud alerts, can easily be missed by deaf individuals without access to sign language.
HSBC and Glassbox AI’s solution addresses this by transforming static text into visual content, translating essential information directly into sign language.

“If you think about anti-fraud messages, they’re often text-heavy and filled with technical terms,” said Fernando.

“For the deaf community, that can be a real barrier. By using AI translation, we’re making essential knowledge – how to spot scams, how to bank safely – accessible in the language they use every day.”

Robert Hsu, Senior Digital Governance Manager of Digital Experience and Accessibility at HSBC, added that the collaboration aligns with broader social progress.

“We see the government using sign language in public broadcasts and on television. Now we’re bringing that inclusivity into financial services,” said Hsu.

“It’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their situation, can participate in the digital banking experience.”

Founded at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Glassbox AI specialises in AI-based text-to-sign and sign-to-text translation.

The company has developed one of the most extensive HKSL databases, built in partnership with the deaf community in Hong Kong. It accounts for gestures to ensure cultural and linguistic accuracy.

“Sign languages are not universal,” explained Tim Lo, CEO of Glassbox AI, at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025.

“American Sign Language and Hong Kong Sign Language are completely different. We trained our models from scratch with local data to reflect the context and nuances that matter here,” he explained.

HSBC and HKSTP have partnered since 2024 to drive innovation and enhance bank-fintech collaboration.

This financial inclusion project began when HSBC connected with the company through HKSTP, which links corporates with start-ups offering ready-to-use solutions.

“HKSTP connected us with HSBC, who were seeking practical accessibility technology. After showcasing how AI could automate sign translation, the partnership swiftly turned into a joint effort, “ said Lo.

The collaboration debuted at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025 with a demonstration of sign-language videos on HSBC’s ‘Cybersecurity and Fraud Hub,’ aimed at promoting anti-scam awareness within the deaf community. The initiative supports Hong Kong’s broader campaign against online fraud.

“Fraud doesn’t discriminate. If one sign-language video helps a deaf customer or their family avoid being scammed, that’s already a win for us. Our mission is not about profit; it’s about impact,” said Lo.

Fernando said accessibility and business goals go hand in hand, noting that better serving customers ultimately broadens reach. He added that inclusion is both good ethics and good business, and designing for accessibility brings benefits to everyone.

Glassbox AI developed its models using computing power and technical mentorship provided by HKSTP, which supports start-ups with GPU resources, funding access and corporate collaborations.

The start-up has also hired several employees from the deaf community through HKSTP’s inclusive hiring programme, integrating lived experience into the product’s development.

While the current focus is Hong Kong, Glassbox AI’s technology is designed to scale. The company is now exploring applications in the Chinese mainland, Singapore and Japan, each with its own sign language system.

HSBC’s accessibility training has already been integrated across the bank’s global teams, and expertise has been shared with other organisations.  In 2024 alone, more than 150,000 people in digital accessibility were trained.

“The learnings from working with the deaf community will influence we design our digital experiences. Accessibility benefits everyone and allows us to differentiate our offerings,” said Fernando.

At Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025, HKSTP facilitated around 150 business matchings and showcased 20 of the companies it supports.