We’re writing this article on the List Of Banks That Support The LGBTQ+ Banking in other for people to understand the importance of equality. Being different can sometimes lead to being rejected by different people and this means that you might be denied access to enjoy some public services even in the financial sector such as the bank.
We have seen cases where large financial service providers provide lip service when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community but at the end of the day, only a few of them back it up.
According to the founder and CEO of the credit union Superbia, in Newyork. Acceptance and access are key when it comes to servicing the LGBTQ community.
Mayer stated that around the year 1990 to 2015, the oppression level and intolerance were the order of the day, which Mayer considered as being shocking. With this said, Mayer also made it clear that 73% of same-sex couples who want to get a mortgage are more likely to be turned down due to them being different in society compared to couples of different sex.
In Mayers very own words, same-sex couples who are lucky to get approval for mortgage pay about 0.02% to 0.02% more, on average, in interest and fees.
When you look at this you’ll discover that there is fairness when it comes to equality which is one of the things America stands for (equality and justice for all).
I have seen cases where banks or financial institutions are being created for LGBTQ communities. If you look at the case of upcoming banks like Superbia and Daylight, these banks where specifical created to bridge the gap which most financial providers have failed to do. These banks are meant to help LGBTQ customers with their specific needs.
Some people have also complained of issues they face for being transgendered, and one of these issues is the problem of their credit score being affected just because they changed their name.
Billie Simmons, the co-founder of Daylight, a mobile-first banking startup in New York, Simmons said she has been finding it difficult to update her name and have it reflect on her debit card.
This attempt has been laborious and time-consuming. In her words, she said, “ It outs me multiple times as trans and often is a partial solution,”. She mentioned that she has tried several times to update her legal name and have it reflected on her debit card. Whenever she wants to log in to the card, she will be left with no option but to log in with her dead name- the name she was given at birth before she became a transgender person who feels she doesn’t need to bear any more because she has successfully transude into her new self.
One of the dangers of being in the shoe of Simmons as a transgender individual is using a name which is answered by the opposite sex when you look entirely different. This might make you look like a fraud in the eyes of others and it can put you in serious trouble that might lead to actual violence.
A lot of transgender individuals have reported on severally how they are being treated unfairly by most traditional financial institutions. According to Mayer, 60% of the LGBTQ communities believe that traditional providers don’t want to help people like them. This alone can be discriminating and brings about low esteem to transgendered individuals who are trying to fit into society and be accepted as who they are.
If for any reason you want to be well represented by having your very own customed rainbow-themed debit card, it will be a good idea to ensure that you do your own research to know what companies or financial institutions offer such great customer care whether you’re shopping for a personal loan, a mortgage, a savings and checking account, or an insurance product.
To make things easy for you, I have decided to provide you with a list of banks and insurance providers that are out there to help the LGBTQ community with the right financial services by ensuring that they enjoy equal service like everyone out there.. These financial institutions and companies have shown and proved that they’re doing more than just being a money-making enterprise.
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List Of Banks That Support The LGBTQ+ Banking
Capital One
Around the year 1997, Capital One was one of the first major companies and financial service providers that offers same-sex marriage benefits and ever since, the company has become a major vocal supporter of the Equality Act, a proposed bill that “prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.
Capital One Offers the LGBTQ Communities amazing focus benefits such as fertility coverage, reimbursements for associates for adoption and surrogacy expenses, domestic partner benefits, and health coverage for gender reassignment.
The financial service provider has partnered with different community organizations such as SAGE, Attic Youth Center, GLAAD, LGBT Community Center of New Orleans, and Trans Lifeline. To ensure they played their part in ensuring equality and justice for all, capital One went as far as creating a bank chatbot which has a gender-neutral name to ensure that the company doesn’t have to deal with criticism based on gender.
Daylight
Daylight is an online bank founded by the LGBTQ community to serve the community. The bank has some amazing benefits which you can enjoy such as using your account without any minimum balance as well as enjoying one free ATM withdrawal every month.
The bank is not just a financial institution, but a network that connects like minds and other LGBTQs. This community allows members to interact and give each other’s advice and support in any way. The platform offers LGBTQ+ financial coaches through an affiliate network; their services can be paid for using your card.
Experian
Experian made it clear that when a transgender person changes his/her name from a dead name to a new name. It can affect the credit score of that individual. If for any reason a transgender individual decides to officially change his/her name to match the person’s gender identity, the person will have to forward the details, which will be sent to the credit bureaus for it to reflect on the person’s credit report.
But for a total change of the entire first and last name, there are other additional documents which will be required. The process not only involves your legal name but may also include updating vital records such as your Social Security card and driver’s license with the federal and state government.
You can check them out. The article is becoming too lengthy as I will not be able to cover everything on how to change your names.
Equifax
Equifax is a major player when it comes to handling financial issues that arise as a result of a change of identity by a transgendered individual. Equifax ensures it protects the credit score of an LGBTQ+ member.
According to Equifax, the best method is for a transgender or non-binary person to complete a legal name change and then directly inform the credit bureaus. “Doing this provides the critical link needed between their chosen name and their deadname, which will help to maintain the integrity of their credit file during the transition and potentially avoid any misunderstanding with creditors or lenders,” the company says
The company ensures it provides all the step-by-step instructions which you need to follow when it comes to state law for changing a name legally by a transgender individual.
Mass Mutual
Mass Mutual is one of the great supports of the LGBTQ+ community that has gone beyond the expectations of other financial companies who have been reluctant when it comes to LGBTQ+. The company has gone as far as using images of LGBTQ+ couples and individuals to tell various stories. The company has embraced the community, showing videos on the LGBTQ+ section of its website and on YouTube of same-sex couples going through adoption to promote its advisory services.
All of this can be considered a major breakthrough for the LGBTQ+ communities. As a financial service provider MassMutual, the company supports marriage equality. According to the security study conducted by MassMutual in 2017. The study was focused on 500 LGBTQ+ Americans between the age of 25 and 65 with household incomes between $35,000 and $150,000 (in the survey researchers used LGBTQ, not LGBTQ+). Among their findings: LGBTQ people were more worried about retirement and finances than the general population.
JP Morgan
At the time of the covid-19 pandemic, JP Morgan has been one of the banks which has supported the LGBTQ communities. The Donated $5 million to non-profits that served the LGBTQ+ Americans who were adversely affected by the pandemic.
The bank has won awards for its workplace commitment to diversity and inclusion, with local LGBT Employee Resource Group (or ERG) chapters in 15 countries.
One of the challenges most LGBTQ+ have faced with the bank is the change of name on the debit cards. If you must do that, you will have to follow a long process where you will be asked to present some documents before that can be done.
The bank’s online Account Holder Name Change form is for brokerage accounts, not credit card or savings accounts. If you are a cardholder, you can call the toll-free number on the back of the card to know how to go about the change of your name.
Superbia
Superbia is another financial institution that has LGBTQ+ in mind. The offering of its financial products was halted as a result of the covid-19 pandemic which took place and delayed the product which was meant to be accessible as of July 2021. The financial institution is aimed at providing banking, life and health insurance, and money management services designed for and by the LGBTQ+ community.
Users of Superbia will get to enjoy Checking and savings accounts with low rates, no fees, and no discrimination. Users of the Superbia bank can get their choice of name printed on their master cards.
Prudential
Prudential insurance has been a well-known strong supporter of LGBTQ+ right over the years. Around 1996, the company added what is called “sex Orientation”. This served as a non-discriminatory policy for employees. Besides that, the company added the domestic partnership benefit for its employees around 2002 by ensuring that gender identity and expression are protected under its non-discriminatory policy.
The company has proven over the years to be a great supporter of the LGBTQ+ community by ensuring that they take along everyone whether you’re black American, Asian-American or whatever category you fall into.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo Bank is another great financial institution that ensures that every of its customer has equal access to their financial services and product. Because of that, the bank designed a section of its website for the LGBTQ community to a bank. In that section, customers can sign up for a Pride-Themed card. The bank also ensures that it employs professionals who are trained to specifically understand the complex financial needs of LGBTQ+ couples and individuals.
As an LGBTQ+ community member, you can have access to financial advisors with LGBTQ+ expertise and sensitivity.
Wells Fargo bank has put in place the Accredited Domestic Partner Adviser (ADPA) and offered its financial advisors the chance to take the training long before same-sex marriage was even legalized.
The Investment advisors gain an understanding of issues that affect LGBTQ+ couples and domestic partners so they can be advocates for the community. In the event the partnership ends in death or divorce, an advisor with this designation can ensure that the interests of both partners are protected.
Conclusion/Final Verdict
Every day a lot is changing and people are getting to understand that everyone has the right to be whoever he/she chooses without being discriminated against.
We’re beginning to see progress in the financial industry in regard to the LGBTQ community. Many financial companies are now making moves toward inclusion. With the list, I made mentioned above, organizations like Capital One, daylight, and Superbia is working hard to ensure that members of the community get to talk about finance management and building a business with the right financial literacy needed.
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