British banking company HSBC has announced that it will be offering transgender and non-binary clients more choice by introducing 10 new gender neutral pronouns.
Instead of being limited to choosing Mrs, Mr or Ms on forms, customers and staff can now use honorifics such as Mx, Ind, M, and Pr to be displayed on their bank card and official correspondence.
As well as the new title options, HSBC has made it easier for customers to change the gender on their bank account. The bank has announced the changes as a way of celebrating Transgender Visibility Day (March 31).
Stuart Barette is the trans lead of HSBC’s Pride network and said the changes were made to make sure that the needs of transgender and non-binary clients were met.
“On the day that I went into the branch to change my name and my gender I was terrified, to be honest,” said Barette in a YouTube video.
“Coming out to anyone is difficult, as you don’t know people are going to react.
“That’s why the changes we’ve been making are so important, so that our trans customers can feel confident that they’re going to have a good experience and be speaking with someone who has been trained to better understand them.”
Stuart Haire, UK head of retail, the changes were “part of a broader priority for us to ensure our products and services are relevant for the unique financial needs of all of our customers.
“We want everyone to be able to access simple and smart banking solutions that work for them, and we will continue working with our LGBT+ colleagues and customers to ensure we’re getting it right.”
HSBC made it onto Stonewall’s this year, a list of UK commercial and government organisations that create environments where LGBT+ staff can thrive.
