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HSBC adds new transgender titles including M and Misc | |
(35 minutes later) | |
HSBC is to let customers choose more non-gender specific titles for their retail bank accounts. | HSBC is to let customers choose more non-gender specific titles for their retail bank accounts. |
Instead of Mr, Mrs, Ms or the gender neutral Mx, customers can choose from nine titles including "M" and "Misc", the banking giant said. | Instead of Mr, Mrs, Ms or the gender neutral Mx, customers can choose from nine titles including "M" and "Misc", the banking giant said. |
The prefixes are designed to give non-binary people more choices if they don't want to be identified by gender. | The prefixes are designed to give non-binary people more choices if they don't want to be identified by gender. |
HSBC added that it had simplified the process that lets customers change their gender on an account. | HSBC added that it had simplified the process that lets customers change their gender on an account. |
Other banks, including Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays, also allow customers to have gender neutral titles. | Other banks, including Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays, also allow customers to have gender neutral titles. |
In November High Street lender Metrobank started to offer the "Mx" prefix on its forms. | In November High Street lender Metrobank started to offer the "Mx" prefix on its forms. |
HSBC's titles will be applied across a customer's account, including their bank cards and correspondence. | HSBC's titles will be applied across a customer's account, including their bank cards and correspondence. |
The banking giant will let people choose gender neutral titles from the following list: | The banking giant will let people choose gender neutral titles from the following list: |
People who wish to change the gender on their account need to bring a passport, driving licence or birth certificate that supports the change of gender and update their details in a branch, HSBC said. | People who wish to change the gender on their account need to bring a passport, driving licence or birth certificate that supports the change of gender and update their details in a branch, HSBC said. |
Stuart Barette, trans lead of HSBC's UK Pride Network, said that when he went to the bank to change his gender he found it "terrifying". | |
In theory, updating gender records should be as easy as changing marital status, he told the BBC. | |
But in fact, transgender people "have to come out to the branch", and the "reality can be nerve-wracking." | |
"Coming out is always tricky," he said. "It's a big step for the customer." | |
He said that the changes, which include updating training for bank staff, are about making it a lot easier for customers to have the confidence to go into branches. | |
HSBC decided to extend the number of gender-neutral prefixes available to customers after feedback from employees, Mr Barette added. | |
A spokesperson for LGBT lobby group Stonewall said: "It's great to see an increasing number of organisations prioritise issues affecting trans people. | |
"The banking sector has taken huge strides towards making lesbian, gay, bi and trans employees and customers feel valued. | |
"This was demonstrated earlier this year by Lloyds Banking Group, who came number one in our top 100 LGBT inclusive employers in Britain." | |
There are no official figures for the number of transgender people in the UK, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. | There are no official figures for the number of transgender people in the UK, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. |