Following the news of HSBC offering gender neutral titles, Britain’s three other Big Banks will follow suit.
Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and the Royal Bank of Scotland all have plans to increase inclusion with the new initiative.
The move allows transgender or non-binary people who do not identify as ‘male’ or ‘female’ to use the titles they’re comfortable with.
A spokesperson from the Royal Bank of Scotland told MailOnline: ‘[We] will be looking to extend the number of titles available.
All four Big Banks confirmed the plans with the MailOnline.
‘We also stopped asking customers for their mother’s maiden names as a security question and removed the requirement to disclose gender in our online application process,’ the spokesperson said.
So rarely I see ads in the real world with gay couples. Still worth photographing.#Lloyds pic.twitter.com/vrB6aAgkKe
— Alan Flanagan (@alanflanagan) 22 January 2017
HSBC announced on Friday (31 March) plans to introduce ten new options, including Mx, Mre, Msr, Sai, Ser and Misc.
‘They risk creating confusion, misunderstanding, ridicule and backlash’
LGBTI charities Stonewall and Trans•formation welcomed the move, but activist Peter Tatchell believes it might cause ridicule.
Kimberley Bird , the co-chair of Trans•formation told Gay Star News: ‘If organizations the size and scale of HSBC are able to be inclusive we hope other organizations will follow.’
But Tatchell said: ‘It is commendable that HSBC is showing sensitivity and support for transgender customers.
‘But I am not sure ten different titles are necessary.
‘They risk creating confusion, misunderstanding, ridicule and backlash.
‘Mx is the emerging consensus as the preferred gender neutral title.
‘It covers transgender and intersex people, and anyone who doesn’t identify as male or female.
‘So I doubt whether the other nine titles are needed,’ he said.
Tatchell believes most transgender people would be happy to use ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’ titles.
