- This year marks BMO's addition to the LGBT Corporate
Canadian Index with a 100 per cent rating for diversity and
inclusion
TORONTO, June 11, 2020 /CNW/ - With Pride Month now
underway, BMO Financial Group continues its commitment to the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and two-spirited (LGBTQ2+)
community through initiatives that eliminate barriers to inclusion.
As a steadfast supporter of the Pride movement for more than 20
years, BMO is creating programs and resources that empower
customers and employees, while also setting significant benchmarks
for diversity in the financial industry. This year, the bank is
commemorating Pride in everyday moments.
"While tentpole Pride events are reimagined this year, we're
reminded that Pride isn't where we go – it's what we feel,"
said Dan Barclay, Chief Executive Officer & Group
Head, BMO Capital Markets. "Diversity and inclusion are core
to our corporate values, and with so much uncertainty facing
underrepresented communities, now more than ever it's critical that
we continue to be a leading force for change, compassion, and
inclusivity. Reaffirming our commitment to listening, learning, and
celebrating our LGBTQ2+ customers and employees is one way we are
expressing our allyship at this time."
BMO Pride in Action
As a part of BMO's Purpose to foster an inclusive society, the
bank's ongoing support of the LGBTQ2+ community includes
customer-driven initiatives and a focus on setting industry-leading
standards for diversity and equality, such as:
- Earlier this year, BMO scored a 100 per cent rating as a
Canadian constituent of the LGBT Corporate Canadian Index (CCI).
Created by a BMO employee, the LGBT CCI identifies corporations
listed on the S&P and TSX Composite Indexes that are promoting
diversity by embracing LGBT inclusion.
- BMO Harris Bank has expanded its first-to-market adoption of
Mastercard's® True NameTM feature in the
U.S., allowing transgender and non-binary customers to use their
chosen first name on the front of their Mastercard®
credit and small business credit cards without the requirement of a
legal name change. The program was first introduced for BMO
personal debit and ATM cards in December
2019.
- Each year, through various donations and sponsorships, BMO
supports many organizations across its footprint in Canada and the U.S., such as the Pride and
Remembrance Run, The 519, CANFAR, Maison du Parc, Center on
Halsted, the Chicago Pride Parade, and the AIDS Foundation of
Chicago.
- Further expansion of the comprehensive Gender Pronoun
Initiative continues to give transgender, non-binary, and
gender-fluid customers the agency to share their pronouns with BMO
representatives.
- Robust social media and marketing campaign featured in branches
across the country shines a light on the everyday moments where
Pride lives for its customers and employees.
BMO Pride in the Workplace
As a champion of inclusion, BMO Pride begins with its employees
across the country. In promoting an equitable environment, BMO
celebrates in the workplace with the following:
- BMO Pride Enterprise Resource Group – Comprised of more than
1,600 employees in Canada and
the United States, this group
drives awareness, encourages conversation, fosters personal and
professional growth opportunities, and promotes an equitable and
inclusive environment for all. With additional groups in
Europe and Asia, there are more than 6,000 members and
allies across BMO.
- Sharing Pronouns in Communications – As part of its expanded
focus on employee education, mentorship, executive sponsorship, and
talent acquisition, BMO now also encourages employees to state
their pronouns in their email signatures across communication
channels internally and externally.
- This year, BMO once again received a 100 per cent rating on the
Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index, which
rates workplaces on LGBTQ equality.
Additional resources for employees include an internal podcast
series that explores topics ranging from mental health to BMO's
commitment to the LGBTQ2+ community, as well as a virtual parade
where employees can share how they are commemorating Pride –
wherever they may be.
For more information on BMO's Diversity and Inclusion
commitments, visit: https://corporate-responsibility.bmo.com/.
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for
200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial
services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North
America. With total assets of $987 billion as
of April 30, 2020, and a team of diverse and highly engaged
employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial
banking, wealth management and investment banking products and
services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business
through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking,
BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group