Berkshire Bank

Berkshire Bank received a score of 100 on the 2026 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2)(3). Berkshire Bank received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (4)(5). Berkshire is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment, incorporating ESG issues into investment analysis, decision-making, and other business practices (6)(7). However, the company has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (8).

Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). The bank does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. Berkshire Bank’s charitable giving focus areas are small businesses, financial development, and providing safe housing (6).

Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend at least one, controversial training on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2)(3). Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (4)(5). Berkshire Bank implements unconscious bias training for its employees (6). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment, hiring, and leadership composition. From its 2023 Sustainability Report: “Ultimately Berkshire’s goal is to attract and retain individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences so that the workforce, executives and board composition reflect the diversity of the communities in which it operates.” The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its supply chain: “As a result, Berkshire works to maintain a third-party base that reflects the communities in which it operates and, to the maximum extent possible, increase the utilization of third parties owned by underrepresented people” (7). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (8).

Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company potentially agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3). Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (4)(5). Berkshire Bank opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which would prohibit teaching gender identity and sexual orientation to kids in K-3rd grade (6). It signed an open letter endorsing the Equality Act, a contentious proposal to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by adding sexual orientation and so-called gender identity as protected categories. The legislation would, among other implications, grant biological men access to women-only spaces such as sports teams and public restrooms, and compel healthcare providers to deliver sex-denying healthcare (7). Berkshire Bank was part of the Freedom for All Americans coalition, which advocated for federal legislation that would overrule state laws designed to protect girls’ sports and similar laws (8). The Bank opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (9). Berkshire bank opposed legislation in Iowa intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (10). The bank’s CEO, Nitin J. Mhatre, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace (11)(12). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2023 Sustainability Report: “The Company advances those goals through an integrated approach that includes[:] Strong oversight and governance practices[;] Talent management and recruitment[;] Education and training[;] Workplace programming; Multicultural community engagement[;] Equitable product and service development[;] Supplier diversity” (13). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2023 Sustainability Report: “Berkshire maintains an extensive management committee structure, including the ESG committee, which is responsible for overseeing all aspects of ESG within the organization. The committee monitors performance and ensures appropriate strategies are in place to identify and mitigate environmental and social risk” (14).

Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits, lab monitoring, and mental health benefits. The company also covers at least five of the following services: reconstructive hair removal, cosmetic hair removal, tracheal shave or reduction, facial surgeries, voice modification surgery, voice modification therapy, lipoplasty or filling for body masculinization or feminization, and travel and lodging expenses. Additionally, the company has potentially pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3)(4). Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (5)(6). In 2022, the company donated $100,000 to New Commonwealth Racial and Social Justice Fund (7). In 2023, the company donated $25,000 to Massachusetts LGBT Business Network (8). In 2023, the company donated $25,000 to Urban League of Greater Hartford Inc (9). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (10).

Berkshire Bank’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). Berkshire Bank does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (3)(4)(5).