Citizens Financial
Risk Level:
Summary:
Citizens Financial has not publicly canceled any business relationships due to views or beliefs. However, in 2018, it did choose to withdraw an outstanding loan with a group drawing scrutiny for their involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline, which had caused protests at the bank. It is unclear if the loan was not renewed due to political pressure, however. The bank advocates for LGBTQ policies and causes, and it donates to the Equality PAC. It has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies, as well. The company does not have viewpoint protection for its employees. Citizens also funded the National Urban League and abortion travel costs for its employees. For these reasons, Citizens Financial receives a "Medium Risk" rating.
Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
Citizens Financial Group received a score of 100% on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (1). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. Additionally, after a series of protests from environmental activists that included chaining themselves to the bank’s property, Citizens Financial elected not to renew a $72.5 million loan to Energy Transfer Partners, which was constructing the Dakota Access Pipeline at the time (2). Citizens Financial did not release a statement or a stated reason for canceling that specific client (3). It is unknown if the bank acted for ideological reasons.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Citizens Financial’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics does not protect employees from political viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Citizens Financial and its leaders avoid using the bank’s corporate reputation to advance ideological causes, although the bank has committed to multiple acts of public advocacy for LGBTQ causes (1).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Citizens Financial pledged $10 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes, including the National Urban League (1)(2). Citizens funds abortions and travel costs for out-of-state abortions for its employees (3). Citizens also sponsored several LGBTQ Pride parades and committed to public advocacy for LGBTQ causes (4).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 28, 2023
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