Eastern Bank
Risk Level:
Summary:
Eastern Bank vets suppliers according to LGBTQ policies and maintains a policy of divestment from areas in which leadership disagrees. Eastern Bank regularly advocates for LGBTQ and pro-abortion causes, and the bank donates to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood. Eastern Bank does not have viewpoint protections for its employees. For these reasons, Eastern Bank receives a "High 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.
Eastern Bank received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) (1). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. However, Eastern Bank has not publicly terminated business relationships for political reasons. According to Eastern Bank’s ESG policy, the bank believes in “divestment” and will refuse to make investments that the bank disagrees with on an ideological basis (e.g., tobacco securities) (2).
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.
Eastern Bank does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Eastern Bank has published pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ “sponsored content” (1). Eastern Bank was the first company to sign onto the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s amicus brief opposing the Defense of Marriage Act (2). Eastern Bank is a member of the HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act. The company has signed onto coalitions opposing state-level LGBTQ legislation, both in a general sense and in response to the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching gender identity and sexual orientation to children in K-3rd grade (3)(4). CEO Bob Rivers has publicly endorsed the Black Lives Matter movement and directed user support to the organization’s Boston chapter (5). After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the bank spoke out against the decision and urged other companies to “(speak) out and (adopt) a policy that provides financial support for employees… who must travel to access abortion care” (6). Eastern Bank is a member of the America Competes National Business Coalition for Nondiscrimination (7).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
The Eastern Bank Foundation has donated to the Black Lives Matter organization, the ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, and the Anti-Defamation League, all as recently as 2020 (1). Eastern Bank has been giving to Planned Parenthood through special programs since 2018 (2). Eastern Bank’s Roe v. Wade statement implied that the bank had adopted a policy that would expand medical benefits to cover abortion-related travel for employees; however, the bank’s branches are located entirely in Northeastern states with progressive abortion laws (3).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Eastern Bank does not operate a PAC.
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 21, 2023
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