First Citizens Bank

North Carolina
Banks

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

First Citizens Bank, headquartered in Raleigh, NC, uses its corporate reputation to support LGBTQ causes and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. However, First Citizens Bank has not publicly terminated any business relationships due to beliefs and does not have explicitly discriminatory policies against religious organizations. However, CIT Group, who merged with First Citizens in 2022, formerly had a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index and a consequent commitment to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. It is unclear if CIT or First Citizens Bank maintain this commitment. First Citizens Bank does not protect its employees against viewpoint discrimination. First Citizens Bank has not used its corporate funds to advance ideological organizations hostile to freedom of expression. For these reasons, First Citizens Bank receives a Medium Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

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.

Risk Level
Rationale

First Citizens Bank has not publicly terminated business relationships due to political or religious differences. First Citizens Bank advocates for many gender-inclusive policies, however, the bank’s supplier diversity policy does not have LGBTQ requirements (1)(2). First Citizens Bank merged with CIT Group in January 2022 (3). In 2021, CIT Group had a score of 100% on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (4). Among other requirements, this means CIT had pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. It does not appear that First Citizens has carried over this pledge though it is unclear if CIT continues its policy. 

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

First Citizens Bank has not published its charitable giving policy (1). However, First Citizens Bank Community Benefits Plan made a $16 billion investment over 5 years to invest in affordable housing opportunities, small business loans, lending, and mortgage loans in low-income communities (2). First Citizens does not explicitly discriminate against religious organizations.

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

First Citizens Bank does not protect its employees against viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

First Citizens Bank advocates for LGBTQ causes through its celebration of Pride month, corporate blogs supporting a gender-inclusive workplace, and its support of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (1)(2)(3).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

First Citizens Bank does not use its corporate funds to advance ideological organizations hostile to freedom of expression (1).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

First Citizens Bank does not operate a PAC at this time (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 23, 2023

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