Eastern Bank

Eastern 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). The company 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). 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., fossil fuels) (6).

Eastern 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). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). Eastern Bank does not discriminate against religious organizations based on views or beliefs (6).

Eastern 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). The company’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). Eastern Bank offers DEI training, Understanding Racism training to its employees (6). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment. From its 2022 DEI Report: The company’s board commits to “[Advancing] inclusive recruitment practices to continue diversifying the Eastern Boards.” The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its promotion: “[Inclusive practices complement] the retention, development and promotion of under-represented talent at more senior levels so that we better represent the communities we serve at every level of Eastern.” The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its leadership composition and supply chain: “From our activism and advocacy for LGBTQ+ and Trans rights, to the diversity on our Board including its leadership, to our investment in economic mobility through innovative banking products and collaborations, to leading the charge on supplier diversity, DEI is in our DNA.” The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its mentoring program: The company commits to “Support underrepresented talent in senior roles through career development and mentoring” (7). Eastern Bank does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (8).

The company has published pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ “sponsored content” (1). The company’s CEO, Bob Rivers, “strongly supports a woman’s fundamental right to choose, in our workplace and in all the communities we serve, and we remain committed to the advancement of women and working together for women’s rights” (2). After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the company 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” (3). Eastern 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 (4)(5)(6). The company’s HRC 2023-2024 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 (7)(8). The company signed onto the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s amicus brief opposing the Defense of Marriage Act (9). Eastern Bank 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 (10). The company 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 (11)(12). Eastern Bank opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which would prohibit teaching gender identity and sexual orientation to kids in K-3rd grade (13). CEO Bob Rivers has publicly endorsed the Black Lives Matter movement and directed user support to the organization’s Boston chapter (14). Eastern Bank is a member of the America Competes National Business Coalition for Nondiscrimination (15). The company opposed legislation in Iowa intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (16)(17). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2022 DEI Report: “Designed to increase DEI across the Company in such areas as talent acquisition, retention and development, supplier diversity, products and services, and Eastern Bank Foundation philanthropic support” (18). The company scored a 100 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group (19)(20).

Eastern Bank provides a benefits package for employees that covers travel/lodging costs for an abortion and transgender medical procedures for covered employees and dependents, including children (1)(2)(3). The company’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 (4)(5)(6)(7). Eastern 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 (8)(9). The company 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 (10). The company has been giving to Planned Parenthood through special programs since 2018 (11). In 2020, the company donated $150,000 to Massachusetts LGBT Business Network (12). In 2020, the company donated $26,500 to YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts (13). In 2021, the company donated $50,000 to Black Boston Covid-19 Coalition (14). In 2021, the company donated $40,000 to Massachusetts LGBT Business Network (15). In 2021, the company donated $25,000 to National Center for Race Amity (16). In 2022, the company donated $190,000 to Massachusetts LGBT Business Network (17). In 2022, the company donated $27,758 to National Center for Race Amity (18). In 2022, the company donated $50,000 to YWCA Boston Leaders of Color (19). In 2023, the company donated $25,000 to Civic Action Project Inc (20). In 2023, the company donated $125,000 to Massachusetts LGBT Business Network (21). In 2023, the company donated $25,000 to National Center for Race Amity (22). In 2023, the company donated $60,000 to YW Boston (23). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (24).

Eastern Bank‘s HRC 2023-2024 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). Eastern Bank does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (3)(4)(5).