HSBC launches gender neutral titles 'Mx' and 'Ser' for customers on Transgender Day of Visibility

HSBC customers will now be able to choose from 10 different gender neutral titles, including Myr, Ind, Mx, Sai and Ser, in an effort by the bank to be more transgender-friendly.

The bank has launched the new services for transgender and gender neutral customers to coincide with Transgender Day of Visibility.

The titles will be applied across the customer’s account including for all bank cards and correspondence.

The process of changing gender on your bank account has also been streamlined and training is to be given to all HSBC branch and contact centre staff to make it easier for trans customers to come out.

To change their change on bank accounts, HSBC customers will now only need to present either a passport, driving licence or birth certificate that supports the change of gender to update their details in branch.

Stuart Barette, HSBC UK Pride Network’s Trans Lead, said: “The day that I went into the branch to change my name and my gender I was terrified to be honest.

“Coming out to anyone is difficult, as you don't know people are going to react. That’s why the changes we’ve been making are so important, so that our trans customers can feel confident that they’re going to have a good experience and be speaking with someone who has been trained to better understand them.”

The changes in services were developed with the bank’s LGBT+ employee network, HSBC Pride, which advises on reflecting the financial needs of queer customers.

HSBC’s Head of Retail UK, Stuart Haire, explained: “The changes announced today are part of a broader priority for us to ensure our products and services are relevant for the unique financial needs of all of our customers.

“We want everyone to be able to access simple and smart banking solutions that work for them, and we will continue working with our LGBT+ colleagues and customers to ensure we’re getting it right.”