Citi bank has become the first leading bank in the US to allow trans and gender non-conforming customers to add their preferred name to their credit cards without first presenting legal documentation of a name change. According to Business Insider, the move is part of Mastercard’s True Name initiative which aims to bring a greater level of LGBTQ+ inclusivity to banking.
A 2015 study from the National Centre for Transgender Equality found many trans people had difficulties obtaining identification documents which reflected their gender identity and preferred name. A further 32% reported being harassed or denied service when they showed an ID that did not match their gender presentation.
Carla Hassan, Citi’s chief marketing officer, said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch the True Name feature, through our relationship with Mastercard, because we strongly believe that our customers should have the opportunity to be called by the name that represents who they really are.” A Mastercard representative added: “We are working with partners to create a product, as well as a sensitive and private process free of personal questions, that will allow for true names, not deadnames, to appear on cards without the requirement of a legal name change. This will ease a major pain point for the transgender and non-binary community.”
