So who can I bank with now I know Lloyds are in favour of self ID?

[oooompa]

Put in a complaint with Lloyds on 17th October after seeing their name supporting Stonewall. Despite having an email confirmation my complaint had been received and I would hear back within 5 working days, when I tweeted them no details of my complaint were on the system (surprise surprise!)

Despite chasing up with them after another week I still had no response (they decided after a while to ignore my messages) so I decided to call them!

Lo and behold, the women on the phone (sorry, womxn!) told me Lloyds were fully in support of the changes to the GRA--they would be sad to see me go but they could tell me how to close my accounts!

When I asked for a response to my questions in writing (as per my original complaint) she put me on hold again and suddenly the call was disconnected (another surprise )

So who can I bank with? I'd preferably like a bank who aren't misogynistic arse holes 👍🏻 and good rates too, although that might be too much to ask!

" I'd preferably like a bank who aren't misogynistic arseholes" Good luck with that! They're all run by men so we don't stand a sodding chance. Maybe we need to set up our own women's mutual society? I'd be in!

Well, don't bother with NatWest. I'm in the process of closing one of my accounts with them after the debacle of Philip "Pips" Bunce being voted one of the FT's "Outstanding Women in Business". I realise they probs weren't on the voting panel but they could have/should have done something once they found out a bloody bloke had been nominated.

How can a whole bank be in support of anything? Wait until they have a male person tying to used their voice services...

Oh and it sounds like the person you spoke too was full of shute and blethering. Write to them if you want the real story.

Barclays, Santander and Virgin money all support Stonewall. I bank with 2 of these institutions so I'm also looking to bank elsewhere. I'm eyeing up Nationwide.

Did they really or were they on the CrapWall ad?

My local Virgin Money has a sign up saying it's a Stonewall champion and Santander donate to them.

Santander donate to Stonewall not Virgin Money!

Stash it under the mattress? Move it off shore? Sorry to be impertinent but all banks suck.

You could try Nationwide? I think they used to partner with Stonewall but don't any more (unsure).

But their main charitable sponsorships and grants are all in the area of affordable housing. 1% of their pre-tax profits go to this.

Rbs submitted a pro self id response to the consultation

Everyone, but everyone, in the public and financial sectors, seems to seek advice from Stonewall.

The latest response I got from Virgin was better crafted:

"At Virgin Money we believe that individuals should be able to fulfil their potential and play a full role in our society, regardless of their gender, race, social background, sexual orientation or age.

Stonewall was established almost 30 years ago to help advance equality and acceptance for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people and Virgin Money believes in the positivity and the openness that the rainbow flag symbolises.

We do acknowledge that there are a range of valid viewpoints around gender politics, and it is important that all voices are heard.

We also acknowledge that a conflict exists between transgenderism and sex-based women’s rights, and it is right for these issues to be debated respectfully.

Ultimately, we are not partisan on specific recommendations that Stonewall have made - we are passionate about fairness, equality and inclusion for everyone."

As such, the government’s consultation on how best to reform the Gender Recognition Act allows everyone to express their views and concerns on this important issue."

I had meant to leave it there, as I suspect it is too much to ask that Banks distance themselves from Stonewall. (Note that official Mermaids accounts show the banking regulator, the FCA, giving them money - as good as signal as any that transgender wokeness is required.) However rereading it, I see they have dropped a commitment to sexual equality, which is unacceptable. The way I am going perhaps Virgin customer services will invite me to their Christmas party.

Agree with PPs, pretty much every institution virtue signals via Stonewall and they've never critically appraised Stonewall's stance.

Like Kids Company, when and if, Stonewall has the appraisal it needs, there will be a lot of silence.

www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2017/aug/08/kids-company-is-charity-worth-saving

Sorry,

That was the earlier reply. The latest - following me reminding them that Stonewall only added the T in 2015, and that this seemed to have caused a much more aggressive approach in promoting one groups rights over those of others provoked the following response:

"Thank you for your reply, I do hear and understand the concerns that you have raised.

Although you describe my initial response as disingenuous, I can only re-iterate that our support for Stonewall reflects their work to advance equality and acceptance for all.

Please be assured that we will continue to use our expertise to ensure that all of our customers can access secure banking services with us through their preferred channel – be that through online banking, telephone, post or face-to-face through our national network of branches."

So Virgin Money's support of Stonewall is limited to their work to advance equality and acceptance for all. Can't argue with that. Especially when added to "We also acknowledge that a conflict exists between transgenderism and sex-based women’s rights, and it is right for these issues to be debated respectfully."

I wonder how their logo came to be on the Stonewall poster. And would be interested to know how much push back there was.

I was surprised to learn that the T was only added in 2015. Even in the past couple of months I have noticed a significant increase in the willingness of people to question the Stonewall approach (I live in Central London so my observational sample is often educated and professional people working in banking or the public sector.) How to destroy a reputation in just a few years - such a pity for the Ls, Gs and Bs who worked so hard to get heard. The most peaked friend seems to be the person who comes across Pips Bunce professionally. They seemed to have worked out that what seemed to be slightly odd but harmless fun is potentially much more sinister if it involves the erosion of women's spaces and dismantling of protections.

My DH works for Lloyds and I can confirm they have well and truly drunk the kool aid.

They're massively proud of their 'Diversity Credentials', always banging on about inclusion.

To be fair they are very good on promoting women to senior levels, they have minimum numbers for women at various ranks in the business and my DH works with / for many senior women.

But in terms of critical engagement with gender / trans ideology......hopeless.

Co-op? I don't know their GRA or Stonewall supporting stance, but at least they are ethical in other ways and fight things like financial abuse etc.

Sorry, not the co-op:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5852547/Co-operative-bank-bans-feminist-group-using-services.html

LLoyds are very represented in sponsoring many pro-trans organisations and charities often partnering Pink News etc

Mermaids Trustee:
Stephen Ellis is the Chief Operating Officer for the Commercial Banking Markets business at Lloyds Banking Group.