Forever
Business without barriers: How TD Bank helps
LGBTQ2+ business owners be their true selves.
When you’re a business owner, it’s often necessary to
have frank and open conversations with your financial
professional. By freely discussing your opportunities,
challenges and frustrations, your banker can gain a better
understanding of the inner workings of your business and
recommend the right financial solutions.
However, some business owners don’t feel comfortable
offering full disclosure to their bankers—including many
LGBTQ2+ individuals. They’re simply not open to being “out”
to their financial professionals, which can lead to a lack
of transparency, poor planning and misguided advice. In
addition, credit discrimination is still a sad reality. Until March
2021, when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
issued an interpretative rule clarifying sex discrimination
under Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B,
it was legal in 35 states for bankers to decline a loan based
on the sexual orientation of the applicant.
A groundbreaking program for the
LGBTQ2+ community
Wanting every business owner to be properly represented,
TD Bank created a program specifically to reach out to the
LGBTQ2+ business community. To date, TD remains the only
financial institution in the U.S. with a program of this kind.
“TD is removing barriers and allowing individuals to be their
authentic selves as they discuss their businesses and their
financial picture with us,” said Steve Garibell, Vice President and
LGBTQ2+ Business Development Officer. “We see ourselves as
much more than bankers. We’re a source of trusted advice for
businesses that urgently need a voice and an advocate.”
Opening doors to certifications,
opportunities and revenue
Helping business owners receive the right financial solutions
is only the beginning. Another key aspect of the program
involves educating LGBTQ2+ individuals on the Diverse
Business Certifications available to them. A wide range
of organizations—from the federal government to state
governments to Fortune 500 companies—have made
commitments to awarding a percentage of their contracts
to diverse-owned businesses. Examples of Diverse Business
Certifications include LGBT Business Enterprise, Minority
Owned, Woman Owned, HUB Zone Business and more.
Joining together to lift up LGBTQ2+
businesses
TD has also developed close relationships with organizations like
the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
“As I’ve worked to pass more than twenty LGBTQ2+ inclusive
laws and policies in more than a dozen states across
America, I encourage business owners to take advantage
of not just LGBTBE certification from the NGLCC, but also
the unique suite of services offered specifically for our
communities from TD Bank,” said Jonathan Lovitz, LGBTQ2+
Business Advocate and TD Bank Pride Thought Leader.
“Knowing your business is being supported by those with
an understanding of what our communities need is such a
valuable differentiator.”
It’s all part of TD’s empathetic approach
to banking.
TD Bank has a longtime reputation for going above and
beyond for customers, from longer hours to attentive service
to new ways of making banking easier. They call it being
“Unexpectedly Human.”
To learn more, contact:
Steve Garibell, Vice President
LGBTQ2+ Business Development Officer
212-918-4186 | Steven.Garibell@td.com
linkedin.com/in/stevengaribell
Member FDIC | TD Bank, N.A.
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