CITI becomes first big bank to offer MASTERCARD True Name for trans customers

Citi, since Oct. 19, has been letting trans and nonbinary people use their preferred first names on Citi-issued Mastercard credit cards. “True Name” is the name of an initiative Mastercard launched in mid-2019 to ensure that trans and nonbinary people are not compelled to use their outdated names when making purchases with plastic.

Mastercard developed the initiative in part as a brand response to a finding by the National Center for Transgender Equality that 32 percent of people whose IDs list their non-preferred names or genders, were subjected to harassment, denial of services, and other harms. Watch this Mastercard video for more details.

Citi says its launch of Mastercard’s True Name feature is an extension of the bank’s ongoing commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. “At Citi, we are passionate about helping to ensure our customers feel recognized, accepted, and empowered to be their true selves,” said Carla Hassan, Citi Chief Marketing Officer. “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.”

According to Citi, any customer interested in converting their outdated Mastercard to one bearing their true name need only make the request—no court-approved name change required. (Disclosure: Citi is a Lippe Taylor client).