Awards

Eighth year the company achieved 100 percent on Corporate Equality Index

MINNEAPOLIS, November 9, 2017 - The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced that RBC Wealth Management-U.S. and RBC Capital Markets-U.S. each received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. RBC joins the ranks of 609 major U.S. businesses which also earned top marks this year.

“RBC is incredibly proud to be a strong advocate for advancing LGBTQ rights in the workplace and we're honored to receive a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for the eighth year,” said Michael Armstrong, CEO, RBC Wealth Management – U.S. “We are deeply committed to building and fostering an inclusive culture where differences in gender, sexual orientation and identity are valued and embraced.”

“We continue to make tremendous strides in fostering and promoting a culture that embraces Diversity and Inclusion across all facets of our business, and RBC’s culture is stronger for it. Our employees have embraced our efforts around policy, advocacy and allyship for the LGBT+ community, allowing us to create a workplace where equality is a priority and all of our employees are supported. We remain committed to advancing the interests of our employees and to fostering our unique culture,” said Blair Fleming, Head of RBC Capital Markets, U.S.

As an advocate for equal employment opportunities, RBC maintains a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion. The company provides domestic partner benefits inclusive of same sex couples as well as transgender benefits. RBC also supports national and local organizations that serve the LGBT community through sponsorships, grants and the employee gift matching program.

LGBT employee resource groups within RBC globally, include: RBC PRIDE U.S. (established in 1999), RBC PRIDE Canada (2006), RBC PRIDE Capital Markets (2011), and RBC PRIDE UK (2011). All groups have a mission to create a welcoming and open working environment that allows LGBT employees to achieve their full potential.

The 2018 CEI rated 609 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBTQ-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. RBC’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

For more information on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

About RBC Wealth Management-U.S.

In the United States, RBC Wealth Management operates as a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Founded in 1909, RBC Capital Markets, LLC. is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and other major securities exchanges. RBC Wealth Management has $310 billion in total client assets with approximately 1,800 financial advisors operating in 200 locations in 40 states. For more information about RBC Wealth Management-U.S., visit http://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/.

About RBC Capital Markets

RBC Capital Markets is a premier global investment bank providing expertise in banking, finance and capital markets to corporations, institutional investors, asset managers and governments around the world. We serve clients from 70 offices in 15 countries across North America, the UK, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Our more than 7,400 professionals deliver the experience and insights required to raise capital, access markets, mitigate risk and acquire or dispose of assets for clients worldwide. We are consistently ranked, by third-party sources, among the 10 largest and most significant investment banks globally.

RBC Capital Markets is part of a leading, diversified provider of financial services, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Operating since 1869, RBC is one of the largest banks in the world and the fifth largest in North America, as measured by market capitalization. With a strong capital base and consistent financial performance, RBC is among a small group of highly rated global banks.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Media Contact: Jonell Lundquist, RBC Wealth Management, 612-371-2239 or jonell.lundquist@rbc.com