Seeking for additional sources of income in the U.S., Credit Suisse has paid its attention to the LGBT community. The governing body of the financial institution has backed the initiative of its gay employees to start a new line of activity. Thus, the Credit Suisse clients have been provided with one more opportunity to invest their funds. Now the customers willing to invest over $2 million are able to put their savings in a portfolio of 26 companies loyal to sexual minorities. To make sure that investors' funds will not go to people with a homophobic attitude, only the companies which have a high reading of Corporate Equality Index will be on the list. The largest civil rights organization in the U.S., Human Rights Campaign, releases this indicator. “It’s a bit broader than trying to meet a new demographic,” said Tim O’Hara, Credit Suisse’s head of equities. In 2012, effective demand of the LGBT community in the U.S. equaled $800 billion, and many banking organizations use this demand and open "special offices". Vice President of Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management Bill Moran reckons that this class has particular requests. For instance, a firm refusal to invest in enterprises unfriendly to gays. The list of 'rainbow' companies will be added with other corporations. Today, Human Rights Campaign named American Express, Goldman Sachs, Citi, Nike, Gap, Chevron, Pfizer, Avon, Apple, and Google the best employers for gays and lesbians.
