Company achieves 100 percent on annual Corporate Equality Index rating

TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced today that RBC Wealth Management-U.S. and RBC Capital Markets-U.S. received a 100 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for its 2013 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), and is recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality." The CEI rating annually recognizes companies with policies and procedures that support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. RBC received this honour based on a joint submission from the RBC Wealth Management-U.S. and RBC Capital Markets businesses.

"We are proud to have earned HRC's highest Corporate Equality Index rating for the third year," said John Taft, CEO, RBC Wealth Management-U.S. and executive sponsor of the RBC Gay, Lesbian, Allied and Diverse Employees (GLADE) employee resource group (ERG) for RBC Wealth Management-U.S. "This rating recognizes all that we do to support diversity and inclusion both within the company and the communities where we live and work."

"We are honoured to receive this esteemed rating, alongside several of our clients and business partners who value diversity," said Deborah Freer, U.S. Chief Operating Officer of RBC Capital Markets and Executive Sponsor of RBC Capital Markets' PRIDE Employee Resource Group. "This recognition underscores RBC's commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where employees can reach their full potential and best serve our clients, shareholders and communities."

As an advocate for equal employment opportunities, RBC maintains a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion. The company provides benefits to employees' opposite and same sex domestic partners and introduced transgender benefits in 2012. In addition, the company supports both national and local organizations that serve the LGBT community through sponsorships, grants and the employee matching gift program.

RBC supports several LGBT ERGs globally, including RBC GLADE, (1999), RBC PRIDE Canada (2006),  RBC PRIDE Capital Markets (2011); RBC GLOBE 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 Corporate Equality index is the premier national benchmark for LGBT workplace inclusion. The report provides an in-depth analysis and rating of large U.S. employers and their policies and practices pertinent to the LGBT market. A total of 899 businesses spanning nearly every industry and major geography of the U.S. were rated in the 2013 CEI including 293 Fortune 500 companies. Of those voluntary submissions, a record 252 businesses received a top rating of 100 percent.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

ABOUT RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. We are Canada's largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization, and are among the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking and transaction processing services on a global basis. We employ approximately 74,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 51 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

SOURCE RBC