Financial Services Companies Service-oriented companies such as these usually don't have the huge impact on natural resources that manufacturing companies do.  On the other hand, irresponsible financial institutions caused the subprime lending crisis and scored a huge bailout by the government, courtesy of President Bush -- and funded by the taxpayers.  Choose your companies carefully. AFL, ALL, AXP, BAC, RATE, COF, CATY, C, CS, EHTH, FDS, FHN, FNM, FRE, GVHR, HWAY, HTLF, HMN, INTU, LNC, MET, MS, NTRS, PAYX, PNC, PNX, PFG, PRU, SCHW, STT, STU, SUPR, TRV, UMPQ, UNM, USB, WAIN AFL - Aflac Named the #30 best company to work for in Fortune, Aflac is a "general business holding company and acts as a management company, overseeing the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services and making capital available. Its principal business is supplemental health and life insurance. Aflac Japan sells supplemental insurance products, including cancer life plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans and annuities. Aflac U.S. sells supplemental insurance products, including accident/disability plans, cancer expense plans, short-term disability plans, sickness and hospital indemnity plans, hospital intensive care plans, fixed-benefit dental plans, vision care plans, long-term care plans and life insurance products." (from Google Finance.) It's hard not to trust a company that features a cute duck in its logo. (RS, 6-08) ALL - Allstate Working Mothers Magazine named this insurance company one of the top 100 companies to work for. Their favorite mother-friendly features are: "Flex Appeal" (telecommuting and flexible schedules), upscale childcare centers that even orchestrate field trips, a fitness center that helps employees deal with stress, 26 weeks of job-guaranteed time off for new parents and a Women's Leadership Forum. (RS, 7-08) AXP - American Express Company American Express has an excellent record for retaining women and minorities in top management positions, and participates in a Supplier Diversity Program to facilitate business relationships with small firms and those owned and operated by minorities, women, and the disabled. American Express supports its employees' desire to give back to the community and has a program in which long-time employees of the company may apply for paid sabbaticals up to one year in length, in order to volunteer with schools or community service organizations. 1-00 RATE - Bankrate From Google Finance: "Collates data and information on more than 300 financial products and fees, including mortgages, credit cards, automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and automated teller machine fees, home equity loans, online banking fees, insurance products, credit cards, college finance and other financial products." (RS, 6-08) COF - Capital One Financial Working Mothers Magazine named this banking company one of the top 100 companies to work for. WMM likes that new mothers get 16 weeks of maternity leave - eight at full pay. They also have childcare facilities, a telecommuting program that provides laptops and blackberries to employees, and diversity councils. (RS, 7-08) CATY - Cathay Bank A bank based in Los Angeles with locations all around the country, as well as in Asia. They donated $50,000 to earth quake victims in China and encouraged customers and employees to donate too. Number 83 on the Business Ethics 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2007 list. (RS, 6-08) C - Citigroup Citigroup got a whopping $280 billion taxpayer-funded bailout, initiated by President Bush.  That's $2500 for every American household. Working Mothers Magazine named this banking company one of the top 100 companies to work for. According to Working Mothers Magazine, Citigroup has flexible schedules, child care centers as well as sponsored in-home child care, 13 weeks of paid maternity leave for new mothers, an unlimited (unpaid) career break for child rearing with help from the Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business when rejoining Citigroup, and lifelong health insurance for disabled children of employees. (RS, 7-08) CS - Credit Suisse Credit Suisse is a bank for the international wealthy and the Swiss. That didn't stop Working Mothers Magazine naming it one of the top 100 companies to work for. Why? Well, Credit Suisse trusts their employees enough to give them some control over their schedules. They provide back-up childcare through Bright Horizons, which will take the tots when they're sick or have unexpected days off from school. New mothers get plenty of paid time off, and even adoptive mothers and fathers get in on that too. They also have a "Parents Network" with programs addressing parental concerns like schoolyard bullying. (RS, 7-08) EHTH - eHealth Electronic health insurance. What's next, downloaded food? But seriously, here's what Google Finance has to say: "eHealth, Inc. offers Internet-based insurance agency services for individuals, families and small businesses in the United States, as well as technology licensing and Internet advertising services. The Company enables individuals, families and small businesses to research, analyze, compare and purchase health insurance products from health insurance carriers across the United States. This technology also enables eHealth to communicate electronically with its insurance carrier partners and process consumers' health insurance applications online. The Company generates most of its revenue from commissions paid to by health insurance carriers for health insurance policies sold. The remainder of the revenue is primarily attributable to carrier sponsorship advertising on the Company's Website and licensing arrangements related to the ecommerce technology." (RS, 6-08) FDS - FactSet Research Systems Named the #52 best company to work for in Fortune, FactSet is a global information service for investors. (RS, 6-08) FNM - Fannie Mae Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac combined got a whopping $400 billion taxpayer-funded bailout, initiated by President Bush.  That's $3560 for every American household. The Federal National Mortgage Association is the country's largest provider of residential mortgage funds. The company recently expanded its health program for women. Fannie Mae was a winner of the 1996 Council on Economic Priorities' Corporate Concience Award for Equal Employment Opportunity. The company is among the 40 largest U.S. companies in revenues on the web. (from GMOG) FHN - First Horizon National Corporation First Horizon National Corporation is the biggest Tennessee based bank. According to the FHNC entry on Wikipedia, they were on the Fortune magazine list of the best 100 Companies to Work For in America eight years in a row, the list of 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers ten years in a row, and on AARP's list of 25 Best Employers For Workers Over 50 two separate years. (RS, 6-08) FRE - Freddie Mac Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac combined got a whopping $400 billion taxpayer-funded bailout, initiated by President Bush.  That's $3560 for every American household. Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation chartered by Congress in 1970 to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders for home buyers and renters. Investor Alert: The Washington Post reported on April 11, 1997, that Freddie Mac had purchased Phillip Morris Companies' bonds and raised questions not only about the nature of the tobacco connection but also about the manner in which it was done. The GAO has been asked to do an investigation. (from GMOG) GVHR - Gevity HR A professional employer association, small businesses outsource their payroll and benefits duties to Gevity, which is able to accomplish them more efficiently than the small business would on its own, because of specialization and resource pooling. (RS, 6-08) HWAY - Healthways Named the #80 best company to work for in Fortune, Healthways is a health insurance plan that focuses on disease prevention and encouraging its beneficiaries to live healthier lifestyles. (RS, 6-08) HTLF - Heartland Financial Heartland Financial is involved with a plethora of activities. Their website says they provide "banking, mortgage, wealth management, insurance and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. The Company currently has 59 banking locations in 40 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana and Colorado." Most notable here, they are also involved in helping people engage in Socially Responsible Investing, and have a section of their web page devoted to it. (RS, 6-08) HMN - Horace Mann Educators Horace Mann is the largest multiline insurance company focusing on the nation's educators and their families. Through an exclusive sales force of almost 1,000 agents, Horace Mann offers retirement annuities, automobile, homeowner, group and life insurance to educators and their families. (MBJ) INTU - Intuit Named the #43 best company to work for in Fortune, Intuit is responsible for computer software like TurboTax, QuickBook and Quicken, which help individuals and businesses manage their finances. They are also involved with online banking through their subsidiary Digital Insight. (RS, 6-08) LNC - Lincoln National Corporation LNC provides annuities, life insurance, 401(k) plans, life-health reinsurance, institutional investment management and mutual funds. The company annually contributes 2 percent of its pre-tax earnings for philanthropic programs of not-for-profit organizations. LNC details its corporate public involvement on its website. (MBJ) MET - MetLife Health insurance company MetLife isn't just for beagles. Working Mothers Magazine names it one of the best places to work because of its flexible schedules, childcare, new mother leave time and a high percentage of women executives. (RS, 7-08) MS - Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm that Working Mothers Magazine put in its top 100 because of flexible schedules, company sponsored in-home childcare, 12 weeks of full paid time off for new moms (a week for dads), seminars on stress management and parenting kits. (RS, 7-08) NTRS - Northern Trust A financial holding company in Working Mothers Magazine's top 100 places to work. (RS, 7-08) PAYX - Paychex Named the #51 best company to work for in Fortune, Paychex is a human resources outsourcing company, also known as a Professional Employer Organization. Paychex helps small businesses manage their payrolls and employee benefits. (RS, 6-08) PNC - PNC With 43 Leed certified green buildings and 12 more in the process of certification, PNC is a bank that calls itself master to the most green buildings in the world. (RS, 7-08) PNX - The Phoenix Companies A life insurance company that made Working Mother Magazine's top 100. (RS, 7-08) PFG - Principal Financial Group Named the #21 best company to work for in Fortune, Principal Financial Group's specialty is retirement savings, investment and insurance products. (RS, 6-08) PRU - Prudential This financial services company may present itself as solid as a rock, but Prudential is a softy for the fairer sex, as demonstrated by their inclusion on the Working Mother Magazine's top 100. (RS, 7-08) SCHW - Charles Schwab Corp. Charles Schwab Corporation, based in San Francisco, CA, is primarily engaged in providing discount investment brokerage services. The company also provides individuals and small institutions with access to mutual funds and investment research. Approximately 50% of Schwab's vice presidents and 50% of Schwab's branch managers are women. Schwab was among the first companies in the U.S. to adopt a benefits policy including health care for the domestic partners of its employees. The company appears in The 100 Best Companies for Gay Men and Lesbians, in which it received a rating of "excellent." The company has had a written policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation since 1989. In addition, the company offers the following to domestic partners: access to company events and facilities; bereavement/sickness leave; Employee Assistance Program/counseling; relocation assistance; health coverage; and dental plan. In addition, it permits employees to contribute a portion of accrued vacation or sick-leave time to other employees with life-threatening illnesses. {Mickens, Ed. The 100 Best Companies for Gay Men and Lesbians. Pocket Books. New York, NY; 1994} Schwab gives employees an unusual degree of control over charitable giving. During its annual giving drive, the company allows contributions not only to the United Way, but to Earth Share, a coalition of environmental organizations, and to other organizations of an employee's choice. Approximately half of its cash giving through its foundation is in the form of grants matching employee contributions. Many employee donations are double-matched by Schwab's Foundation. STU - Student Loan Corporation (Sallie Mae) The Student Loan Corp. through a trust agreement with Citibank, originates, holds, and services student loans. The loans are primarily made in accordance with the Federally sponsored guaranteed student loan programs. SUPR - Superior Bank An Alabama based banking company with outlets in Florida as well. They recently teamed with Heartland. (RS, 6-08) TRV - The Travelers Companies Perhaps most famous for its big red umbrella logo, The Travelers Companies provides insurance to businesses, financial institutions and individuals. It was number 82 on the Business Ethics 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2007 list. In 2007, they donated $17 million to various charities. You can download a list of those charities on their site. (RS, 6-08) UMPQ - Umpqua Named the #13 best company to work for in Fortune, Google Finance says that Umpqua Holdings "Provides a range of banking, mortgage banking and other financial services to corporate, institutional and individual customers." (RS, 6-08) UNM - UNUM Corporation UNUM is the world leader in disability insurance and ranks among the world's leading special risk insurers. UNUM subsidiaries received the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's first "Employer of the Year" award and has regularly been included in Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." (MBJ) USB- U.S. Bancorp U.S. Bancorp is a large, multi-regional U.S. bank holding company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company's community relations, including corporate giving, sponsorships, and community investment, are detailed on its website. (MBJ) WB - Wachovia A bank on Working Mother Magazine's good side. (RS, 7-08) WAIN - Wainwright Bank & Trust Company Wainwright openly defines itself as a "socially-responsible bank", and trumpets its social responsibility all over the opening page on its website (rather than on some offshoot page). Here's an excerpt: "Over $70 million of our customers' deposits have been safely committed to financing shelters for the homeless, food banks, housing for people living with HIV/AIDS, environmental protection, breast cancer research and much more." (MBJ) Companies not included above  H. F. Ahmanson & Co. [Ahmanson was purchased by and merged with Washington Mutual (WAMU) in 1998. Ahmanson is now no longer traded separately. Old description of Ahmanson follows.] H.F. Ahmanson & Company, founded in 1928 and based in Irwindale, California, is the parent company of Home Savings of America. Home Savings is the largest savings and loan institution in the U.S. in terms of assets, and operates 343 financial service centers throughout California, Florida, Texas, and Arizona, as well as 121 lending offices in ten states. The company offers a broad spectrum of traditional consumer financial services as well as residential mortgages and is in the process of shifting from traditional savings to consumer banking activities, starting with the reduction in size of its mortgage loan portfolio and the acquisition of banking branch networks. As of September 30, 1996, among the 2,032 officials and managers at the company, 63% were women and 36% were minorities. Community Reinvestment: H.F. Ahmanson & Co. has received an 'outstanding' CRA rating from the federal Office of Thrift Supervision for four consecutive years for its home loan program at Home Savings which is geared towards low-to-moderate income families. AGC - American General [As of Dec. 2004 their stock symbol is no longer listed and they don't say anything about a stock symbol on their website.] AGC American General, based in Houston, TX, is one of the nation's largest consumer financial services organizations and offers retirement annuities, consumer loans, and life insurance. There is one woman serving on the company's ten-member board of directors, and one of the ten principal corporate officers at the company is a woman. American General actively recruits employees at minority colleges and universities, attends minority job fairs, and advertises for job candidates in minority-related publications.NOTE: American General Finance, the consumer finance arm of the company, is alleged to have violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) by inducing customers to borrow additional funds without informing them that the transaction would be treated as a refinancing of their existing loan. AGE - A. G. Edwards In 2007, Wachovia Corporation acquired A.G. Edwards and it no longer trades independently. The ticker symbol for Wachovia Corporation is WB. One of the first, nationwide full-service brokerage firms to have brokers throughout the country that specialize in socially responsible investing. The company also has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and a profit-sharing plan to discourage the "churning" of investment accounts. (from GMOG) BAC - Bank of America Bank of America got a whopping $142 billion taxpayer-funded bailout, initiated by President Bush.  Wikipedia has documented a slew of BAC's deceptive and sleazy business practices. From the environment page on the company's website: "\Beyond Sprawl, a report co-authored by BankAmerica, raises the issue of how California should accommodate future growth. To this end, BankAmerica supports the Natural Communities Conservation Planning Process and Conservation Banking." BankAmerica also supports Women's Economic Growth, and received a host of awards from environmental groups. (MBJ) In 1998, BankAmerica merged with NationsBank. Bankers Trust [Bankers Trust merged with Deutsche Bank in 1999, and is no longer traded under the BT symbol. I don't know Deutsche Bank's symbol.] There are many women in top positions at Bankers Trust. Two of the "Top 25 Blacks on Wall Street," as rated by Black Enterprise magazine in 1996, were employees of Bankers Trust. For the first time, two Wall Street firms were added to Working Mother magazine's 1995 list of "The 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," and Bankers Trust New York was one of them. Bankers Trust New York has been awarded an 'outstanding' rating for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act since 1992. The company reports that it is the first wholesale bank to ever receive the 'outstanding' CRA rating. BRNT - Barnett Banks [In Dec. 2004 I noticed their symbol was no longer listed.] Florida's oldest and largest bank has been named one of the top ten companies for women by Working Mother magazine. The bank has agreed to merge with NationsBank (below), making the latter the third largest bank in the country. (from GMOG) BNL - Beneficial Corporation [In Dec. 2004 I noticed their symbol wasn't listed and their website doesn't list a new symbol.] Beneficial Corporation, based in Wilmington, DE, is a holding company, whose subsidiaries are engaged principally in the consumer finance and credit-related insurance businesses. It is the nation's largest independent consumer loan company. Operations conducted by Beneficial's subsidiaries consist principally of: a consumer finance network with 1,130 offices located in the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom; Personal Mortgage Corporation, a direct response mortgage lending unit; Beneficial National Bank USA, a specialized private-label credit card bank; Beneficial Credit Services, which is engaged in sales finance activities; Beneficial National Bank, a full-service commercial bank; The Central National Life Insurance Company of Omaha, which underwrites life and disability consumer credit insurance; Wesco Insurance Company, which provides credit property insurance; BFC Insurance Limited, located in Ireland, which underwrites life, accident and health insurance; and Harbour Island Inc., which is engaged in real estate development in Florida. The company has an active program to hire people with disabilities, and has a written policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The company has a program for employees in which it displays a video that promotes awareness of differences in sexual orientation and encourages discussion afterwards. In January 1997, the company's management decided to expand the diversity program at the company and make it more aggressive. The company has a policy of distributing 1% of projected after-tax net income to charitable organizations. Chittenden Corporation In 2008, the Chitteden merged with People's United Financial, Inc. (PBCT) It is no longer independently traded. Chittenden Corporation is the holding company of Chittenden Trust Company (CTC), Flagship Bank and Trust Company (FBT), The Bank of Western Massachusetts (BWM), Vermont National Bank (VNB) (collectively The Banks) and Chittenden Connecticut Corporation (CCC), a non-bank mortgage company. The Company provides financial services through its banking subsidiaries. The Company also offers a variety of lending services, with loans and leases totaling approximately $2.9 billion at December 31, 1999. (Yahoo 2-01) They have a Socially Responsible Banking Fund. (MBJ) Golden West Financial In 2006, Wachovia (WB) acquired Golden West Financial. It is no longer publically traded.This savings and loan holding company is the only Fortune 500 company with more women than men on the Board of Directors (5 women and 4 men). (from GMOG) Norwest Corporation [Norwest merged with Wells Fargo (WFC) in 1998, and is no longer traded separately.] This regional bank company based in Minneapolis has been nominated by Business Ethics magazine as one of their Top 100 companies. (from GMOG) OXHP - Oxford Health Plans [In Dec. 2004 I noticed their symbol was no longer listed and their website doesn't list a new one.] OXHP provides health benefit plans in NY, NJ, CT, NH, FL, IL and PA. OXHP products include point-of-service Freedom and Liberty Plans, traditional health maintenance organizations, dental plans and third party employer funded benefit plans. Prudential Insurance [In 2-01, their symbol (PRU) was not listed and the new symbol wasn't listed on their website.] "This provider of financial products and services was a winner of the 1992 Council on Economic Priorities' Corporate Concience Award for Community Involvement. The Pru is among the 15 largest U.S. companies in revenues on the web and the 80 largest international companies in revenues on the web according to the FORTUNE Global 500 ranking. Investor Alert: At the end of December 1997, Florida state officials charged Prudential Insurance with fraud for training their agents to mislead clients about their products. We will be monitoring this situation closely." (from GMOG) ©1998-2011 Michael Bluejay | All rights reserved