GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Banking Industry Statistics

Banking faces DEI challenges despite progress and positive ROI evidence.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

25% of women in banking report facing gender bias in performance reviews

Statistic 2

45% of LGBTQ+ employees in banking have experienced discrimination at work

Statistic 3

60% of banking employees believe their organization sufficiently addresses racial and ethnic diversity

Statistic 4

Women in banking are 2.5 times more likely to experience workplace harassment than men

Statistic 5

50% of women in banking report a lack of mentorship opportunities compared to 22% of men

Statistic 6

28% of banking employees say their organization has a transparent process for addressing discrimination complaints

Statistic 7

Approximately 25% of banking employees believe that their leadership is genuinely committed to DEI initiatives

Statistic 8

55% of women in banking feel their organization supports work-life balance efforts

Statistic 9

Women make up 25% of senior leadership roles in global banking

Statistic 10

Women hold approximately 30% of board seats in major global banks

Statistic 11

African Americans make up 8% of banking workforce but only 4% of C-suite executives

Statistic 12

Hispanic employees constitute 10% of banking industry workforce, but only 3% are in senior management roles

Statistic 13

In 2023, only 20% of bank leadership positions are held by women

Statistic 14

Only 15% of decision-makers in banking are from minority backgrounds

Statistic 15

Only 18% of leadership programs in banking specifically target underrepresented groups

Statistic 16

Minority employees in banking earn 15% less on average than their non-minority counterparts

Statistic 17

Banking sector’s gender pay gap decreased by 4% in the past year, but remains at 22%

Statistic 18

40% of banking employees report that their organization is actively improving diversity initiatives

Statistic 19

68% of banking firms have implemented diversity and inclusion training programs

Statistic 20

55% of banking executives believe that diversity increases innovation

Statistic 21

Only 12% of banking industry achievements in DEI are considered fully effective

Statistic 22

70% of banking organizations see a positive ROI from diversity and inclusion initiatives

Statistic 23

Millennials and Gen Z comprise 60% of entry-level banking employees

Statistic 24

52% of banking firms have set measurable goals for increasing diversity

Statistic 25

88% of banking organizations report that they are more committed to DEI than five years ago

Statistic 26

65% of banking professionals agree that diversity leads to better customer insights

Statistic 27

38% of entry-level banking roles are held by minority candidates

Statistic 28

80% of banking firms say that integrating DEI into corporate strategy increases employee engagement

Statistic 29

33% of banking professionals believe that diversity policies are ineffective

Statistic 30

7 out of 10 banking executives believe that diversity enhances decision-making quality

Statistic 31

42% of banking organizations have dedicated DEI teams or committees

Statistic 32

47% of banking firms report that diversity training has led to increased awareness but limited change in behavior

Statistic 33

75% of banking employees agree that diversity and inclusion are important for company success

Statistic 34

In 2022, 53% of banking firms reported increasing the hiring of diverse candidates

Statistic 35

62% of banking companies have implemented flexible work arrangements to promote DEI

Statistic 36

Surveys indicate that minority groups are less likely to receive promotions in banking, at a rate of 17% compared to 30% for majority groups

Statistic 37

46% of banking executives state that DEI impacts their company's reputation positively

Statistic 38

80% of banking institutions have publicly disclosed DEI data in the past year

Slide 1 of 38

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Women make up 25% of senior leadership roles in global banking
40% of banking employees report that their organization is actively improving diversity initiatives
Minority employees in banking earn 15% less on average than their non-minority counterparts
68% of banking firms have implemented diversity and inclusion training programs
Women hold approximately 30% of board seats in major global banks
55% of banking executives believe that diversity increases innovation
Only 12% of banking industry achievements in DEI are considered fully effective
25% of women in banking report facing gender bias in performance reviews
45% of LGBTQ+ employees in banking have experienced discrimination at work
African Americans make up 8% of banking workforce but only 4% of C-suite executives
Hispanic employees constitute 10% of banking industry workforce, but only 3% are in senior management roles
70% of banking organizations see a positive ROI from diversity and inclusion initiatives
Millennials and Gen Z comprise 60% of entry-level banking employees

Despite widespread acknowledgment of the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the banking industry still grapples with significant disparities, with women holding just 20% of leadership roles and minorities facing pay gaps and limited advancement—highlighting both progress and urgent challenges in creating truly equitable financial institutions.

Employee Experiences and Perceptions

25% of women in banking report facing gender bias in performance reviews
45% of LGBTQ+ employees in banking have experienced discrimination at work
60% of banking employees believe their organization sufficiently addresses racial and ethnic diversity
Women in banking are 2.5 times more likely to experience workplace harassment than men
50% of women in banking report a lack of mentorship opportunities compared to 22% of men
28% of banking employees say their organization has a transparent process for addressing discrimination complaints
Approximately 25% of banking employees believe that their leadership is genuinely committed to DEI initiatives
55% of women in banking feel their organization supports work-life balance efforts

Employee Experiences and Perceptions Interpretation

Despite herculean efforts, the banking sector still grapples with entrenched biases, with a quarter of women facing bias, nearly half of LGBTQ+ employees experiencing discrimination, and over half of women feeling supported in work-life balance—indicating that true DEI progress remains a work in progress rather than a completed chapter.

Leadership Representation and Progress

Women make up 25% of senior leadership roles in global banking
Women hold approximately 30% of board seats in major global banks
African Americans make up 8% of banking workforce but only 4% of C-suite executives
Hispanic employees constitute 10% of banking industry workforce, but only 3% are in senior management roles
In 2023, only 20% of bank leadership positions are held by women
Only 15% of decision-makers in banking are from minority backgrounds
Only 18% of leadership programs in banking specifically target underrepresented groups

Leadership Representation and Progress Interpretation

Despite strides toward inclusion, the banking industry’s leadership remains a club with largely exclusive membership, as women and minorities collectively occupy a mere fraction of senior roles, highlighting that diversity still requires a serious reboot—preferably one that doesn’t just sit in the Boardroom but actually invites all voices to the table.

Pay Equity and Compensation Disparities

Minority employees in banking earn 15% less on average than their non-minority counterparts
Banking sector’s gender pay gap decreased by 4% in the past year, but remains at 22%

Pay Equity and Compensation Disparities Interpretation

Despite strides toward gender pay equity in banking, with a modest 4% decrease, the stubborn 15% wage gap for minority employees underscores that true inclusion still has a long way to go before pay equity becomes more than just a statistic.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Metrics

40% of banking employees report that their organization is actively improving diversity initiatives
68% of banking firms have implemented diversity and inclusion training programs
55% of banking executives believe that diversity increases innovation
Only 12% of banking industry achievements in DEI are considered fully effective
70% of banking organizations see a positive ROI from diversity and inclusion initiatives
Millennials and Gen Z comprise 60% of entry-level banking employees
52% of banking firms have set measurable goals for increasing diversity
88% of banking organizations report that they are more committed to DEI than five years ago
65% of banking professionals agree that diversity leads to better customer insights
38% of entry-level banking roles are held by minority candidates
80% of banking firms say that integrating DEI into corporate strategy increases employee engagement
33% of banking professionals believe that diversity policies are ineffective
7 out of 10 banking executives believe that diversity enhances decision-making quality
42% of banking organizations have dedicated DEI teams or committees
47% of banking firms report that diversity training has led to increased awareness but limited change in behavior
75% of banking employees agree that diversity and inclusion are important for company success
In 2022, 53% of banking firms reported increasing the hiring of diverse candidates
62% of banking companies have implemented flexible work arrangements to promote DEI
Surveys indicate that minority groups are less likely to receive promotions in banking, at a rate of 17% compared to 30% for majority groups
46% of banking executives state that DEI impacts their company's reputation positively
80% of banking institutions have publicly disclosed DEI data in the past year

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Metrics Interpretation

While over half of banking firms have set measurable DEI goals and nearly four-fifths see positive ROI, only 12% feel their efforts are fully effective—highlighting that in the race toward genuine diversity, many banks are still in the starting blocks rather than crossing the finish line.