ANZ has adopted a gender-neutral dress code.

The bank has abandoned its gender-specific uniform to allow staff to choose whichever clothes they feel best fit their identity.

Alex Whisman, an institutional and commercial bank lending consultant with the bank who transitioned from female to male in 2005, has praised the new policy.

“It seems like such a little thing, but a wardrobe can be a big deal to someone transitioning,” Mr Whisman said.

Mr Whisman says he still remembers a 2004 email about the bank’s uniform policy, which only allowed a blouse, slacks, dress or skirt for women, while men were made to wear slacks, a button down shirt, tie and suit jacket.

“At that point I didn’t identify as transgender, but it panicked me,” he said.

“I realised I didn’t want to choose a female uniform because that’s not who I am.”

ANZ made the change in response to feedback from its staff Pride network of LGBTQI+ employees as well as the Australian Workplace Equality Index of initiatives to promote diversity inclusion.

“Building a culture of diversity, inclusion and respect is important to our staff and customers,” said Felicity Evans, ANZ’s GM of talent and culture.

“We want our staff to be true to themselves at work, so this is a step we hope helps them feel comfortable.”

Mr Whisman said his employer had gone beyond “paying lip service to a community”.

“This wardrobe policy change normalises gender diversity and supports people,” he said.

“It says to me and others at the bank ‘your experience is as valid as my experience’, which is important.”