National Bank donates $50,000 to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery Capital Campaign

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

Fredericton, 20 April 2012 -

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is pleased to announce a new partnership with the National Bank that  promises to bring art to more people and supports the expansion of the Gallery. The National Bank is providing a financial support for the Gallery’s signature open house series, Drinks with Dali and is contributing $50,000 to the Beaverbrook Campaign, still in its quiet phase.

“Our new partnership is an excellent match. The National Bank is well-known for its community leadership and we certainly appreciate the interest and support it is investing in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. We are proud of our association with the National Bank and look forward to our on-going new partnership,” said Bernard Riordon, CEO and Director of the Beaverbrook Gallery.

Drinks with Dali open house events celebrate the Gallery’s prized piece Santiago El Grande-a painting by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali-while exposing new audiences to the Gallery and showcasing New Brunswick’s emerging talent. Every event features musical entertainment by up-and-coming artists. As well as being a social event, Drinks with Dali also offers guided tours of the Gallery’s collections of drawings, paintings, sculptures and photographs.

“Over the years, National Bank has built up one of the largest corporate collections in Canada, which it proudly displays in its offices, branches and subsidiaries across Canada. The Bank recognizes the important contribution of art in our society and its supports to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery reflects the Bank’s commitment to Canadian artists,” said Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Bank.

The Beaverbrook Campaign, a national initiative, will support a major expansion project and endowment program for the Gallery, with both a significant provincial outreach component and international cultural tourism strategy. Expansion plans will be released to the public with the launch of the Campaign, anticipated in late 2012.

“The National Bank shines a spotlight on the arts community in Canada and we are very pleased to have this generous contribution of $50,000 to support the Gallery’s youth outreach program,” said Campaign Chair, James. C. Irving. “It supports the Gallery’s vision for expanded access to larger facilities, programs and exhibitions.”

For more information on the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, visit: www.beaverbrookartgallery.com.

About National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. As at January 31, 2012, National Bank has over CDN$175 billion in assets in accordance with IFRS and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 19,785 people. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). For more information, visit the Bank’s website at www.nbc.ca. To access National Bank of Canada’s financial literacy portal, visit www.clearfacts.ca.

Information (The telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives.):

Joan Beauchamp
Senior Advisor – Public Affairs
National Bank
Tel.: 514-394-6500

Bernard Riordon or Nancy Coy
Director and CEO / Campaign Manager
Beaverbrook Art Gallery
506-458-2020 / 506-458-2035

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National Bank launches the On the Ball program with the participation of Aleksandra Wozniak

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

Montréal, 18 April 2012 -

National Bank is proud to announce that professional tennis player Aleksandra Wozniak, ranked 57th in the world, is the ambassador for On the Ball, our newly-named tennis ball recovery program, which was initially launched in 2006 and has since collected more than 500,000 used tennis balls. National Bank took advantage of her visit to École Le Carignan in Montreal North to donate 2,500 used balls to this educational institution.

“National Bank is pleased to be associated with Aleksandra, who is an exceptional world-class athlete. She is a positive role model and her involvement in the On the Ball program will be a source of inspiration to youth,” remarked Lise-Anne Amyot, Senior Manager – Branding and Advertising, National Bank.

“I am very happy to have been selected as the ambassador for the On the Ball program. Education is very important to me. Talking to youth about my passion for tennis and about the ball recovery program – which was created to offer them a better learning environment – will hopefully encourage them to be at their best while playing sports and in the classroom,” added Wozniak.

During her very first appearance as the ambassador for On the Ball, Aleksandra not only signed autographs, but also played a friendly match with students from the school. Over the next few months, Aleksandra will participate in several On the Ball activities in Quebec and Ontario.

Over the last six years, National Bank has contributed to improving learning environments for children by donating recovered tennis balls to various school boards and schools across Quebec. The balls are used to cover the feet of students’ chairs. This initiative, which responds to a real need expressed by schools, seeks to reduce noise levels in classrooms and provide a learning environment that is more conducive to concentration. In addition to concretely helping to eliminate waste in the environment, the recovered tennis balls also improve the daily life of students and teachers.

The On the Ball program, already well-known in Quebec, was also launched in Ontario on April 14th. The program team will be visiting tennis clubs across the province, but some school boards have already expressed interest in accepting recovered tennis balls.

To find out more about National Bank’s involvement in the community, visit the Bank’s social commitment portal at www.commitment.nationalbank.ca, or consult its Social Responsibility Report atwww.nbc.ca/socialresponsibility.

About National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. As at January 31, 2012, National Bank has over CDN$175 billion in assets in accordance with IFRS and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 19,785 people. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). For more information, visit the Bank’s website at www.nbc.ca. To access National Bank of Canada’s financial literacy portal, visit www.clearfacts.ca.

Information (The telephone number listed below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives):

Joan Beauchamp
Senior Advisor, Public Relations
National Bank
Tel: 514 394-6500


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National Bank donates $50,000 to Oncology Research

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

Montréal, 16 April 2012 -

National Bank is pleased to donate $50,000 to the Chaire de recherche en oncologie ORL Dr Azar / Angélil, a concrete gesture being made as part of Cancer Awareness Month that will help fund research into ENT cancers. National Bank’s donation will also be used to develop the ENT Oncology Department at the CHUM’s Hôpital Notre-Dame, considered to be the top centre in its field in Quebec.

The mission of the Chaire de recherche en oncologie ORL Dr Azar / Angélil is to promote research into ENT cancers in order to significantly improve treatment of these cancers, as well as survival rates.

National Bank’s contribution is in keeping with its commitment to support health research and disease prevention initiatives. “Research is essential to developing intervention techniques and improving treatment methods,” emphasized Diane Giard, Executive Vice-President – Marketing at National Bank. “We are proud to support the CHUM’s ENT oncology team in its mission, thereby contributing to improving the quality of healthcare services in Quebec.”

Every year, through its donations and sponsorships program and the initiatives of its employees, National Bank supports hundreds of organizations across Canada. It focuses primarily on four main areas of activity—health, education, arts and culture, and community outreach—with the goal of generating positive benefits for communities.

To find out more about National Bank’s involvement in the community, visit the Bank’s social commitment portal at www.commitment.nationalbank.ca, or consult its Social Responsibility Report atwww.nbc.ca/socialresponsibility.

About National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. As at January 31, 2012, National Bank has over CDN$175 billion in assets in accordance with IFRS and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 19,785 people. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). For more information, visit the Bank’s website at www.nbc.ca. To access National Bank of Canada’s financial literacy portal, visit www.clearfacts.ca.

Information (The telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives.):

Joan Beauchamp
Senior Advisor – Public Affairs
National Bank
Tel.: 514-394-6500

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ATB Financial added to the Banker Who Saved His Soul

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

In 1938, the Social Credit government created a system of temporary financial institutions called Treasury Branches to give Albertans an alternative source of credit. The first ATB branch opened in Rocky Mountain House.

In the 1950s, while bankers flocked back to Alberta to cash in on the oil and gas windfall, the Treasury Branches were also extremely active. ATB was scrambling to find new employees to staff 29 new branches and agencies, recruiting young people as they finished high school and hiring young men from farms.

In the 1960s Alberta’s first massive oil patch downturn left Albertans concerned about employment and growing government deficits. But in 1962, oil and gas development incentives created another boom. Budget surpluses quickly returned, and Edmonton expanded as the gateway to the North.

In the 1970s when the OPEC oil embargo boosted oil prices and the Alberta government began to formally encourage oil sands development, Alberta became the hot spot in Canada. As the province flourished, ATB opened new branches and established the first mobile branch in Canada to meet the needs of a growing population.

In the 1980s in the face of a struggling economy and high interest rates, ATB implemented a program for farmers and small businesses to offset some costs, such as keeping a line on interest rates for them, and helping residential customers by giving them buy-down opportunities on high interest rates.

In the 1990s the recovering economy, ATB focused on aligning services more closely with customer needs and positioning ATB as a competitive financial services provider. New technologies were adopted, but ATB remained focused on Albertan values.

In January 2002, we launched a new look, ATB Financial. We made the change to confirm the business we are in—providing a full range of financial services to Alberta—and our commitment to the people of our province.

Today, ATB Financial is taking a giant leap forward to deliver the best possible financial services to Albertans.

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National Bank awards $ 84,000 in bursaries to 25 deserving student-athlete

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

National Bank awards $ 84,000 in bursaries to 25 deserving student-athletes during the 20th edition of its Bursary Program in collaboration with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence

Montreal, 11 April 2012 -

Mr. Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank and Ms. Lise-Anne Amyot, Senior Manager, Brand Image revealed the names of the 25 student-athletes who received $84,000 in financial support under the 20th edition of the National Bank Bursary Program.

“The 2012 edition is particularly important for us since it highlights the 20 years of existence of the National Bank Bursary Program,” declared Mr. Vachon. “It is a great source of pride for National Bank to have contributed to the development of young athletes for so long,” he added.

The Foundation’s President, Claude Chagnon, is very pleased and wanted to thank National Bank for its unfailing support for twenty years as well as for its loyalty and generosity toward the Foundation: “National Bank understood a long time ago the importance of supporting, not only student-athletes who shine on the international scene, but more importantly, lesser known athletes who do not yet have access to the funding they need. Since 1993, National bank has been setting an example in the private sector with its support of Quebecstudent-athlete,” explained Mr. Chagnon.

One of the objectives of the National Bank Bursary Program, established in 1993, is to support highly promising but unknown young athletes who do not yet have access to the funding needed to help them progress on the international scene. Eight student-athletes aged 14 to 18 will receive a $2,000 Hopeful bursary, six athletes aged 15 to 21 will receive a $4,000 Elite bursary and eleven others, aged 20 to 29, will receive a $4,000 Excellence bursary.

Among them are six student-athletes who are qualified for this summer’s London Olympic Games : Philippe Beaudry in fencing (saber), Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon in syncrhonized swimming, Roseline Filion in diving, Barbara Jardin in swimming, Sébastien Michaud in taekwondo and David Tremblay in Olympic wrestling as well as two Olympic medallists from the Vancouver   Games, double Silver medalist in short track speed skatingMarianne St-Gelais and Gold medalist in the pursuit in long track speed skating, Mathieu Giroux.

2012 National Bank Bursary Program recipients
Eight bursaries of $2,000 (Hopeful), six bursaries of $4,000 (Elite) and eleven bursaries of $4,000 (Excellence).

 First Name

 Last Name

 Sport

 Category

 Age

 City
 Farès  Arfa  Fencing-saber  Hopeful  17  Laval, Pont-Viau
 Audrey-Anne  Le Sieur  Pistol-shooting  Hopeful  15  Trois-Rivières
 Francis  Le Sieur  Pistol-shooting  Hopeful  17  Trois-Rivières
 Gaby  Malenfant  BMX and cyclocross  Hopeful  14  Drummondville
 Stéphanie  Marchand  Rowing  Hopeful  18  Boucherville
 Florence  Pépin-Delhaes  Sailing  Hopeful  16  Montréal, Villeray
 Joey  Savoie  Golf  Hopeful  17  St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
 Frédérique  Tougas  Sailing  Hopeful  17  Saint-Sauveur
 Catherine  Dauplaise  Tennis de table  Elite  15  Drummondville
 Billie  Derouet  Equestrian (jumping)  Elite  20  Bromont
 Kamille  Desjardins  Karate  Elite  19  Ange-Gardien
 Maude  Dufour  Taekwondo  Elite  18  Québec
 Simon  Rousseau  Archery  Elite  21  La Prairie
 Jessica  Ruel  Weightlifting (53 kg)  Elite  21  Macamic
 Philippe  Beaudry  Fencing – saber  Excellence  25  Montréal, P.A.T.
 Marie-Pier  Boudreau-Gagnon  Synchronised swimming  Excellence  29  Rivière-du-Loup
 Roseline  Fillion  Diving  Excellence  24  Laval, Fabreville
 Mathieu  Giroux  Long track speed skating  Excellence  26  Montréal, P.A.T.
 Barbara  Jardin  Swimming  Excellence  20  Montréal, Hochelaga
 Amélie  Lacoste  Figure skating  Excellence  23  Delson
 Sasha  Mehmedovic  Judo  Excellence  27  Montréal, Hampstead
 Sébastien  Michaud  Taekwondo  Excellence  24  Québec
 Brittany  Phelan  Alpine skiing  Excellence  20  Mont-Tremblant
 Marianne  St-Gelais  Short track speed skating  Excellence  22  St-Félicien
 David  Tremblay  Olympic wrestling  Excellence  24  Montréal, Côte-des-Neiges

About National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. As at January 31, 2012, National Bank has over CDN$175 billion in assets in accordance with IFRS and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 19,785 people. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). For more information, visit the Bank’s website at www.nbc.ca. To access National Bank of Canada’s financial literacy portal, visit www.clearfacts.ca.

About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence
The mission of the Foundation is to financially support and encourage student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence and to promote athletes as role models in Quebec society. Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded more than 3.4 million dollars in bursaries to student-athletes in the past five years and will distribute a minimum of $925,000 in 2012. Please visit our new website at www.faeq.com and like our new Facebook page: FAEQ – Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence du Québec.

Information (the telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives):

Joan Beauchamp
Senior Advisor – Public Affairs
National Bank
Tel.: 514-394-6500		 Annie Pelletier
Communications Director
Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence
Tel. : 514-252-3171 #3538
annie.pelletier@faeq.com
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ATB Financial and Calgary Homeless Foundation join forces

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

Calgary, AB - ATB Financial is teaming up with the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) in its mission to end homelessness in Calgary through a three-year program called the ATB Social Enterprise Incubator.

The ATB Social Enterprise Incubator will be charged with building investor-ready businesses and investment vehicles designed to support ending homelessness in Calgary. The incubator will focus on three main areas:

  • Innovative funding models – Create new ways for individuals, investment funds, foundations and government to invest and earn money while contributing to social good. These investments could be in the form of special bonds or GICs.
  • Social enterprise – Help homeless serving organizations build businesses that generate revenue in support of their missions.
  • Transformation of assets – Develop methods for donors to donate or invest land, businesses or buildings to a cause rather than traditional cash donations. The ATB Social Enterprise Incubator will help put these assets to good use.

“We’re thrilled to have formed this partnership with ATB Financial,” said CHF President and CEO Tim Richter. “Ending homelessness is a community effort and we can’t rely solely on government or philanthropic funding to make it happen.

“The ATB Social Enterprise Incubator gives us the opportunity to explore and implement market-based instruments and sources of revenue to ensure the long-term sustainability of our work.”

“Just like the Calgary Homeless Foundation, ATB Financial is committed to help end homelessness, not only in Calgary but throughout Alberta,” added Peggy Garritty, ATB’s Senior Vice-President, Communications and Corporate Responsibility. “We are looking forward to exploring new and innovative ways to address homelessness that we can share with other communities across Canada.”

The City of Calgary is four years into its 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. In January the CHF completed a point in time count of homeless persons showing that homelessness in Calgary decreased for the first time in 20 years.

For more information, please contact:

Sheryl Barlage
Office: 403.718.8545
Cell: 403.606.2519
sheryl@calgaryhomeless.com
www.calgaryhomeless.com

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National Bank Presents the André-Bérard Award to Gianni Crivello and Highlights the Volunteer Work of Four Other Employees

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

Montreal, 5 April 2012 -

National Bank proudly acknowledged the social commitment and involvement of its current and retired employees at its Annual Meeting of Employees, held yesterday in Montreal. For his involvement with the Cure Scleroderma Foundation, Gianni Crivello received the André-Bérard Award for 2011-2012, the highest honour in National Bank’s employee and retired employee volunteer program. The award also includes a $5,000 donation for the organization in which Mr. Crivello is active.

Gianni Crivello, Chief Advisor – Network Growth at National Bank Financial in Montreal, has been involved with various organizations for over 16 years. He seeks to help those in need, driven by his belief that he can make a difference. Since 2006, Mr. Crivello has been actively involved in the Foundation he cofounded with a Canadian scleroderma specialist, Dr. Murray Baron of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. The goal of this foundation is to raise funds to support Canadian scleroderma researchers and to raise awareness of this disease among the general public.

“I am very happy to receive the National Bank André-Bérard Award which I humbly accept. This particular honor incites me to get even more involved with scleroderma research in order to raise public awareness of this terrible disease”, said Mr. Crivello.

Three other employees and a retired employee were also recognized for their community involvement:

- Roger Castonguay, retiree, former Investment Advisor, National Bank Financial, Beloeil;
- Michel Chiasson, Account Manager – Commercial Banking, National Bank, Caraquet;
- Danny Goode, Senior Analyst – Collection Department, National Bank, Mascouche;
- Daniel Lanteigne, Advisor – Innovation and Quality and Strategic Initiatives Office, National Bank, Montreal.

They each received an “Our hearts are with you” Award as well as a $1,000 donation for the organization they support.

Mr. Lanteigne also received a special mention and an additional $2,000 donation for the organization which he supports.

Daniel Lanteigne has been volunteering with The War Amps for nearly 10 years. This is his way of building a more inclusive society. His involvement with The War Amps is multifaceted: he provides support for amputees and their loved ones, acts as a media spokesperson, helped draft a document on prevention for schools and day camps, and has been a guest speaker for seminars on prevention and safety. In 2011, Mr. Lanteigne also worked with the Comité d’adaptation de la main-d’oeuvre (CAMO) pour personnes handicapées.

“Our employees and retired employees play an active role in their respective communities, and eight years ago we set up the “Our hearts are with you program” to recognize their dedication. On behalf of the management of National Bank, I would like to congratulate our 2011-2012 award winners—all of whom are committed volunteers who work for the good of society,” said Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank, at the Annual Meeting of Employees.

The André-Bérard Award, named in honour of a former National Bank President known for his community involvement, recognizes employees and retirees who have made a significant contribution through their volunteer activities. It is part of the “Our hearts are with you” recognition program, which supports employee volunteer activities, rewards their efforts, and enhances the impact of their actions with financial contributions to the organizations that are near and dear to their hearts.

Every year, through its donations and sponsorships program and the initiatives of its employees, National Bank helps support hundreds of organizations across Canada. It focuses primarily on four main areas of activity—health, education, arts and culture, and community outreach—with the goal of generating positive benefits for communities.

To find out more about National Bank’s involvement in the community, visit the Bank’s social commitment portal at www.commitment.nationalbank.ca, or consult its Social Responsibility Report atwww.nbc.ca/socialresponsibility.

About National Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. As at January 31, 2012, National Bank has over CDN$175 billion in assets in accordance with IFRS and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 19,785 people. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). For more information, visit the Bank’s website at www.nbc.ca. To access National Bank of Canada’s financial literacy portal, visit www.clearfacts.ca.

Information (The telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives.):

Joan Beauchamp
Senior Advisor – Public Affairs
National Bank
Tel.: 514-394-6500

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ATB Financial maintains steady profits through 3rd quarter

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Baldo Minaudo

March 2nd, 2012

Edmonton - Profits for the third quarter of this fiscal year remained steady at ATB Financial (ATB) despite continued higher-than-normal operating expenses related to implementing a new state-of-the-art banking system.

Net income for the quarter ending December 31, 2011 was $48.4 million. Profits for the first nine months of the 2011-12 fiscal year are ahead of last year’s pace. Through three quarters of the current fiscal year, net income stands at $158.2 million compared to $134.9 million at the same time last year, an increase of $23.3 million largely due to a reduction in the provision for credit losses.

Total operating revenue for the third quarter was $283.4 million up 5.8 per cent from a year ago. Non-interest expenses were $216.3 million, up 17.8 per cent from the same quarter last year. As the anticipated work to stabilize its new banking system continues, ATB remains focused on improving efficiency and productivity and managing expenses.

Net loans and total deposits both experienced solid gains. Net loans registered $26.6 billion, up $1.3 billion from a year ago, while total deposits also increased by $1.3 billion to $22.0 billion.

“This has been one of the most challenging quarters for ATB,” said Dave Mowat, ATB’s President and CEO.

“Introducing and stabilizing our new banking system has tested the patience of both our customers and associates. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our customers and associates who have stuck with us through the challenges we faced. Thanks to their support, we continue to do great business for Albertans in all corners of the province.”

Operational Highlights

Retail Financial Services (RFS) – This line of business includes branches and agencies throughout Alberta. Operating revenue was $112.2 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 3.3 per cent, over last year.

Business and Agriculture financial services (B&Ag) – This line of business provides services to Alberta’s independent businesses, farmers and other agriculture customers. Operating revenue was $65.7 million, an increase of $0.4 million, or 0.6 per cent, over last year.

Corporate Financial Services (CFS) – This line of business provides services to Alberta’s mid- and senior-market companies in three sub-lines – Energy, Commercial, and Food & Forestry. Operating revenue was $65.6 million, an increase over last year of $9.1 million or 16.1 per cent.

ATB Investor Services (IS) – This line of business is responsible for growing and protecting wealth for more than 55,000 customers. Investor Services continues to build assets under management and administration, which increased to $6.6 billion this quarter, up $0.7 billion, or 11.8 per cent from the second quarter last year. Operating revenues were $16.4 million up 11.8 per cent from a year ago.

ATB in the Community – ATB’s annual United Way campaign proved to be another success. Associates and customers, combined with corporate matching from ATB, raised over $635,000 which will be distributed to United Way member agencies across Alberta. Through the hard work and generosity of associates and customers, ATB branches in the Edmonton area raised $45,000 for the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton. And in November, ATB launched its second annual Young Artists Competition. Grade four students across Alberta will be asked to submit original works of art that convey a part of Alberta’s history. 30 winning entries will be selected to be displayed at the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton in the spring of 2012.

About ATB Financial – ATB Financial is the largest Alberta-based financial institution, with assets of over $30 billion. It provides Retail Financial Services, Business and Agriculture Financial Services, Investor Services, and Corporate Financial Services to more than 680,000 Albertans in 243 communities. It provides service through 170 branches and 130 agencies, telephone and Internet banking, a Customer Contact Centre, and Automated Banking Machines. ATB has been named one of Canada’s 50 Best Employers by Maclean’s Magazine and one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and Alberta’s Top 55 Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc.

For complete third-quarter financial results, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis, please visitwww.atb.com

For further information, please contact:
Barry Strader
Media Relations
ATB Financial
(780) 886-4398 (cell); (780) 495-1343 (office)
email: bstrader@atb.com

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Mortgage-Free Eventually: RBC Poll Finds Majority of Canadians Hope to Pay Off Their Homes by Retirement

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Baldo Minaudo

Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of Canadians with a mortgage hope to bemortgage-free by the time they reach age 65, but one-third (33 per cent) of older Canadians, those over the age of 55, have 16 or more years left on their mortgage term, according to the latest RBC Housing Snapshot poll.

“Canadians want to be mortgage-free as they approach retirement age and beyond, but the reality is that it takes prudent planning and the right advice to stay on track,” said Claude DeMone, director of Strategy for Home Equity Financing, RBC. “Using flexible and accelerated payment options are an easy and pain-free way to help take years off your mortgage and save thousands of dollars in interest costs.”

Canadians overwhelmingly say that a low interest rate is the most important feature when choosing a mortgage (96 per cent). Almost nine-in-10 Canadians also say that accelerated payment options (85 per cent) and flexible payment options (88 per cent) are important and desirable features.

Looking ahead, the majority of Canadians expect steadyinterest rates in the next six to 12 months. Almost one-in-five Canadians (18 per cent) expect rates will rise less than one per cent. Just over a quarter of respondents (26 per cent) think interest rates will rise more than one per cent in the same time period.

“Though many Canadians expect interest rates to stay the same over the next year, they should still keep in mind that it’s important to build some wiggle room into your budget to prepare for any extra costs or future rate increases,” DeMone added.

With a firm belief that interest rates will stay relatively stable over the next year, the RBC poll shows Canadians are increasingly interested in using either a variable (29 per cent, compared to 19 per cent in the first quarter of this year) orfixed rate mortgage (46 per cent, compared to 40 per cent in the first quarter of this year). Interest in using a hybridmortgage (part fixed, part variable) has declined (25 per cent, compared to 41 per cent in the first quarter of this year).

DeMone offers the following mortgage advice that will help Canadians pay down mortgages faster and get the right one to meet their individual needs:

  1. “Stress test” your mortgage for rate increases.If you are concerned about affordability down the road, knowing what your payments would be with a one to three per cent rate increase will give you greater peace of mind that your new home is affordable both today and in a few years, when rates might be higher.
  2. Look beyond the interest rate and consider your prepayment options. Many closed mortgages allow you to double up a payment or pay a lump sum on your mortgage annually without prepayment charges. Prepayments are applied directly to the principal balance, helping to save thousands of dollars in interest costs over the life of the mortgage.
  3. Take advantage of early renewal options. Some mortgages allow you to renew up to 120 days before the end of your term. This means you can lock in your new mortgage rate early.

Poll highlights:

  • An equal amount of Canadians in the 35-54 age group plan to be mortgage-free by age 55 (39 per cent) or by age 65 (39 per cent).
  • Young Canadians (age 18-34) have the most aggressive views of when they will be mortgage-free (by age 35: 12 per cent; by age 45: 26 per cent).
  • Among Canadian homeowners, the number of mortgage-free Canadians has increased slightly to 41 per cent in the fourth quarter from 38 per cent in the first quarter, and the highest level since 2006.
  • Canadians ages 55 and over were more likely to expect interest rates to stay about the same in the next six to 12 months (55+ 60 per cent compared to the national average of 51 per cent).

One-third of younger Canadians (18-34: 34 per cent) anticipate a steeper increase in interest rates in the next six to 12 months.

Regional highlights for British Columbia, Alberta, Prairies,Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada are also available.

Canadians can visit the RBC Advice Centrewww.rbcadvicecentre.com for advice on the costs associated with purchasing a home. The RBC Advice Centre is an online resource, with videos and interactive tools and calculators, that gives Canadians access to advice about all aspects of their finances including their homeownership goals – whether they are buying their first home, planning their next move, renovating or managing their current home financing. With the guidance of RBC mortgage specialists, Canadians have access to free, no-obligation professional advice and personalized one-on-one service about RBC mortgage products and services.

RBC is the largest residential mortgage lender in Canada. As the country’s number one source of financial advice on homeownership, RBC conducts consumer surveys as one way to provide insight to Canadians about the marketplace in which they live. These are some of the findings of the RBC Housing Snapshot poll conducted by Ipsos Reid between from October 6-14, 2011. The results are based on a sample where quota sampling and weighting are employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample’s composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. Quota samples with weighting from the Ipsos online panel provide results that are intended to approximate a probability sample. An unweighted probability sample of 2,282 adults, with 100 per cent response rate, would have an estimated margin of error of ±2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error within subgroups of the sample will be higher.

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For more information, contact:
Ka Yan Ng, RBC Communications
Matt Gierasimczuk, RBC Communications

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RBC Donates $2.6 Million to 99 After-School Programs Across Canada

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Baldo Minaudo

The RBC After-School Grants Project announced on November 17, 2011 that 99 community-based organizations across Canada will share $2.6 million in funding to provide after-school programs, including 15 new grant recipients. RBC has been supporting after-school programs since 1999, helping provide children with a safe, supervised environment for activities outside the classroom.

“Having funded 227 after-school programs since 1999, we know that children who participate in these programs have enhanced social skills and show increased motivation to excel in school,” said Shari Austin, vice-president, Corporate Citizenship at RBC. “We are very proud that our grants continue to help community-based organizations provide engaging activities that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and grow, while alleviating some pressures for working families.”

RBC After-School Grant recipients represent a diverse range of community based organizations, and were chosen by members of the community. Each program will receive up to $40,000 from RBC. There are 15 first-time grant recipients, including:

BRITISH COLUMBIA

  • Chilliwack Central Elementary School - A grant of $40,000 will help this downtown school provide a free after-school program to about 50 children, five days a week. Children can get help with homework, enjoy daily story time, visit the local library, participate in a formal fitness program, and receive art instruction.
  • KB Woodward Elementary School - A grant of $40,000 will help this school, located in Surrey where half of the residents are newcomers to Canada, provide a free, daily program for 30 children aged 6-12. Many other community partners are engaged to help deliver tutoring, ESL and literacy, athletics, arts and music programs, computer workshops and a science program.

ALBERTA

  • The Airdrie Boys’ and Girls’ Club - A grant of $40,000 will help this organization start a new, daily after-school program for about 30 teens, aged 13-18. This program addresses a need for local children to have access to organized activities and homework help and will provide group and individual life skill development, a book club, and weekly volunteering opportunities.
  • The Cerebral Palsy Association - A grant of $40,000 will help this organization start a new after-school program for teens with disabilities. The funds will be used to purchase specialized equipment, develop programming and educational resources. Activities will include homework help, art, mentoring, healthy snacks, computers, music therapy, cultural trips and sports.

SASKATCHEWAN

  • YMCA King George Community School - A grant of $34,000 will help provide a daily after-school program for 35 First Nations children aged 6-12, with culturally-sensitive activities as well as swimming lessons, tours, and activities at the YMCA.
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Regina - A grant of $40,000 will help the Boys and Girls Club deliver free programming for 20 children, aged 7 to 14, in Regina’s inner-city, where youth face issues such as malnutrition, gangs, substance abuse and lack of access to social supports. Activities will focus on skill development and artistic expression in a safe environment.

MANITOBA

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg, Aberdeen Club- A grant of $40,000 will help this organization deliver a free, daily after-school program to about 25 children aged 6-14, many of whom are Aboriginal. Activities will include organized sports, art and performing arts, homework help, computer instruction and environmental programs.

ONTARIO

  • The Beyond 3:30 program/ Kane Middle School, Toronto - A grant of $40,000 will allow this organization, serving a neighbourhood where drop-out rates are increasing, to provide a free, daily after-school program to more than 40 children aged 11-14. The program will offer homework help, a Book Club, a Junior Chefs Club, sports, music activities, as well as provide a nutritious snack, and discussions about topics ranging from gardening to bullying.
  • Harmony for Youth, Sarnia - A grant of $40,000 will help this organization run an after-school program in a region where children often lack the resources and supports they need just to complete their homework. The free daily program will be open to 25 participants aged 4-18, and will provide tutoring, cultural activities, such as music, crafts, cooking, leadership skills, mentoring, nutritious snacks, computer support, and outdoor activities, ‘pay it forward’, and a bully-buster program.
  • Essa Public Library After School Program - A grant of $39,400 provides a daily after-school program for 40 children aged 8-13, including children from military families stationed at CFB Borden, who face additional challenges because of frequent moves from school to school. The program will provide daily homework help through peer-tutoring, physical activities and games, art and crafts, special guests, music and a nutritious snack.
  • Wasauksing First Nation - A grant of $40,000 will help this community provide a daily after-school program to 25 students aged 12-18. The program is intended to help students transition from a small elementary school to the nearby high school through activities that help build self-esteem in a safe environment. RBC’s funds will be used to provide activities requested by the youth themselves, including sports, homework help, hand drumming and dancing, leadership opportunities through Drum Chiefs and Drum Kwee, access to a computer lab and nutritious snacks.

QUEBEC

  • Projet Harmonie, Montreal - A grant of $40,000 will help this organization provide a free, daily after-school program for 30 children aged 6-12. Children benefit from a range of activities including homework help, reading exercises, sports, music and even food-shopping expeditions to learn about the importance of good nutrition.
  • Centre communautaire Hochelaga, Montreal - A grant of $35,000 will help provide a daily after-school program for 25 participants aged 6 to 12. Children will get homework help and access to computers in a safe environment. The program also engages youth and seniors from the community so that participants can benefit from intergenerational connections.

ATLANTIC

  • Lower Sackville Boys and Girls Club, Nova Scotia- A grant of $35,000 will help provide a daily after-school program for 80 children aged 5-16. The funding will be used to add a new athletic program and math tutoring, to the current range of activities such as homework help, a reading club, swimming, arts and cultural activities, computer instruction and a science club.
  • Jello Tree After School Program, Shelburne County Youth Health and Support Association, Nova Scotia - A grant of $40,000 will help provide a free, daily after-school program for 30-35 participants aged 5 to 16. Activities include daily homework help, organized sports, art, leadership training, guitar, voice and song writing, as well as supervised time on computers, discussion groups/workshops by staff on topics ranging from addictions to healthy lifestyle choices, nutrition and bullying.

To be selected for a grant, after-school programs must offer structured and supervised activities for children between the ages of six and 17. The programs must focus on what RBC calls the “three Ss” — safety, social skills and self-esteem. RBC’s grants are used to provide a wide-range of activities including computer instruction, sports, literacy tutoring, music and art lessons, nutrition guidance, and homework help.

Since 1999, RBC has provided more than $25 million in grants to 227 after-school programs in Canada, helping more than 24,000 children.

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For more information, please contact:
Jackie Braden, RBC Brand Communications, (416) 974-1724

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