Category Archives: ATB Financial

Full line of personal, business, agricultural financial services. Based primarily in the Province of Alberta.

ATB Financial added to the Banker Who Saved His Soul

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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.

ATB Financial and Calgary Homeless Foundation join forces

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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

ATB Financial maintains steady profits through 3rd quarter

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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

ATB Financial equity reaches $2 billion

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November 23rd, 2011

Edmonton – ATB Financial reached a milestone this quarter. Thanks to Albertans continuing to do business at Alberta’s own financial institution, ATB saw its earned equity reach $2 billion for the first time in our history.

Earnings at ATB Financial were down 8.4% from last year due largely to an increase in operating expenses required to make the transition to a new state-of-the-art banking system.

ATB’s net income for the quarter ending September 30, 2011 was $51.2 million, compared to $55.9 million over the same quarter last year. However, profits for the first six months of the 2011-2012 fiscal year continue to outpace the previous year by 7.2%.

Operating revenue for the second quarter was $276.7 million, an increase of $27.7 million over the same quarter last year. Non-interest expenses, on the other hand, increased to $204.1 million compared to $170.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2010-2011.

Loans have grown to $26.2 billion at the end of September, a solid increase of 5.0% from a year ago. The loan loss provision expense has decreased from the same quarter last year.

“It was another solid quarter for ATB, and the credit goes to our associates and our customers, whose perseverance and patience helped us through the launch of our new banking system and allowed ATB to continue to grow our business,” said Dave Mowat, ATB’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate higher-than-normal expenses as we continue to stabilize our new banking system and serve our customers through the transition. We’re also expecting continued volatility in financial markets and low interest rates. However, I’m confident ATB will rise to the challenge and continue to meet the financial needs of Albertans.”

Operational Highlights

Retail Financial Services (RFS) – This line of business includes branches and agencies throughout Alberta. Operating revenue was $114.9 million, an increase of $7.6 million, or 7.0 per cent, over last year.

Independent Business and Agriculture financial services (IB&Ag) – This line of business provides services to Alberta’s small businesses, farmers and other agriculture customers. Operating revenue was $68.8 million, an increase of $3.8 million, or 5.8 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 $66.5 million, an increase over last year of $7.7 million or 13.0 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 $6.3 billion this quarter, up $0.7 billion, or 12.8 per cent from the second quarter last year.

ATB in the Community – In August, 2011, ATB Financial announced its fundraising totals for the 12th annual Teddy for a Toonie campaign. ATB associates and customers across Alberta raised more than $563,000 for children’s health. Money raised in northern Alberta (over $298,000) was donated to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and was directed towards its emergency room expansion project. Money raised in southern Alberta (over $264,000) was donated to the Blood and Marrow Transplantation program at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. Since 2000, ATB’s Teddy for a Toonie campaign has raised nearly $5 million for children’s health and wellness in Alberta.

About ATB Financial – ATB Financial is the largest Alberta-based financial institution, with assets of over $30 billion. It provides Retail Financial Services, Independent Business and Agriculture Financial Services, Investor Services, and Corporate Financial Services to more than 680,000 Albertans in 243 communities. It provides service through 168 branches and 130 agencies, telephone and Internet banking, a Customer Contact Centre, and Automated Banking Machines. ATB Financial was established in 1938 and has been a provincial Crown corporation since 1997. 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 50 Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc.

For complete third-quarter financial results, including Management’s Discussion and Analysis, please visit www.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