National Bank launches Wealth Management service in the Montérégie region

More than 125 people assembled yesterday at the new Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu branch for the launch of the new Wealth Management service for the entire Montérégie region.

Wealth Management is for individuals with unique financial requirements and who want their portfolio to be actively managed. Customers are paired with one of the National Bank's financial planners, who have highly specialized expertise in the seven areas of financial planning: investing, retirement, finance, taxation, estate planning, insurance and legal aspects. These specialists offer products and advice to suit each customer's investor profile, and work in cooperation with the National Bank's various divisions. In the Montérégie, 45 financial planners are ready to do business whenever and wherever their customers choose. In Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu alone, there are five financial planners whose top priority is to ensure that their customers receive the very best service possible.

"We wanted to help customers make the most of the special relationship they enjoy with their financial advisor, as well as make it easier for them to get answers to all their money questions. The financial planner is the only contact Wealth Management customers need," said Renaud Nadeau, Vice-President, Wealth Management and Specialized Networks at the National Bank. During the year, the National Bank will complete the deployment of this new service throughout Quebec.

About National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada is an integrated group which provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its customers elsewhere in the world. The National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including 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. The National Bank has approximately $75 billion in assets and, together with its subsidiaries, employs over 17,000 people. The Bank's securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (NA: TSX). For more information, visit the Bank's website at www.nbc.ca.

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Information (the following telephone number and e-mail address are intended solely for the use of journalists and other media representatives):

Denis Dubé
Director of Public Relations
National Bank of Canada
Tel.: (514) 394-8644
E-mail: denis.dube@bnc.ca