National Bank Sponsors Job Fair for the Multicultural CDN and NDG Borough

The National Bank is proud to be associated with the very first "Feu vert à l'emploi" job, training and internship fair, to be held on November 22, 2003 at the École des hautes études commerciales.

An initiative of Emploi Québec and the Bureau interculturel de l'arrondissement Côte-des-Neiges et Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, this job fair is designed to offer residents, who come from many cultural communities, employment opportunities in all areas of activity. As the main sponsor of the event as well as a participant in the job fair, the National Bank became involved because it believes in the importance of integrating women, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and members of cultural communities in every aspect of its operations. The Bank is constantly looking for top talent, and by participating in this job fair it hopes to attract the best candidates regardless of their background.

The National Bank has been working for a number of years to eliminate employment obstacles by developing discrimination-free programs and policies and that promote a business culture open to diversity. The following are just a few examples:

• The National Bank works closely with employment integration organizations for various groups

• Respectful of the traditions of its Asian clients, the National Bank offers them a branch that can meet their expectations in terms of services and location. The Asian Private Banking Centre, situated in Montreal's Chinatown, provides a unique range of services, including the option of being served in eight different languages, having documents available in Chinese and access to a referral service to find professionals such as lawyers or notaries, as is the custom in Hong Kong

• To offer the customers of its Côte-des-Neiges branch personalized service, the Bank has recruited personnel from 10 different cultural backgrounds who between them speak 16 languages. This branch also offers free seminars explaining the Canadian banking system and the best ways to use basic banking services

The "Feu vert à l'emploi" job, training and internship fair will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants are invited to meet with National Bank employees who will inform them of the many stimulating career opportunities the Bank has to offer.

About the National Bank

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 more than $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.

Information (the telephone number and e-mail address provided below are for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives):

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