The National Bank Platinum Card: freedom with no strings attached

• Travel sooner: the value of your points could exceed the value of points offered by competitors' programs by up to 67 %
• Choose your travel agency
• Benefit from insurance for trip cancellation and interruption, as well as flight delays and lost luggage
• Enjoy the most generous purchase insurance available on the market

The National Bank is launching its brand new PLATINUM MasterCard credit card. The only credit card in Canada with so much value and so few restrictions, it is best described as flexible and generous.

The Platinum MasterCard credit card offers the Passage Rewards Program with its focus on travel and entertainment. With this generous program, cardholders have the luxury of choosing from a vast selection of attractive rewards: dream vacations, exciting entertainment, fine dining, and name-brand items. Cardholders will be able to make restriction-free travel arrangements, with the agency of their choice. They will earn one bonus point for each dollar charged to their card, and will be able to claim travel rewards more quickly: the value of their points could exceed the value of points offered by competitors' programs by up to 67 %.

In addition, the Platinum card offers one of the most comprehensive travel insurance programs around: trip cancellation and interruption, flight delays, late or lost luggage and car rental.

The Platinum card is the only card in Canada to triple a product's warranty period (a maximum of two years after the manufacturer's warranty) and protect items against theft or breakage for 180 days after the date of purchase.

"We are excited to offer our customers the new Platinum credit card. This card provides all the value and benefits that our research has shown consumers are looking for: flexible and generous rewards combined with extensive insurance coverage, among the most complete on the market today," explained Rubina Havlin, Vice-President, Electronic Payment Solutions.

New cardholders who obtain their card before January 31, 2004 will receive 5,000 bonus points when they sign up and an introductory rate of 1.9% for the first three months on cash advances and balance transfers. After that date, the current annual rate of interest will apply. At November 5, 2003, the rate was 19.5%. Moreover, new cardholders who obtain their card before January 31, 2004 will pay an annual fee of only $90 for the first year for their main card, rather than $120.

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