Canadian Western Bank launches The Greater Interest GIC campaign to support Big Brothers Big Sisters for the fifth consecutive year

EDMONTON, Sept. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian Western Bank (CWB) is proud to launch The Greater Interest GIC® campaign in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Between September 4, 2012 and October 31, 2012, based on every dollar clients invest in The Greater Interest GIC®, CWB will make a corporate donation of 1/8% to the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in the community where the deposits were raised. Since partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2008, CWB has donated over $845,000 to help facilitate meaningful mentorship opportunities for Canada's youth.

"Our clients, employees, and community partners rally around this campaign each year and are excited to see the positive benefits in their local communities," says Angela Saveraux, CWB's Community Investment Manager. "The relationships we've built over the years have encouraged our organization to learn more about the important work being accomplished by Big Brothers Big Sisters. Canadian Western Bank believes in the value of mentoring and is proud to play a role in empowering Canada's youth to reach their full potential."

Two years ago, CWB broadened the distribution of its community-based GIC product to clients across Canada by offering the Key Giving GIC™ through CWB's Internet banking division, Canadian Direct Financial (CDF) www.canadiandirectfinancial.com. Based on every dollar that clients invest in the Key Giving GIC™, CDF will make a donation of 1/8% to the national chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"We're so happy to have such amazing support from our friends at CWB, who have helped us fund nearly 66,000 hours of mentoring over the past four years," said Joel Porter, Vice-President of Revenue Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. "This smart investment product makes sense on so many levels. Most importantly, it will assist us again this year in making permanent, positive change in the lives of so many kids."

In addition to the overall campaign, CWB and Big Brothers Big Sisters are organizing a video contest for Big Brothers, Big Sisters and their matches. Applicants are being asked to submit a short video describing how they would take a greater interest in their community with a $2,500 grant from CWB. View the top videos and vote for your favourite at www.greaterinterest.ca to make one applicant's idea a reality.

About Canadian Western Bank Group
Canadian Western Bank offers highly personalized service through 40 branch locations and is the largest publicly traded Canadian bank headquartered in Western Canada. The Bank specializes in mid-market commercial lending and offers a full complement of personal banking services. The Bank, along with its operating affiliates, National Leasing Group Inc., Canadian Western Trust Company, Valiant Trust Company, Canadian Direct Insurance Incorporated, Adroit Investment Management Ltd. and Canadian Western Financial Ltd., collectively offer a diversified range of financial services across Canada and are together known as Canadian Western Bank Group. Refer to www.cwbankgroup.com for additional information.

Stakeholders can learn more about CWB Group's community initiatives by following the company on Twitter @CWBcommunity or by visiting their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CWBcommunity.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

For nearly one hundred years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been making a positive difference in the lives of our nation's youth by developing and implementing a wide range of mentoring programs. Serving as role models, our mentors teach by example the importance of giving and giving back, of staying in school, and of having respect for family peers and community. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada provides quality mentoring services for more than 33,000 children and teenagers. Big Brothers Big Sisters currently has over 25,000 volunteer mentors working at 125 agencies that serve children in over 1,000 communities across the country. Learn how you can start something at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

SOURCE: Canadian Western Bank

Angela Saveraux
Community Investment Manager
Canadian Western Bank
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

Joel Porter
Vice-President, Revenue Development
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
Phone: [phone] x16
Email: [email protected]