Desjardins Group Welcomes Minister Flaherty's Announcement on Pooled
Registered Pension Plans

LÉVIS, QC, Dec. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada, welcomes the federal government's initiative to encourage a larger number of Canadians to save for retirement by proposing a Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP).

"Savings and financial education are at the very core of Desjardins Group's cooperative values. We are pleased by this announcement, as the proposed plan will give a larger number of Canadians access to a pension plan, and, more specifically, enable Desjardins members and clients to look forward to the very best retirement possible," said Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO, Desjardins Group.

Desjardins Group, through Desjardins Financial Security, its life and health insurance subsidiary, intends work with the federal and provincial governments to set up this program. Desjardins Group hopes that the framework will be easy to use and readily available to the greatest number of people possible.

About Desjardins Group

Awarded the coveted title "Bank of the Year 2010 - Canada" by the UK magazine The Banker, Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the sixth largest in the world, with assets of over $175 billion. Drawing on the strength of its caisse network in Québec and Ontario, and its subsidiaries across Canada, it offers a full range of financial products and services to its 5.8 million members and clients. Desjardins specializes in Wealth Management and Life and Health Insurance, in Property and Casualty Insurance, in Personal Services, in Business and Institutional Services. As one of the largest employers in the country and one of Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures^TM of 2010, Desjardins is supported by the skills of its 42,200 employees and the commitment of near 6,000 elected officers. For more information, visit www.desjardins.com.

For further information:

Source (for journalists only):
André Chapleau
Director of Media Relations
Desjardins Group
514-281-7229 or 1-866-866-7000, ext. 7229
[email protected]