Laurentian Bank Releases Its 2009 Social Responsibility Report: More Involved
Than Ever and Always As Agile

MONTREAL, March 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Laurentian Bank is proud to be releasing its Social Responsibility Report for fiscal 2009. Entitled More Involved Than Ever and Always As Agile, the publication presents the Bank's commitments to its various publics - its clients, employees, shareholders, and the community at large. The document is now available on the Bank's Internet site at www.laurentianbank.ca under the Laurentian Bank tab of the Your Bank section.

"Our institution received numerous distinctions during fiscal 2009," underlines Réjean Robitaille, President and Chief Executive Officer. "These honours serve to recognize our determination to remain vigilant and to manage our activities with integrity, prudence and rigour. We are constantly striving to be more efficient, to bring our culture of quality service to the fore, to respect best practices in the area of governance, and to enhance the value we offer to investors. Moreover, we are increasingly committed to the communities in which we operate and to contributing to the well-being of the population as a whole."

Laurentian Bank's 2009 Social Responsibility Report offers an overview of the institution's numerous involvements and achievements during 2009. Following are a few highlights:

    
    Responsibility to Employees

    The Bank possesses a streamlined hierarchical structure that promotes
    proximity between employees and managers. In addition, it adheres to a
    corporate culture that enables employees to assume their responsibilities
    and further their advancement. Laurentian Bank invests substantially in
    the development of its human capital and, in view of its sustained
    growth, is in a position to offer an ever-increasing variety of career
    opportunities.

    Responsibility to Clients

    In order to better respond to the needs of its clients, the Bank pursued
    the development of its Tele-Banking service, which serves as an extension
    of its branch network. With some 50 advisors in place, this service
    offers clients great flexibility and the individualized attention of
    advisors who are personally assigned to them and available by phone or e-
    mail. In fact, Laurentian Bank is the only financial institution to offer
    such a service.

    Responsibility to Communities

    As a way of giving back to the communities in which it operates, the Bank
    contributed more than $2 million to over 160 organizations and events in
    2009. Furthermore, in order to show its support to and further enrich the
    experience its prime public consisting of families, , the Bank created an
    entertaining and educational Internet site aimed at young people and
    their parents - www.littleheroesclub.ca.

    Responsibility to Shareholders

    Laurentian Bank also continued to assure the healthy management of its
    affairs in 2009. In so doing, the past fiscal year saw the institution
    post a record profit of $113.1 million. This unprecedented performance is
    attributable, first and foremost, to prudent risk management and
    enlightened decision making.
    

About Laurentian Bank

Laurentian Bank of Canada is a banking institution operating across Canada and offering its clients diversified financial services. Distinguishing itself through excellence in service, as well as through its simplicity and proximity, the Bank serves individual consumers and small and medium-sized businesses. The Bank also offers its products to a wide network of independent financial intermediaries through B2B Trust, as well as full-service brokerage solutions through Laurentian Bank Securities.

Laurentian Bank is well established in the Province of Quebec, operating the third-largest retail branch network. Elsewhere throughout Canada, it operates in specific market segments where it holds an enviable position. Laurentian Bank of Canada has more than $23 billion in balance sheet assets and more than $14 billion in assets under administration. Founded in 1846, the Bank employs more than 3,600 people.

For further information: Gladys Caron, Vice-President Public Affairs, Communications and Investor Relations, [phone], extension 7511, [email protected]