National Bank Once Again Recognized as a Top Employer

MONTREAL, Feb. 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank is proud to have once again made the list of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2013, as chosen by Mediacorp Canada, Inc., which recognizes 50 Canadian employers who have developed exceptional inclusiveness programs for employees from five major groups: women; members of visible minorities; persons with disabilities; aboriginal peoples; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender/transsexual (LGBT) peoples.

"National Bank sees diversity as a great source of richness and is committed to promoting it within all business units. We also seek to showcase a wide range of talents and skills to reflect the Bank's social fabric and needs in terms of its qualified workforce," stated Lynn Jeanniot, Executive Vice-President - Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at National Bank.

To reach these objectives, the Bank has adopted human resources practices that are sensitive to diversity and has created many internal networks. The Bank also works with various organizations to improve the integration of minority groups into the job market.

Specifically in 2012, the Bank created two internal networks to encourage employee development and leadership. The Women's Leadership Network gives support to women pursuing their careers at National Bank who wish to move up within the organization as managers.  The IDEO network—a network that targets inclusion and destigmatization for equality, regardless of orientation—is intended for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender/transsexual community.

The Bank's diversity initiatives are successful. It is one of the Canadian banks with the highest number of women in senior management positions—this figure rose 87% between 2002 and 2012. As for the representation of visible minorities at the Bank, the percentage more than doubled during this same time period.

Being designated Best Diversity Employer is one of many distinctions that National Bank has received over the past year, including the 50 Best Employers in Canada and Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures^TM.

About National Bank of Canada
With $178 billion in assets as at October 31, 2012, National Bank of Canada (www.nbc.ca), together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups, and was named among the five strongest banks in the world by Bloomberg Markets. The Bank has close to 20,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities via social media and learn more about its extensive community involvement at clearfacts.ca and commitment.nationalbank.ca.

SOURCE: National Bank of Canada

(The telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives.):

Claude Breton
Senior Director - Public Affairs
National Bank
Tel.: [phone]