National Bank proudly acknowledged the social commitment and involvement of its current and retired employees at its Annual Meeting of Employees, held yesterday in Montreal. For his involvement with the Cure Scleroderma Foundation, Gianni Crivello received the André-Bérard Award for 2011-2012, the highest honour in National Bank's employee and retired employee volunteer program. The award also includes a $5,000 donation for the organization in which Mr. Crivello is active.

Gianni Crivello, Chief Advisor - Network Growth at National Bank Financial in Montreal, has been involved with various organizations for over 16 years. He seeks to help those in need, driven by his belief that he can make a difference. Since 2006, Mr. Crivello has been actively involved in the Foundation he cofounded with a Canadian scleroderma specialist, Dr. Murray Baron of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. The goal of this foundation is to raise funds to support Canadian scleroderma researchers and to raise awareness of this disease among the general public.

"I am very happy to receive the National Bank André-Bérard Award which I humbly accept. This particular honor incites me to get even more involved with scleroderma research in order to raise public awareness of this terrible disease", said Mr. Crivello.

Three other employees and a retired employee were also recognized for their community involvement:

Roger Castonguay, retiree, former Investment Advisor, National Bank Financial, Beloeil;
Michel Chiasson, Account Manager - Commercial Banking, National Bank, Caraquet;
Danny Goode, Senior Analyst - Collection Department, National Bank, Mascouche;
Daniel Lanteigne, Advisor - Innovation and Quality and Strategic Initiatives Office, National Bank, Montreal.

They each received an "Our hearts are with you" Award as well as a $1,000 donation for the organization they support.

Mr. Lanteigne also received a special mention and an additional $2,000 donation for the organization which he supports.

Daniel Lanteigne has been volunteering with The War Amps for nearly 10 years. This is his way of building a more inclusive society. His involvement with The War Amps is multifaceted: he provides support for amputees and their loved ones, acts as a media spokesperson, helped draft a document on prevention for schools and day camps, and has been a guest speaker for seminars on prevention and safety. In 2011, Mr. Lanteigne also worked with the Comité d'adaptation de la main-d'oeuvre (CAMO) pour personnes handicapées.

"Our employees and retired employees play an active role in their respective communities, and eight years ago we set up the "Our hearts are with you program" to recognize their dedication. On behalf of the management of National Bank, I would like to congratulate our 2011-2012 award winners-all of whom are committed volunteers who work for the good of society," said Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank, at the Annual Meeting of Employees.

The André-Bérard Award, named in honour of a former National Bank President known for his community involvement, recognizes employees and retirees who have made a significant contribution through their volunteer activities. It is part of the "Our hearts are with you" recognition program, which supports employee volunteer activities, rewards their efforts, and enhances the impact of their actions with financial contributions to the organizations that are near and dear to their hearts.

Every year, through its donations and sponsorships program and the initiatives of its employees, National Bank helps support hundreds of organizations across Canada. It focuses primarily on four main areas of activity-health, education, arts and culture, and community outreach-with the goal of generating positive benefits for communities.

To find out more about National Bank's involvement in the community, visit the Bank's social commitment portal at [ www.commitment.nationalbank.ca ], or consult its Social Responsibility Report at [ www.nbc.ca/socialresponsibility ].

About National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, 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. As at January 31, 2012, National Bank has over CDN$175 billion in assets in accordance with IFRS and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 19,785 people. The Bank's securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:NA). For more information, visit the Bank's website at [ www.nbc.ca ]. To access National Bank of Canada's financial literacy portal, visit [ www.clearfacts.ca ].

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

To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:

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Contributing Sources

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National Bank Presents the Andre-Berard Award to Gianni Crivello and Highlights the Volunteer Work of Four Other Employees

National Bank Presents the Andre-Berard Award to Gianni Crivello and Highlights the Volunteer Work of Four Other Employees