MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Sept. 18, 2012) - (TSX:NA) - National Bank, represented by its Structured Products Team, won Best Performance in Canada at the Structured Products Americas Awards 2012 held in Boston. The team also won in the sub-category Best Performance - Notes.

Organized by StructuredRetailProducts.com, this event recognizes excellence in the North American structured products industry. The winners were selected based on the measurable performance of their products using an extensive research database. Winning these prestigious awards acknowledges the creativity and integrity demonstrated by all the units involved in engineering and distributing structured products within National Bank.

"We are very proud to be recognized specifically for the performance of our products," said Benjamin West, Managing Director of the Financial Products Solutions Group, National Bank. "The structured products industry is a growing one and it is imperative that we continue to offer products that are both innovative and structurally sound. Winning this award proves that we are committed to our clients."

National Bank's ability to consistently engineer products that perform well in diverse market conditions and its ability to innovate in anticipation of changing client needs are the reasons for winning this award. National Bank's variable-return GICs and principal protected notes are frontrunners in the industry and are known for their unique features and innovative structures. The team's Bespoke Notes Program, used for issuing customizable non-principal protected notes structures, allows clients to realize specific investment views with rapid time to market.

About National Bank of Canada

With $180 billion in assets as at July 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 more than 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 ].

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