U.S. Bancorp and BancWest Launch 'Community Service 2008' With Kickoff Event at Junior Achievement's BizTown in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The chief executive officers of U.S. Bancorp and BancWest Corporation joined more than 100 students to launch Community Service 2008 (CS08), the seventh annual celebration of the volunteer work the financial services industry does year round to improve the communities in which they work.

The bank executives and other financial services executives launched CS08 at Junior Achievement's BizTown inMaplewood, MN, a suburb ofMinneapolis-St. Paul, to highlight the fact that this year's 90-day program will focus on improving financial literacy by increasing the availability of financial education programs in communities across the country.

Community Service 2008, a project of The Financial Services Roundtable, unites Roundtable member companies' efforts to improve the communities in which they work, and strengthens partnerships with non-profit partners and public policymakers. Last year, the program involved more than 26,000 volunteers who helped more than 3,500 families with 450 activities and projects.

"We are well on our way to making 2008 the biggest year yet," said Steve Bartlett, president and CEO of The Financial Services Roundtable. "To date, we have commitments from 82 member companies; we're projecting that well over 26,000 volunteers will be participating in more than 1,000 community improvement projects nationwide. And with this year's events focusing on financial education, these volunteers will be spreading their knowledge to be used as a stepping stone in life."

Richard Davis, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Bancorp, and co-chairman of CS08, reiterated the importance of the financial education component of the program.

"Junior Achievement's BizTown is a microcosm of how the business world works," Davis said. "By interacting with each other and conducting business, the students actually enhance their financial literacy."

Don McGrath, chairman and chief executive officer of BancWest Corporation and co-chair of CS08, said "Community Service 2008 allows the financial service industry to showcase their commitment to public service. Each one of the more than 80 financial services companies participating in Community Service 2008 are competitors in the marketplace. But we are partners when it comes to improving our communities."

The National Sponsors of CS08 are: AEGON USA, Inc., The Allstate Corporation, American General Financial Services, AXA Equitable, Bank of America Corporation, BancWest Corporation, The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, Barclays Capital, Inc., Capital One Financial Corporation, Charles Schwab Corporation, Edward Jones, GMAC Financial Services, HSBC -North America, ING, MasterCard Worldwide, The NASDAQ OMG Group, Inc., Nationwide, The PMI Group, Inc., Principal Financial Group, Protective Life Corporation, Raymond James Financial, Inc., Regions Financial Corporation, State Farm Insurance Companies, Toyota Financial Services, UnionBanCal Corporation, Unum, U.S. Bancorp, Visa, Inc., Washington Mutual, Inc., and Wells Fargo & Company.

For examples of the projects Roundtable member companies will be engaged in, go to http://www.fsround.org/hyperlink/July1CompaniesMASTER.pdf

The Financial Services Roundtable represents 100 of the largest integrated financial services companies providing banking, insurance, and investment products and services to the American consumer. Member companies participate through the Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives nominated by the CEO.

Roundtable member companies provide fuel for America's economic engine, accounting directly for $66.1 trillion in managed assets, $1.1 trillion in revenue, and 2.5 million jobs.

SOURCE The Financial Services Roundtable

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Tags: Banking and Finance, Education and schools, National, minnesota

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