Guests can enter to win a 42" Samsung plasma TV or $1,000 GIC; $5,000
    donation to be made to Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs

WESTBANK, BC, Sept. 25 /CNW/ - Tomorrow, Canadian hockey hero Trevor Linden will help celebrate the grand opening of CIBC's new 6,700 square-foot, full-service branch in Westbank. Located at the northeast corner of Highway 97 and Elk Road, this larger, state-of-the-art branch replaces CIBC's Main Street location and offers extended evening hours as well as service in English, French and German.

Linden will be on-site at the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to greet fans and sign autographs. Guests can enter to win a $1,000 GIC or a 42" Samsung plasma TV. There will also be a live band, barbecue, refreshments and a variety of fun activities for families including a bouncy castle and a climbing wall.

"We're excited to celebrate the opening of this larger, state-of-the-art, full-service banking facility where our clients can access our full range of products and advisory solutions six days a week," said Wendy Slavin, CIBC's Senior Vice-President of Retail Markets for Western Canada. "Our longer branch hours will help accommodate our busy Westbank clients."

The hours of operation are:

        Monday - Wednesday:     9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
        Thursday - Friday:      9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
        Saturday:               9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

To further mark the occasion CIBC will present a $5,000 donation to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, which have been helping young people discover, develop and achieve their potential since 1959. Working locally to establish a continuum of services that address the needs of children, youth and families within each unique community, more than 1,000 children and youth participate in a Boys and Girls Clubs program throughout the Okanagan Valley each day.

"CIBC's generous donation to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs will help us continue to offer low-cost drop-in recreation programs to West Kelowna families," said Craig Monley, CEO of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs. "With CIBC's support, families will have access to affordable and flexible opportunities to be involved in sports, creative arts and literacy as well as learn about nutrition and making healthy choices. Thanks to companies like CIBC, we are able to continue to have an open door policy at our Clubs and never turn anyone away because of an inability to pay."

The new branch is fully accessible, including three Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) installed at wheelchair accessible height with headphone jacks for audio access; grab bars for mobility assistance; and brighter lighting, plus a 24-hour drive-thru ABM for added convenience.

With 1,063 branches, CIBC has one of the largest branch networks in Canada. These new branches are part of CIBC's five-year strategic plan to build, relocate and expand over 70 new branches across Canada to offer greater flexibility, access and choice to clients.

In addition to CIBC's convenient longer hours, including evenings and Saturdays at many of its branches, CIBC clients also benefit from access to over 3,800 automated bank machines, and 24/7 service over the phone and on Canada's leading online banking site, www.cibc.com.

CIBC (CM: TSX;NYSE) is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada, in the United States and around the world. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Press Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.