Guests can enter to win a stainless steel barbecue package or a $1,000
    GIC; $15,000 donation to the Montrose Cultural Centre to mark occasion

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - Tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, CIBC will celebrate the grand opening of its new six-day, 7,300 square-foot CIBC Westpoint Banking Centre. The new state-of-the-art branch is located at the southwest corner of Highway 43 and 116th Street in the Centre West Business Park.

Guests at the event can enter to win great prizes like a Centro 3900S Stainless Steel barbecue package complete with a metal gazebo or a $1,000 GIC. There will be a variety of live entertainment including a DJ and magician as well as face painting, a bouncy castle and popcorn and cotton candy for kids.

"We're proud to celebrate the grand opening of our new Westpoint branch with the community. By expanding in Grande Prairie we're able to offer our clients even more of the flexibility, access and choice they've come to expect from CIBC," said Wendy Slavin, CIBC's Senior Vice-President of Retail Markets for Western Canada. "We know our busy Peace Country clients will appreciate the convenience of six-day banking at this new branch."

The branch offers extended hours that include evenings and Saturdays, as well as service in English and French. Hours of operation are:

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

To mark the occasion, CIBC is making a $15,000 donation to the Grande Prairie Public Library, part of the new Montrose Cultural Centre. Funds will be used to add to the children's book section and the audio book collection.

"The Grande Prairie Public Library is delighted to be the recipient of this generous donation. These funds will enable us to better respond to the needs of a rapidly growing community of young families," said Laurie Harrison, Director, Grande Prairie Public Library. "These funds will allow us to provide a broader range of books and materials using current technologies commonplace to young people. Things like CDs, DVDs and e-books are in demand. I would like to give a big 'thank-you' to CIBC for this exceptional gift."

The new branch is barrier free with accessibility features such as a sit down teller station and three Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) installed at wheelchair accessible height with headphone jacks for audio access; grab bars for mobility assistance; and brighter lighting. The branch also offers a drive-thru ABM for added convenience.

With 1065 branches, CIBC has one of the largest branch networks in Canada. The new Grande Prairie location is part of a five-year strategic plan to build, relocate and expand over 70 new branches across Canada to offer clients greater flexibility, access and choice.

CIBC clients also benefit from access to more than 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, and has offices 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.