Guests can enter to win a Wii prizepack or a $1,000 GIC; donation to Mill
    Woods Family Resource Centre to mark occasion

EDMONTON, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - This Sunday, October 18, Canadian football legend Henry 'Gizmo' Williams will help CIBC celebrate the grand opening of its new 6,100 square-foot Whitemud and 17th Street Banking Centre. The new branch is CIBC's second location in the Edmonton area to offer clients the convenience of seven-day banking and also offers service in English, Hindi, Kunkani and Urdu.

Williams will be on-site to meet fans and sign photos from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can enter to win a Wii prizepack including a console, accessories and games or a $1,000 GIC. There will also be pizza, snacks and refreshments and a variety of fun activities for families, including a caricaturist and a face painter.

"Our clients tell us how much they enjoy the convenience of being able to bank and get professional financial advice any day of the week," said Wendy Slavin, CIBC's Senior Vice-President of Retail Markets for Western Canada. "That's why we're so thrilled to offer even greater flexibility and choice for our clients with this additional seven-day banking centre in Edmonton."

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.
    Sunday:                noon - 4 p.m.

To mark the occasion, CIBC is making a $5,000 donation to the Mill Woods Family Resource Centre in support of the organization's youth programs that help those 15 to 18 learn skills that will improve their success in school and everyday life. CIBC's funding will be directed to the "Count to Ten for Teens," an eight week course designed to encourage youth to deal more effectively with their anger and learn more creative ways to express themselves appropriately.

"The Mill Woods Family Resource Centre is delighted to be the recipient of this generous donation. These funds will enable us to offer more anger management programming for youth," said Shari-Lynne Gidyk, Executive Director. "I would like to give a big 'Thank-you' to CIBC for this exceptional gift."

The 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.

With 1065 branches, CIBC has one of the largest branch networks in Canada. The Whitemud location is one of five locations CIBC has opened or expanded in the Edmonton area as 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.