Kids can meet *Kai-Lan™ and guests can enter to win great prizes like a $1,000 GIC; $2,000 donation to Kerry's Place Autism Services to mark the occasion

AURORA, ON, April 30 /CNW/ - This Saturday, May 1st, CIBC will celebrate the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art, 6,300 square-foot banking centre in Aurora. Open six days a week, the new branch is located at Bayview Avenue and Wellington Street East and offers clients service in English, Cantonese, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. To mark the occasion, CIBC will present a $2,000 donation to Kerry's Place Autism Services.

Kids can meet *Kai-Lan™ who will be on-site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Guests at the event can enter to win great prizes like a Blue Ember Grill or a $1,000 GIC and enjoy entertainment including traditional lion and dragon dances and family fun including a face painter, caricaturist and barbecue.

"We're happy to celebrate our investment in Aurora with so many of our clients and members of the community," said Larry Tomei, CIBC's Senior Vice-President of Retail Markets for Central Canada. "Our busy Aurora clients can conveniently bank and get trusted financial advice in a variety of languages six days a week at this new location, providing them with added flexibility and access."

The hours of operation are:

           Monday - Wednesday:     9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
           Thursday - Friday:      9:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
           Saturday:               9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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 and grab bars for mobility assistance.

To further mark the occasion, CIBC will present a $2,000 donation to Kerry's Place Autism Services, an organization dedicated to assisting families and persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

"Kerry's Place Autism Services is truly grateful for the donation from CIBC. Many families we support face both income and integration barriers that make it difficult to access community programs and services that they require," said Brenda Scott, Regional Executive Director, Kerry's Place Autism Services. "With the help from generous donors like CIBC, we can assist families and persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder to overcome such obstacles, and to be able to participate within their local communities in such activities such as integrated day camps and employment opportunities."

With 1076 branches, CIBC has one of the largest branch networks in Canada. CIBC clients also benefit from access to more than 3,800 automated bank machines, and 24/7 service by phone, online and through mobile banking.

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.

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*Costumed character ©2010 Viacom