National Bank of Canada joins the EXCHANGE ATM Network

National Bank of Canada and Ficanex Services Limited Partnership, exclusive licensor of the EXCHANGE ATM Network, today announced they have signed an agreement. The agreement will add 529 EXCHANGE's ATMs to National Bank's 825 existing ATM network, for a total of 1,354 ATMs across Canada THE EXCHANGE ATMs are primarily located in Ontario and Western Canada. THE EXCHANGE and related trademarks are under license by Ficanex from EDS/TransAlliance, LP.

As early as the fall of 2001, the EXCHANGE ATM Network will allow National Bank clients to make deposits, withdrawals, balance inquiries, and transfers as if they were using National Bank machines. the EXCHANGE Network ATMs are identified with a distinct identifiable logo.

This new partnership makes the EXCHANGE Network the largest inter-institutional ATM network in Canada that offers deposit, withdrawal, transfer and balance inquiry services.

National Bank joins 60 BC credit unions, along with HSBC Bank Canada, Canadian Western Bank and Citizens Bank of Canada, which all use The Exchange Network.

"The agreement will benefit National Bank's existing client base in Ontario and Western Canada and will facilitate distribution with partnerships outside Quebec," says Carlos Martinez, Manager, Self Service Products/Cards Services at National Bank of Canada.

It will also give National Bank customers the ability to make withdrawals at 10,000 EXCHANGE ATMs in the continental U.S.

"This is a significant advancement for us because it allows us to substantially increase our network and expand our business east. It's also great news for the organizations in our network as it gives their members and customers access to more than twice as many ATMs with deposit-taking functions - a capability that few other ATM networks offer," says Ficanex President, Jeremy Trigg.

National Bank of Canada is an integrated group with a mission to provide comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to customers elsewhere in the world. It has assets of more than $76 billion and, together with subsidiaries, 16,700 employees. The bank's shares are listed in the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Ficanex is a limited partnership of member financial institutions using the Canadian EXCHANGE ATM Network in Canada. It acquired the exclusive rights to The EXCHANGE Network trademark in Canada last December with the specific goal of growing the network.