Scotiabank Recognized as a Best Workplace in Canada for Second Year, Wins Pride Category

HALIFAX, April 12 /CNW/ - Celebrating its second year of recognition, Scotiabank has again been named as one of the top 100 best places to work in Canada by the Great Place to Work® Institute.  While Scotiabank achieved high marks in all elements of the Institute's Work Trust Index, it earned top marks in the study's Pride category. In particular, employee pride in the Bank's support of communities stood out. Ninety-eight per cent of Scotiabank's employees in Nova Scotia and 94 per cent in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador respectively stated they felt good about the ways the bank contributed to their community. Across Canada Scotiabank achieved a 91 per cent community pride rating from its employees as compared to a benchmark rating of 84 per cent for other best large workplaces participating in the survey.

"We are very pleased that our employees have graded us so highly. We strive to provide a great employee experience at Scotiabank and we truly value the contributions made by our talented workforce," said Peter Bessey, Scotiabank Senior Vice President, Atlantic Canada. "Their own dedication to giving back is made clear through their pride in Scotiabank's contribution to communities in the Atlantic Region. Serving the communities in which we live and work has always been a vital part of who we are."

Selection for the Best Workplace list is based primarily on responses to a proprietary Institute employee survey about the level of trust and quality of relationships in the respective organization. In addition to the Pride dimension, the other categories of the Institute's Work Trust Index include: Credibility; Respect; Fairness; and Camaraderie.

"We are very proud of Scotiabank and its employees' long standing commitment to community service, which is an important part of the way we do business," said Sylvia Chrominska, Group Head, Global Human Resources and Communications, Scotiabank. "Our recent launch of the global 'Bright Future' program - uniting the Bank's charitable, social, community and employee volunteer activities - expands further our commitment to communities around the world where our 70,000 employees live and work."

In 2010, Scotiabank employees invested more than 324,000 hours volunteering and fundraising in their communities. By applying through the Bank's formal community programs they generated C$7.5 million in additional funding for the organizations they supported.

Each year, the Great Place to Work® Institute produces its Best Workplace rankings in 40 countries around the world. In recent years Scotiabank has also received the Best Workplace designation in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America (including Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Costa Rica) and Peru.

Scotiabank Employee Pride in Community Involvement

Note: Great Place to Work® Benchmark for Best Large Workplaces 2011 - 84%

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, 'Bright Future'.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $44 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $541 billion (as at January 31, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com