• TchoTcho Mobile wins Consumer Service Innovation Award from Global Telecoms Business magazine

TORONTO, June 8, 2011 /CNW/ - Scotiabank and Digicel together have won the 2011 Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award for Consumer Service Innovation for TchoTcho Mobile. Global Telecoms Business magazine is part of the Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC group, a leading international business-to-business media group focused primarily on the international finance sector.

"Scotiabank is excited to be the recipient of this award and we're proud to partner with Digicel and YellowPepper to offer this innovative and affordable product to people in Haiti," said Luce Veilleux, Senior Vice-President, Retail Products, Scotiabank. "It's important to us to continue playing a positive role in Haiti's success by making financial services accessible, promoting financial inclusion and enabling businesses to grow and drive the successes of the Haitian economy just as we have since 1972."

Colm Delves, Group CEO of Digicel, said, "We believe TchoTcho Mobile will change the way people live and make transactions. With over 2.4 million subscribers and delivering 95 per cent population coverage and the largest retail network, Digicel is uniquely placed to deliver mobile money services successfully. We are delighted to receive this award and certain that TchoTcho Mobile will fast become an essential part of people's lives in Haiti."

The award was presented to Scotiabank and Digicel at the GTB Innovation Awards ceremony held last night in London, England. The awards are designed to celebrate collaboration between operators and vendors. The Consumer Service Innovation award recognizes the most innovative projects in the industry worldwide. The Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards were first presented in 2007. More information on the awards can be found at www.globaltelecomsbusiness.com.

Scotiabank has been committed to Haiti and its success for almost 40 years through our branch network. Prior to the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, only 10 per cent of Haiti's population used a commercial bank. TchoTcho Mobile has helped make banking easy, affordable and accessible to the 90 per cent of Haitians who are unbanked but use mobile devices.

The service, run by a network of more than 500 agents, allows customers to perform basic banking functions, such as withdrawals, deposits and domestic money transfer to another mobile user. For businesses doing their part to revitalize the country's economy, Tch Tcho Mobile has allowed them to manage their payroll by transferring money directly into employee accounts and accepting payment from customers for goods and services all through the mobile wallet.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank has been part of the Caribbean and Central America since 1889. It is now the leading bank in the region, with operations in 27 countries, including Haiti, Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The Bank has more than 15,237 employees in the region, including affiliates, service more than two million customers, with 465 branches, kiosks and other offices, plus 1,068 automated bank machines. Through the Bright Future program, Scotiabank focuses our charitable efforts on causes and activities that can enhance the well-being of children, particularly in the areas of education, health, wellness and the environment. For more information on our program, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com/brightfuture/index.html

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 $571 billion (as at April 30, 2011), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

About Digicel:

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP

After almost ten years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 11.5 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti and Papua New Guinea which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

In 2004, Digicel developed Digicel Rising Stars - an annual talent show to support aspiring young music artists in the Caribbean. The show has spanned the Eastern Caribbean, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago ranking as one of the top-rated shows.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com  for more information.