Citizens Bank launches website to support amateur hockey

September 30, 2008, Vancouver—Citizens Bank of Canada launched HockeyStars.com recently, a website devoted to the amateur hockey community. It’s free to join and it has tools to help coaches and managers run their teams online. Players can post profiles and connect with their teammates and the rest of the hockey community.

“It’s no different really than the early history of our parent company Vancity, which decades ago opened branches to serve specific small communities,” said Citizens Bank President and CEO Jason Farris. “We’re dedicating HockeyStars to the real stars of amateur hockey who give of their time to pursue a passion and a sport that is a big part of Canadian culture.”

Managers and coaches can:

  1. Post messages to the team.

  2. View schedules for games and practices.
  3. Keep track of statistics.
  4. Upload team photos and videos.
  5. Track payments.

Players can:

  1. Play online hockey games.
  2. Access game schedules.
  3. Post hockey videos and photos.
  4. Earn HockeyStars points for online activities.
  5. Open a Global Chequing Account - a no-fee chequing account with no Citizens Bank ATM fees worldwide and no monthly fees.
  6. Combine that with an Ultimate Savings Account, that has a higher interest rate, to reward young savers.

“Some people have asked us, ‘what does hockey have to do with banking?’ Well, this is about brand awareness. We’re a relatively young bank, we want people to get to know us, and if they like what they see, we hope they’ll join us,” Farris said.

About Citizens Bank of Canada
Citizens Bank was formed by Vancity in 1997 as a branchless, national bank that would take the largest credit union in Canada beyond the borders of B.C. We were the first and we’re still the only bank with a clear ethical policy. In April 2008, we became the first North American-based bank to be carbon neutral, which means that the CO2 emissions we create are now equal to the emissions we have reduced or offset elsewhere. We achieved this goal through a rigorous emissions reduction program focusing on energy use, staff travel, paper consumption and waste. Corporate social responsibility is more than a catch-phrase, it’s part of our DNA. We’re available 24/7 on the Internet, or on the phone through our National Contact Centre, where we offer a range of financial products and services.

For more information call or email:
Rosetta Cannata, Communications Consultant, Citizens Bank
Tel: (604) 877-7561 email: rosetta_cannata@citizensbank.ca
www.CitizensBank.ca