National Bank Financial Group Donates $50,000 to La Tablee des chefs

MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(EMWNews – Aug. 25, 2008) – National Bank Financial Group (TSX:NA) is pleased to donate $50,000 to La Tablee des chefs, a non-profit organization that brings together professional cooks and pastry chefs throughout Quebec to distribute their surplus food to individuals in need.

La Tablee des Chefs involves more than 400 culinary arts students from more than 14 schools across the province in an annual project in which they work together to prepare more than 60,000 meals for less fortunate communities throughout Quebec. Students prepare and distribute surplus food from major events to people in need, adapt or prepare meals for food banks around the province and teach cooking skills to less fortunate individuals.

National Bank Financial Group is particularly involved in the Ateliers du Frere Toc, one of the organization’s projects that aims to teach underprivileged teenagers to cook for themselves using a variety of techniques and ingredients so that they can then pass on their culinary knowledge to their families. The workshops are offered as an extra-curricular activity at a number of high schools in the Montreal and Quebec City areas.

In 2007, through corporate donations, sponsorships, in-branch fundraising activities and various benefit events, National Bank Financial Group gave more than $20 million to hundreds of Canadian education, health care, cultural and community organizations.

More information on the many causes and projects the Financial Group supports as part of its commitment to the communities it serves can be found in the Bank’s Social Responsibility Report on its website at www.nbc.ca.

A photo is available and can be obtained by contacting Valerie Lamarre, Public Relations Department, National Bank Financial Group, at 514-394-5000, ext. 2393.

Caption

Jean-Francois Archambault, Founder and Executive Director , La Tablee des Chefs

Genevieve Trottier, Senior Manager, Branding and corporate events

About National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada is an integrated group which provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. National Bank has more than $123 billion in assets and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 17,093 people. The Bank’s securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:NA). For more information, visit the Bank’s website at www.nbc.ca.

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