Bank of the West Inks Presenting Sponsorship of 2007 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final

When the highly-anticipated 2007 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final takes place in Portland next month, Bank of the West will have a very visible presence alongside its corporate parent. The Bank announced today that it is one of three exclusive local presenting sponsors of the international team tennis competition. The Davis Cup is considered the single-sport version of the Olympics that fosters national pride among countries as their fans witness world team tennis.

“We are so proud to partner with BNP Paribas, our parent company, and to be associated with such a prestigious, world-class event that will put Portland, Oregon on the map in the sporting world,” says Bill Williamson, Northwest Division Executive for Bank of the West. “We’re also pleased to join several other organizations to help bring this event to our region.”

For more than a decade, the Oregon Sports Authority has pursued getting the Davis Cup Final to Portland. The nonprofit agency which promotes sporting venues to stimulate the economy viewed the Final as an attractive opportunity for sponsors like Bank of the West, an Oregon Sports Authority member, to be associated with a world-class, family-friendly sporting event.

“This is the most coveted ticket in town,” said Drew Mahalic, CEO of the Oregon Sports Authority. “The 2007 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final is expected to generate $15 million in revenues to the Portland economy. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity, a legacy for everyone involved.”

The event will take place November 30 – December 2 at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland between USA and Russia, and is expected to draw a sell-out crowd at the 12,000 seat stadium. Pre-sale tickets sold out in just 11 minutes.

Founded in 1874, $58.4 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com) offers a full range of business, corporate, personal, trust and international banking services and currently operates more than 700 branch banking locations and commercial banking offices in 19 Western and Midwestern states.