Bank of the West contributes to Oregon Sports Authority

Bank of the West said today it is contributing $12,000 for the second year in a row to the Oregon Sports Authority to support a program that makes it possible for deserving children to attend Portland Winter Hawks hockey games.

“The Oregon Sports Authority is a huge asset to our community, and its Reward Youth Ticket Exchange is a wonderful way to provide access to professional sporting events for kids who otherwise would not have such an opportunity,” said Bill Williamson, Bank of the West Executive Vice President and head of its Northwest Division, headquartered in Portland.

Through the Exchange season ticket holders donate tickets to games they will not attend and those tickets are distributed to deserving children. Since starting the program in 1996, the Oregon Sports Authority Foundation has enabled more than 10,000 youths to attend Trail Blazers basketball games. Through a $12,000 contribution by Bank of the West in 2007, the foundation expanded the program to include Winter Hawks’ tickets.

“Bank of the West has been a leader in contributing to the Oregon Sports Authority. Its support helped bring the Davis Cup World Final to Portland in 2007 and its continuing support of our Reward Youth Ticket Exchange will make it possible again this year for more than 400 local youths to enjoy Winter Hawks games,” said Drew Mahalic, Chief Executive Officer of the Oregon Sports Authority, a non-profit organization promoting economic growth through sports.

About Bank of the West:
Founded in 1874 and headquartered in San Francisco, $62 billion-asset Bank of the West is the second-largest commercial bank based in California. Bank of the West offers a full range of business, trust, international and personal banking services. The bank currently operates more than 700 commercial and retail banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. In 2008, Bank of the West was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Retail Banks in the West” by J.D. Power and Associates. Bank of the West’s holding company, BancWest Corporation, is owned by BNP Paribas, a leading global financial services institution ranked by Standard & Poor’s as one of the world’s four strongest banks. More information is available at www.bankofthewest.com.