HSBC Bank Canada establishes two scholarships at Seneca

$200,000 endowment includes support for international students

Toronto, November 1, 2007 --- HSBC Bank Canada is making a global investment in the success of Canadian and international students at Seneca College.

HSBC has established a $200,000 endowment to provide two annual scholarships for students of Seneca’s Centre for Financial Services. Seneca and HSBC announced the scholarships at a recognition ceremony held earlier today at Seneca’s Markham Campus.

“Seneca is proud of the partnership that has been established with HSBC Bank Canada,” said Seneca President Dr. Rick Miner. “These scholarships will help our Canadian and international students reach their academic goals and become the future leaders of the financial services sector.”

The HSBC Bank Canada Business Studies Scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students enrolled in programs at Seneca’s Centre for Financial Services who have demonstrated high academic standing and financial need.

One half of the $200,000 endowment will be administered through scholarships to Canadian students and the other to international students.

“At HSBC Bank Canada we call ourselves “The world’s local bank”, and we try to live up to that statement every day in how we conduct our business and in how we support our communities,” said Richard McHowat, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Bank Canada. “We believe that students should focus on how to excel in their studies instead of how to finance them. And this is why we are pleased to be able to endow these scholarships for deserving Seneca College students who are interested in pursuing careers in international business.”

Seneca’s Centre for Financial Services is one of the College’s centres of Excellence. It offers Bachelors of Applied Business degree programs in Financial Services Management and Municipal and Corporate Administration; Graduate Certificate programs in Financial Services Compliance Administration and Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting; a Diploma program in Business Insurance; as well as numerous professional development programs.

More students choose Seneca than any other college in Canada. With eight campuses across the GTA, Seneca provides internationally and nationally recognized career education and training key to graduate success in the global economy. Every Seneca diploma, certificate and degree program is developed to a high academic standard, in consultation with industry, integrated with information technology, combined with technical and transferable skills, and reinforced by opportunities for ongoing education and re-training. www.senecac.on.ca

HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, has more than 170 offices and is the leading international bank in Canada. With around 10,000 offices in 83 countries and territories and assets of US$2,150 billion at 30 June 2007, the HSBC Group is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations.

For more information:
Seneca College Media Relations
416-491-5050, ext. 7017
mediarelease@senecac.on.ca