Scotiabank(Banque Scotia) (TSX: BNSNYSE: BNS), the trademark name for The Bank of Nova Scotia, is one of Canada's Big Five banks. It is the second largest bank in Canada by assets (behind the Royal Bank of Canada), and the second largest by market capitalization (also behind Royal Bank of Canada). It is Canada's most international bank, having branches in more countries than the other major Canadian banks. Scotiabank ranks number 92 on the Forbes Global 2000 list.[2]
View of a Scotiabank facade in Amherst, Nova Scotia. This structure was erected in 1907.
Founded in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1832, under the name of the Bank of Nova Scotia, to facilitate the trans-Atlantic trade of the time.[3] The bank launched its branch banking system by opening in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The expansion was limited to the Maritime Provinces until 1882, when the bank moved west by opening a branch in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Manitoba branch later closed but the experience of doing business in a grain-town encouraged the Bank to expand into the American Midwest, including Minneapolis in 1885 and Chicago in 1892.[3]
Scotiabank also operates locations throughout Mexico, after the purchase of the Mexican bank Inverlat, and deals in all aspects of personal banking, business banking, and property and auto loans.
By 1900, The Bank of Nova Scotia had opened 38 branches across Canada, the United States and Jamaica. In Canada, the Bank was represented in all of the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. In 1892, the Bank of Nova Scotia became the first Canadian bank to establish in Newfoundland – 55 years before the dominion joined Confederation.
1885 - The bank opens its first branch outside Canada in Minneapolis.[3]
1889 - The bank opens a branch in Kingston, Jamaica, the first branch of a Canadian bank outside Canada, the US, or the UK. By 1931 it has 12 branches in Jamaica.[3]
1892 - The bank closes its branch in Minneapolis and transfers the business to the agency that it opens in Chicago, Illinois.
In its early expansion the bank clearly followed trade and its customers' business - such as the trade of sugar, rum, and fish in Jamaica[3] - rather than pursuing a strategy of expansion into international financial centres.
Domestic Banking is the commercial banking division, offering savings and loan services. It includes 1009 branches , 2,750 ABMs, and 3 call centres. It offers telephone, wireless and Internet banking. Their brokerage unit is called the Wealth Management Group.
Scotia Capital Inc. is the investment banking division, which helps large corporations, institutions, and governments obtain capital and credit. The Canadian investment banking division is known as ScotiaMcLeod (formerly known as McLeod, Young and Weir), and metals trading is done under the name of ScotiaMocatta. Scotia Waterous is the well-regarded M&A division that operates exclusively within the oil & gas industry.
International Banking is the merchant banking division, assisting its customers with international trade. Scotiabank's marketing material claims it is the leading provider of financial services in the Caribbean, and that it has the broadest Asian network of any Canadian bank.
e-Commerce/e-Banking at Scotiabank manages wire transfers and payments.
As of 2005, Scotiabank services over 12 million customers and has over 286 billion dollars in assets. The bank employs over 57,000 employees all over the globe including: Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Scotiabank is Canada's most international bank with over 2000 branches in 50 countries. As in the past, in 2006 some of the top management at Scotiabank announced a plan that it would once again play a part in general infrastructural development in the countries where it operates.[5]
Corporate sponsorship and branding
Sports
Scotiabank currently is the title sponsor for three running events that are part of the Canada Running Series: Scotiabank Montreal 21k & 5k (April), Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k Run/Walk (June) & Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5k (September). [6]
As of October 2007, Scotiabank became a sponsor of CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada, and the title sponsor of its pregame show, Scotiabank Hockey Tonight.[7]
Since 2005, Scotiabank has been the title sponsor of the CFL playoffs semi-final and conference final games, with games titled as the Scotiabank East Semi-Finals and Scotiabank West Semi-Finals.
Culture
In 2007, Scotiabank and Cineplex Entertainment partnered up to create a loyalty rewards program called SCENE. The program allows patrons to sign-up for a special card that grants them points which can be redeemed for free movies or concession discounts. Scotiabank customers can also request for a SCENE debit card which gives them points when used. A SCENE VISA card was also launched in early May. In addition, 5 Cineplex Entertainment locations were rebranded as "Scotiabank Theatres".[10]
For 2007 and 2008, Scotiabank has been the title sponsor of the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche event in Toronto. [1]
On November 6th, 2006, two homemade bombs were placed within Scotiabank branches in Mexico City. One exploded, resulting in no deaths, while a second bomb was de-activated. Authorities were previously alerted to the presence of the bombs. A coalition of five leftist guerilla groups which support (but do not lead) protests in Oaxaca claimed responsibility. [11]
In December, 2006 Scotiabank announced it successfully acquired majority control of the fourth largest Jamaica-based Securities dealer Dehring Bunting & Golding Ltd. (DB&G) ending weeks of speculation about the bid on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The deal is expected to cost the Bank of Nova Scotia and it's Jamaican subsidiary between C$80 - $90 Million dollars to close the deal. [12][13][14][15]
On August 31, 2007 Scotiabank announced it has signed agreements to purchase 79 per cent of Banco del Desarrollo, Chile's seventh largest bank for US$810 million. These agreements are the first stage in a plan to purchase up to 100 per cent of Banco del Desarrollo. Scotiabank will be making a public share offering on the same terms and expects to acquire up to 100 per cent of Banco del Desarrollo, which would be valued at US$1.03 billion.
In July 2008, E*TRADE sold its Canadian division to Scotiabank for CAN$444 million, as part of a program of selling off non-core assets.[16][17]
Stephen D. McDonald, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, Scotia Capital and Head, Global Corporate and Investment Banking.
Kim B. McKenzie, Executive Vice-President, Information Technology and Solutions.
Robert H. Pitfield, Executive Vice-President International Banking.
Brian J. Porter, Executive Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer.
Luc A. Vanneste, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.
Anatol von Hahn, Executive Vice-President, Latin America.
Unionization
Scotiabank has unionized relationships with employees in a number of locations around the world. [21] In Canada, the sole unionized workplace is the domestic banking branch in Deep River, Ontario. In 2005 the bank successfully defended an attempt by workers in its collection centre to join a trade union.