The Montreal City and District Savings Bank (which was eventually to become Laurentian Bank of Canada) is founded on May 26, 1846 by Monsignor Ignace Bourget, second Bishop of Montreal, and by a group of 15 prominent Montrealers from many linguistic and denominational communities. Some 60 distinguished citizens join the founders as Honorary Directors, including Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, Louis-Joseph Papineau and Georges-Étienne Cartier. Laurentian Bank is a pan-Canadian financial institution recognized for its service excellence, simplicity and commitment to maintaining proximity to its clientele. In addition to occupying a privileged position among Québec consumers, the Bank has earned a solid reputation elsewhere in Canada as a leading player in select markets. Laurentian Bank clearly stands apart from other banking institutions, having distinguished itself for the respect and attentiveness it consistently shows towards its clients. In fact, the Bank has always stayed true to the approach it adopted when it was founded more than 168 years ago — constantly remaining close to people. For individuals, being a client of Laurentian Bank means having access to top-quality services tailored to their specific needs and aspirations. The Bank’s Financial Services Boutiques, for example, serve as an expression of its innovative spirit and of its dedication to continuously enhancing the client experience. Laurentian Bank also serves as a unique source of solutions for businesses — particularly SMEs, for which it has a strong affinity. The Bank especially stands apart for its personalized service, its line of competitive products, and for its effective support. At the same time, it constantly adapts to the realities of its commercial clients, while maintaining the proximity that is its hallmark. Laurentian Bank is a major player in the area of real estate and commercial financing. The institution has specialized teams in place to cater to this sector at more than 35 offices located in Québec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. For its part, Laurentian Bank’s B2B Bank subsidiary is a leader in the provision of banking products to brokers and financial advisors across Canada. In fact, B2B has been proudly devoted to effectively meeting the needs of this specific clientele for over a decade. Finally, the Bank provides investors with a range of integrated brokerage services through its Laurentian Bank Securities subsidiary, whose effectiveness and expertise are recognized across Canada.