N🟁N

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - April 1, 2011) -

Note to editors: There is a photo associated with this press release on Marketwire's website.

National Bank Financial Group (TSX:NA) is pleased to support the Fondation Martin-Matte in its first major financing campaign with a donation of $50,000 over five years. The funds raised will enable the Fondation to carry out its ambitious project of opening special care facilities geared to the needs of victims of head injuries in the regions of Laval, the Laurentians, Quebec City, the Eastern Townships, Mauricie and Central Quebec, as well as set up programs to assist them.

Thousands of people suffer from head injuries each year in Quebec alone, and this carries heavy consequences for victims, their families, and all of society. There is an urgent need for resources adapted to dealing with head injuries. "National Bank Financial Group is very proud to be associated with the Fondation Martin-Matte and salutes the efforts of the Matte family coping with this reality and, in particular, Martin's determination to make a change," stated Jacques Marchand, Senior Manager – Corporate Financing Group.

While National Bank Financial Group devotes substantial resources to the improvement of care, its donations and sponsorships program emphasizes prevention and research. In this way, it wishes to maximize leverage, act upstream of the traditional intervention process and contribute directly to better educating the public about various physical and mental health problems. The Financial Group's donation to the Fondation Martin-Matte, together with a previous contribution, will be put toward research and preventing head injuries.

Every year, National Bank Financial Group invests millions of dollars, i.e., over 30% of its donations budget, in various health initiatives. More information on the many causes and projects the Financial Group supports as part of its commitment to the communities it serves can be found in our social responsibility report at [ www.nbc.ca/socialresponsibility ].

For more information about the Fondation Martin-Matte, visit [ www.fondationmartinmatte.com ].

About National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada is an integrated group that provides comprehensive financial services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations in its core market, while offering specialized services to its clients elsewhere in the world. National Bank offers a full array of banking services, including retail, corporate and investment banking. It is an active player on international capital markets and, through its subsidiaries, is involved in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. National Bank has over $152 billion in assets and, together with its subsidiaries, employs 18,407 people. The Bank's securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:NA). For more information, visit the Bank's website at [ www.nbc.ca ]. To access National Bank Financial Group's financial education portal, visit [ www.clearfacts.ca ].

The telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives.

To view the photo associated with this release, please visit the following link: [ http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/banque_nationale_0401_big.jpg ]