PNC Bank, a member of The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), announced today that it is donating more than $65,000 to area food banks in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. The donation follows a weeklong effort during which PNC agreed to contribute $25 to local food banks for every new checking account opened with direct deposit. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will receive $21,200 as a result of the campaign. This is in addition to the $5,000 previously donated to the food bank by PNC.

"PNC is delighted to reach out to area food banks and help families who are having trouble putting food on their tables," said Sy Holzer, president of PNC Bank, Pittsburgh. "We are gratified that so many individuals from this area joined us in this worthwhile cause and responded to the food banks at a time when they are in tremendous need."

PNC Bank held holiday open houses the first week in December during which area students and community groups entertained visitors. At the open houses, new checking account customers opting for direct deposit were offered $25 for themselves and $25 for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The $25 donations will be given to the food bank in the county where the new account was opened. As a result of this effort, PNC Bank saw three times the number of new customers opening checking accounts during the first week of December compared to the same week last year, which was also a record-breaking week.

"PNC Bank hosted the holiday open houses in response to Americans' need to reconnect with their neighbors in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks," said Holzer. "We are confident that the outpouring of spirit and generosity displayed by our employees and customers at the open houses has helped to rekindle the sense of community so many Americans are seeking."

Support for the food banks is another example of how PNC Bank has used its extensive branch network to respond to a critical need. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, PNC collected more than $600,000 from generous customers for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Customers either donated at PNC branches or contributed $5 when they obtained a PNC Bank USA Flag Check Card.

In addition, PNC's employees donated more than $340,000 to the United Way's September 11th Relief Fund. The PNC Foundation matched that donation with another $340,000, bringing the total of all donations from PNC, customers and employees to over $1.2 million.

PNC Bank's Regional Community Banking group provides credit, deposit, branch-based brokerage and electronic banking products and services to retail customers as well as to small businesses.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations, providing regional community banking, corporate banking, real estate finance, asset-based lending, wealth management, asset management and global fund services.

The PNC Financial Services Group

The PNC Financial Services Group

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