U.S. Bank Enhances usbank.com to Make It Easy for Spanish-Speaking Individuals to Apply for Accounts Online

Business Wire, Dec 20, 2004

MINNEAPOLIS -- U.S. Bank has made it easier for Spanish speaking individuals to apply for checking or savings accounts online by making the applications available in Spanish at usbank.com/espanol. U.S. Bank is one of only a few major banks to offer the service.

Specifically, individuals may apply for U.S. Bank Free Checking with Interest, Interest Plus Checking, Elite Checking and Sponsorship Checking (accounts that are affiliated with professional sports teams that U.S. Bank sponsors). Applications for U.S. Bank Savings, Goal Savings and Money Market Savings accounts are also available in Spanish, as well as applications for a Certificate of Deposit (CD). Individuals who apply for an account at usbank.com/espanol will receive an instant decision on whether the application was approved.

The move is part of an on-going effort by U.S. Bank to make financial services easy and convenient for Hispanic individuals and businesses to access in person, by phone and on the Internet.

"The Internet is a popular tool by which bilingual or Spanish-speaking individuals research banks and obtain information on financial products. That's why it's important for us to make it easy for consumers to take action and apply right there on the Internet if they choose," said Steve SaLoutos, senior vice president of consumer products and services at U.S. Bank.

There is information in Spanish on a variety of products and services at usbank.com/espanol. The site also includes a branch locator feature where consumers can obtain the telephone number and driving directions to a local branch with Spanish speaking employees, where customers may apply in person or find information about other banking services in Spanish. Spanish-speaking representatives are also available by phone at 1-800-USBANKS.

The development of a Spanish-language account application on the Internet is the latest in a long line of services designed specifically for multicultural customers. U.S. Bank recently expanded its money transfer capabilities when it signed a partnership with MoneyGram to offer international money transfers from U.S. Bank branches.

Additionally, U.S. Bank and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce partnered to increase the availability of loans for small businesses through a program called Capital in which local chamber members can gain access to a variety of a financing solutions and the local chambers receive a referral fee for business they generate.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), with $193 billion in assets, is the 6th largest financial services holding company in the United States. The company operates 2,346 banking offices and 4,621 ATMs in 24 states, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp is home of the Five Star Service Guarantee in which the company pays customers if certain key banking benefits and services are not met. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of U.S. Bank. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at usbank.com.