Half of B.C. residents are busier now than they were five years ago ─ 64% find it hard to get errands done during the week

VANCOUVER, Feb. 7 /CNW/ - Pick up the groceries. Shop for appliances.  Renew your mortgage.  Sundays have changed. 

Responding to its customers' evolving needs, TD Canada Trust is changing the landscape of retail banking by opening 65 of its branches in B.C. on Sundays, starting February 13, 2011. Sunday banking is the latest initiative in the bank's long history of being at the forefront of customer service, with the first full-service ATM, Saturday banking and now Sunday banking.

"We're proud to be the only bank in Canada open on Sunday in hundreds of locations. It's important to us to offer the most convenience and the best service to customers," said Kerry Peacock, Executive Vice President, Branch Banking, TD Canada Trust. "For years we've been open 50% longer than our competitors. It's been great for our customers, who love the option of banking when it's convenient for them, which is why we're moving to Sunday hours as well. Being open Sundays is about working around people's lives."

TD Canada Trust research shows that 64% of British Columbians find it hard to get errands done Monday to Friday. Four-in-ten (41%) run errands on weekends, so providing banking services to customers when it suits them is essential. Additionally, 46% of British Columbians say they are busier than they were five years ago; 16% are juggling more work and 45% are juggling more family responsibilities.

"We talk to our customers every day and see first hand how busy their lives are," she added. "We hope that opening hundreds of our branches on Sundays will give them a little more breathing room."

"Although online and mobile banking are on the rise, British Columbians still need and want face-to-face advice and support in their day-to-day banking," said Raymond Chun, Senior Vice President, Pacific Region, TD Canada Trust. "They want a relationship with their bank that helps them understand how to manage their money and their credit, how to run their business, how to buy a home, and how to plan for the future. We're very pleased to be able to offer that to our B.C. customers seven days a week."

The top five banking-related activities that British Columbians would prefer to do in a branch instead of online or by phone are:

1. Getting financial advice
2. Signing a mortgage
3. Setting up a loan
4. Renewing a mortgage
5. Buying investment products

All these services will be available to TD Canada Trust customers on Sundays.

TD Canada Trust will open 65 branches on Sundays in the following B.C. cities:

ABBOTSFORD

BURNABY

COQUITLAM

DELTA

KAMLOOPS

KELOWNA

LANGLEY

MAPLE RIDGE

MISSION

NANAIMO

NEW WESTMINSTER

NORTH VANCOUVER

PENTICTON

PORT COQUITLAM

PRINCE GEORGE

RICHMOND

SAANICH

SARDIS

SURREY

VANCOUVER

VERNON

VICTORIA

WEST VANCOUVER

WHISTLER

WHITE ROCK

To find the location closest to you, please consult the branch locator: www.tdcanadatrust.com/locator

Click here to watch a video about seven day banking.

About the TD Canada Trust Sunday Banking Research

From January 25 to 26, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,013 randomly selected Canadian adults, including 130 British Columbians, who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada.

About TD Canada Trust

TD Canada Trust offers personal and business banking to more than 11.5 million customers. We provide a wide range of products and services from chequing and savings accounts, to credit cards, mortgages and business banking, to credit protection and travel medical insurance, as well as advice on managing everyday finances. TD Canada Trust makes banking comfortable with award-winning service and convenience through 24/7 mobile, internet, telephone and ATM banking, as well as in over 1,100 branches - most open 8 'til late and many now open Sunday. For more information, please visit: www.tdcanadatrust.com. TD Canada Trust is the Canadian retail bank of TD Bank Group, the sixth largest bank in North America.