ADVISORY/U.S. Bank Opens City Heights Neighborhood Location; Invites Community to Grand Opening Celebration Jan. 11 and 12.

Business Editors, News & Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Jan. 11 & 12 (Friday & Saturday)

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10, 2002

The new U.S. Bank located at 3560 El Cajon Boulevard in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego is officially open and ready for business. Community leaders will join the bank to celebrate the opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 and neighborhood festival from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12.

Ribbon cutting ceremony - Friday, Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Jerry Grundhofer, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Bank parent company U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), will preside over the ribbon cutting ceremony. "We expect the year 2002 to be successful and prosperous not only for the bank but for the nation and in particular, the communities that we serve. I'm confident that the opening of this U.S. Bank location will be the first of many positive steps forward in the revitalization of the City Heights neighborhood."

Toni Atkins, city council member for San Diego's third district, will deliver a special proclamation in honor of the grand opening. "I applaud U.S. Bank for bringing a new financial institution into what for many years was a blighted area," Atkins said. "This is further proof that our revitalization efforts in Mid-City are working. I join with the community in welcoming U.S. Bank to City Heights."

Joining them will be Judie Verb, U.S. Bank region manager for Southern California and Nevada, Reggie White, manager of the City Heights branch, Steve Rice, market president for U.S. Bank in San Diego, as well as several members of the community, including those who serve on the bank's San Diego community board.

Ten local non-profit organizations that are supported by U.S. Bank and offer services in the San Diego community will also be recognized at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photographs taken by San Diego youth as part of the U.S. Bank Young Photographers program, sponsored by the City Heights CDC, will be on display in the branch lobby.

Neighborhood festival - Saturday, Jan. 12 from noon to 4:30 p.m.

City Heights residents and business owners are invited to meet the branch staff, eat and celebrate the grand opening at a festival at the new branch location. The Hoover High School Band and the Ballet Folklorico will entertain festival participants.

Festival participants will have the opportunity to win a number of prizes, including a big screen television, a $50 gift certificate to Pep Boys, a $100 gift certificate to Albertson's, and cash through an ATM cash grab.

Customers may also take advantage of special promotions offered in connection with the grand opening. Businesses that open a business checking account that day will receive six months of free checking or $75 off their first order of checks. Consumers who open a checking account with direct deposit will benefit from free checking and a $50 gift certificate.

Branch highlights

The branch staff will provide financial services to residents and businesses in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood. Branch associates will be able to communicate with customers in multiple languages including English, Spanish and Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines.

White, a resident of Spring Valley, Calif., was hired in August to oversee the start-up and manage the branch, develop new business and maintain good relations with the City Heights community. A graduate of Northern High School in Detroit, White holds a business degree from the Detroit College of Business. He is a member of the Urban Banker, El Cajon Boulevard B.I.A. and East County CDC, where he serves on the outreach committee. He has held a variety of positions throughout his banking career, and has held manager of the year honors twice.

The construction and placement of this branch in City Heights is part of U.S. Bank's on-going effort to place banking services where they are needed most. The bank most recently opened two new branches in undeserved areas of Los Angeles, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood and the Crenshaw District. The City Heights branch was built by Roel Construction, a San Diego-based company.

The branch opened its doors on Dec. 17 and has already welcomed a steady stream of new business. The new location extends U.S. Bank's presence in the San Diego to 28 branch offices, in addition to a U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray office, two private banking offices and the headquarters of U.S. Bank's SBA division.

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp, with assets in excess of $168 billion, is the 8th largest financial services holding company in the United States. The company operates 2,186 banking offices and 4,937 ATMs, 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 which assures customers of certain key banking benefits and services or customers will be paid for their inconvenience. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of Firstar Bank and U.S. Bank. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at usbank.com and Firstar Bank at firstar.com.