Anthony Kim Selects RBC as Official Banking Partner

U.S. Ryder Cup hero signs multi-year deal to represent RBC brand on PGA TOUR

Miami, FL — RBC today announced that Anthony Kim, two-time PGA TOUR winner and eleventh ranked golfer in the world, has selected RBC as his exclusive worldwide financial partner. The parties have reached a multi-year endorsement agreement.

RBC is the title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open, Canada’s national golf championship and the third oldest national championship in the world. RBC is the largest financial institution in Canada, the 4th largest in North America, and the 10th largest in the world. RBC has an extensive retail profile in banking, capital markets and wealth management in the U.S., Canada and 52 other countries.

For the term of the agreement, Kim will be a staple of RBC’s advertising and marketing efforts in the U.S., and carry an RBC branded Tour bag while playing the PGA TOUR.

“RBC is proud to be associated with Anthony Kim, a highly recognizable worldclass professional athlete who can help us grow our brand in the U.S.,” said Jim Little, RBC chief brand and communications officer. “Anthony’s image on the golf course as a professional, a creative shotmaker, and a winner will be accompanied by the RBC brand bag at PGA TOUR events and be seen by millions on network broadcasts and PGA TOUR event coverage.”

Kim noted several factors that led to the deal. “I realize how important finding the right fit is when it comes to a successful partnership,” Kim said. “Since I played the RBC Canadian Open last year, I’ve been impressed by RBC, its brand and its leadership team, especially as I got to understand more about the company’s reputation as one of the world’s most stable and strong financial institutions.”

“I’m looking forward to working with the RBC business leaders, meeting their clients, and contending at the RBC Canadian Open for many years to come,” Kim said.

“Anthony is a rising star on the PGA Tour who has continually demonstrated values that RBC holds dear,” Little said. “He is a champion. He is a Ryder Cup hero. He plays with determination and precision, is a driven competitor and an excellent ambassador for the game and, we feel, the future of the PGA TOUR. From customer hosting to branded experiences for golfers and golf fans in both Canada and the U.S., we look forward to building on our successes in golf with Anthony. “

RBC is one of only two global corporations that have branding in association with Anthony Kim on the PGA TOUR, the other being Nike.

From the moment RBC announced their title sponsorship of the RBC CanadianOpen in late 2007, RBC and the RCGA (Royal Canadian Golf Association) have been working tirelessly in strong partnership on a plan to make the RBC Canadian Open best in class. In 2008, the PGA TOUR recognized the RBC Canadian Open for having the most improved on-site presentation.

ABOUT RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. We are Canada’s largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization, one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies and among the largest banks in the world, as measured by market capitalization. We provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking and transaction processing services on a global basis. We employ more than 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 18 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 52 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

RBC AND THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN
In partnership with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA), RBC is the title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open, the third oldest national golf championship worldwide, next only to the British Open and the U.S. Open. With a history of great players and premier fields, the RBC Canadian Open provides golf fans with the opportunity to experience the excitement of a world class event on Canadian soil. RBC also sponsors all levels of amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport organizations and elite-level athletes.