MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 23, 2008) – Employees of U.S. Bank PowerTrack continued their legacy of volunteerism during the holiday season by participating in a number of events that provided support to 56 families this year.

U.S. Bank provides charitable giving and thousands of employees donate time in an effort to improve the communities around them. PowerTrack, a business-to-business payment solutions group of U.S. Bank, sponsors families during the holiday season. The tradition started in 1997 and has grown every year. This year, PowerTrack’s 750 employees provided support to 56 families.

PowerTrack employees in several locations partnered with various agencies to reach out to the community.

• The Collierville, Tenn. office participated for the 11^th year in the Angel Tree program, donating gifts of a coat, gloves, pajamas, two outfits, shoes, and toys to 10 children. 
• The Naperville, Ill. office once again participated in the Naperville Township Adopt-A-Family program, sponsoring gifts for 11 families, including 28 children.
• Employees in Toronto, Canada raised money to feed approximately 10 families in need through local food shelves.
• Minneapolis employees teamed up with the Minnesota Military Family Assistance Center, part of the Minnesota National Guard Family Network through Catholic Charities to provide for 35 families. Eligible families had one or more family members who were actively deployed in one of the branches of the military and many have also been affected by injury or illness. The requests of the family were often simple and cover the most basic of needs, such as diapers and clothing. In addition to presents, PowerTrack gave each family a gift card to a local grocery store to assist with purchasing food.

Expressions of appreciation were heard in all locations. In Minneapolis, Command Sergeant Major Larry Helsene (retired) and staff picked up the gifts at PowerTrack’s office. “The donations provided by organizations such as U.S. Bank go a long way towards helping these families. Even after such a lengthy wartime period, it is heartening to know that U.S. Bank employees haven’t forgotten about the sacrifices these families have made,” said Command Sergeant Major Helsene.

“As a business and as individuals, we have a lot to be grateful for, and it is in that spirit that our PowerTrack family supports these programs. It’s touching and humbling to realize how little it takes to help people out,” said Richard Langer, general manager of U.S. Bank PowerTrack. “With our service men and women in particular, we know that not everyone has the chance to be with loved ones during this season, and we hope to make the holidays a bit brighter.”

U.S. Bancorp, with $247 billion in assets as of September 30, 2008, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial bank in the United States as of that date. The company operates 2,769 banking offices and 5,159 ATMs, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

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