FIRST NATIONS MAY SEEK ABORIGINAL AGENCY
By Adnews Staff
The First Nations Bank of Canada opened its head office and first branch in Saskatoon this week. The bank is a co-operative effort between the Toronto Dominion Bank, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, Inc. and the Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation. Currently, advertising for the bank is being created in-house. Media relations officer Cathy Bertini told Adnews the bank hasn't decided yet if it will hire an aboriginal agency or use one of TD's roster agencies. First Nations Bank offers mainly TD products and services, but it will offer products specifically geared to First Nations people in the future. TD agencies include TBWA Chiat/Day and LEL, both of Toronto. Eventually First Nations Bank wants to have branches across the country and hopes that the bank will be entirely Native-owned in 10 years.