Service Fee Opinion Survey

Vancouver, BC -- An Ipsos-Reid survey conducted on behalf of Coast Capital Savings shows that Canadians 19-55 currently pay $21.50 per month, on average, in service fees on their main chequing account. A large minority (40%) feel that the fees charged on that account are unfair.

On average, chequing account holders pay $21.50 per month in service fees on their main chequing account.

Among 19-55 year old chequing account holders who are able to tell us how much they pay, most (58%) are paying in the range of $6 to $20, although a minority are at either end of the spectrum with 14% paying between $1 and $6 and 15% paying more than $20.

Chequing account holders 19-55 show dissatisfaction with service fees.

Four-in-ten 19-55 year old chequing account holders feel service fees charged on their chequing account are unfair (40%; 13% very unfair and 27% somewhat unfair).

• Men (47%) are statistically significantly more likely than women (32%) to think that their chequing account service fees are unfair.
• Credit Union members are statistically significantly less likely to feel the fees on their main chequing account are unfair (29%) compared to customers of banks (43%).

Methodology

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid telephone poll conducted November 18 th to 24 th, 2004 with a randomly selected sample of 800 Canadian residents between the ages of 19 and 55. The results are considered accurate to within 1773.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire Canadian population 19- 55 been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population 19- 55 according to the 2001 Census.

For more information, please contact:

Catherine Dawson
Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Corporation
604-257-3200
[email protected]

About Ipsos-Reid

Ipsos-Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader and the country's leading provider of public opinion research. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos-Reid employs more than 300 researcher professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in Canada, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and on- line panels. Ipsos-Reid's Canadian marketing research and public affairs practices are staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, offering the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada--including the Ipsos Trend Report, the leading source of public opinion in the country--all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Ipsos-Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, visit: www.ipsos.ca

About Ipsos

Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and reactions of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting and modeling and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2003, Ipsos generated global revenues of $644.2 million U.S.

To learn more, visit: www.ipsos.com

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