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(December 10, 2007) On Monday, Forrester Research revealed which bank website is the best. And the winner is CIBC.

Over the past two years, the research company has been evaluating the websites of Canada’s seven largest banks. This year, in a separate study, it also ranked the top five U.S. banks. CIBC’s client website has received the highest score on both studies.

“CIBC topped the year’s rankings by excelling in many of the key assessment areas, including website navigation and presentation, along with providing strong product content and tools,” wrote Forrester’s Brad Strothkamp in a report.

Christina Kramer, CIBC’s executive vice-president, says online banking has become integral to clients, hence the well-crafted site. She says the high marks reflect the bank’s “focus and investment in providing our clients the best online service by constantly listening to their recommendations as to how we can do better.”

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National Bank launches new Omega Funds

(December 10, 2007) National Bank Securities has unveiled its new offering of Omega Funds. These four funds — which draw on privileged partnerships to offer investors distinctive strategies at competitive fees — are the preferred equity fund, the high dividend fund, the consensus American equity fund and the consensus international equity fund.

ING Investment Management will manage the preferred equity and high dividend funds, while Validea Capital will handle the consensus American equity and consensus international equity funds.

The bank points out that the preferred equity fund is the only mutual fund in the country that invests entirely in preferred shares, while the high dividend fund aims to maximize long-term capital growth potential while generating high dividend income through its stock selection strategy.

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CIBC Mellon teams up with Morguard Financial

CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services revealed Monday that it has been appointed by Morguard Financial to provide fund administration, unitholder recordkeeping, global custody and foreign exchange services for the company’s new pooled funds.

Charles Dillingham, vice-president and portfolio manager at Morguard, says CIBC Mellon will “facilitate an efficient fund launch with minimum risk.”

CIBC explains that it will leverage its “broad product capability, strength in technology and industry expertise.”

(12/10/07)