John Giard Named Senior Vice President at Banknorth

John R. Giard has been named a senior vice president in the Consumer Lending Department at Banknorth Group, Inc. in Portland. He will be responsible for consumer lending operations and portfolio management.

A resident of Auburn, Giard joined Banknorth in 1990 and has 14 years in banking. A Turner native, he is a 1989 graduate of Leavitt Area High School.

Banknorth Group (NYSE: BNK) is one of the country's 30 largest commercial banking companies with $29.3 billion in assets. Banknorth, N.A., a Banknorth Group subsidiary, is the parent company of Peoples Heritage Bank, with the leading market share in Maine, and other banking divisions in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and upstate New York. The company and its banking affiliates also operate subsidiaries in insurance (Banknorth Insurance Group), a money management firm (Banknorth Wealth Management Group), and a leasing company (Banknorth Leasing). Banknorth, N.A. also offers investment planning services through Bancnorth Investment Planning Group in association with PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. Other subsidiaries and divisions provide services in mortgage banking, asset-based lending, private banking, merchant services and other financial services. For more information about Banknorth, visit the company online at www.banknorth.com.

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