Peoples Heritage Bank Encouraging Its Visa Cardholders to Donate Online to Toys for Tots

This holiday season, it will take about five minutes to make a child happy. Banknorth Group, Inc. and its affiliate banks throughout the Northeast are participating in the annual Toys for Tots campaign. But this year, bank customers can donate online at http://www.visa.com/toysfortots, using their Visa Checkcard.

"It's an easy way to make a difference in a child's life," said Susan Coward, senior vice president in electronic banking at the bank's parent company, Banknorth Group, Inc., headquartered in Portland, Maine. The bank is supporting the effort by sending out statement stuffers in December and displaying posters and handouts in its branches to encourage its Visa cardholders to donate to the well-known program.

The new, online Toys for Toys program is a joint effort organized by Toys R Us, Amazon.com and Visa, she said. Once a person logs in, they go to the Toys for Tots wish list, making it easier to choose a gift. And fast.

"The whole process takes only a few minutes, and it makes such a difference. So we're getting the word out to our customers who may want to give to a child but may not have the time to buy and drop off a toy as before. Now they can do it from their home or office computer," Coward added.

Banknorth Group banks have been involved in the program for years, but this is the first time the online option has been available.

Persons who wish to donate to a specific region can log on to the Toys for Tots website and choose a location.

Banknorth Group, Inc. is one of the country's 35 largest commercial banking companies with $21 billion in assets. Banknorth is the parent company of banking subsidiaries in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and upstate New York. The company and its banking affiliates also operate subsidiaries in insurance (Banknorth Insurance Group), investments (Bancnorth Investment Planning Group, Inc.), a money management firm (Banknorth Investment Management Group, N.A.), and a leasing company (Banknorth Leasing). 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 http://www.banknorth.com.
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