December 12, 2003 - Powerful New Caribbean Financial Entity Retains Plexus Printable Version Miami, Florida - Barclays Bank PLC ("Barclays") and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ("CIBC") have combined their Caribbean retail, corporate, and offshore banking operations to form FirstCaribbean International Bank ("FirstCaribbean"). FirstCaribbean has retained Plexus M/2 to create and implement online marketing strategies encompassing 15 countries throughout the region. With almost 250 years of combined experience in the Caribbean, Barclays and CIBC bring two solid, long-established banks together to form one of the largest capital bases in the entire region with 87 branches and 123 ATMs. Banking in the British Virgin Islands and Grenada will continue to operate under Barclays Bank PLC. "The Internet will play a vital role in successfully establishing the FirstCaribbean brand and in facilitating enhanced financial services to a customer base strewn throughout the Caribbean basin," stated Plexus M/2 CEO Hal Martell. "Our long relationship with Barclays has provided us with valuable regional insights and experience, and we look forward to applying these assets to accomplish the online marketing goals of FirstCaribbean International Bank," he concluded. About Barclays Bank PLC Barclays is one of the largest financial services groups in the UK with operations throughout the world. In the Caribbean, Barclays established a branch network in 1837. Barclays now has operations in 14 countries, across 25 islands and 45 outlets covering an area of 2,500 miles by 1,500 miles. The territories Barclays operates in are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Turks & Caicos Islands. For the year ended December 31, 2000, the profit before tax attributable to Barclays Caribbean operations was £74 million. Barclays Caribbean branch network employs approximately 1,500 staff serving 400,000 accounts: 345,000 onshore retail, 30,000 onshore corporate and 25,000 offshore customers. Corporate and personal banking services are offered in all 14 countries and offshore banking services are offered in five countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands. About CIBC CIBC is one of North America's leading financial institutions as measured by assets with more than eight million personal banking and business customers. CIBC was first established in the Caribbean in 1920 and now has operations in Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Turks & Caicos Islands. CIBC employs approximately 1,600 staff serving 350,000 retail and commercial clients at 42 branches and offices in the Caribbean. During the last few years, CIBC has reorganized all of its retail banking operations in the Caribbean under the umbrella of a holding company CIBC West Indies Holdings Limited. This company is listed on three regional stock exchanges: The Securities Exchange of Barbados, the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and The Jamaica Stock Exchange. In addition, two of its subsidiaries, CIBC Bahamas Limited and CIBC Jamaica Limited are also listed on their local stock exchanges. About Plexus M/2: An established marketing and technology services firm, Plexus M/2 assists organizations in building e-business models, brands, systems, and processes. Plexus leverages its experience in marketing and business strategy, database marketing, creative design, and Web-based technology development to address the business objectives, challenges, and opportunities of each of its clients. Plexus helps its clients realize new opportunities to create revenue, reduce the cost of sales, build customer relationships, and optimize revenue generation. A privately held company founded in 1998, Plexus M/2 is headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, please go to www.plexusm2.com or call (305) 377-2880. Return to News Releases