Capital One Financial Corporation Named a 2012 Finalist for U.S. Chamber 'Citizens' Awards

(3BL Media) McLean, VA - September 21, 2012 -The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center named Capital One Financial Corporation a finalist in the 2012 Corporate Citizenship Awards, in the category of Best Corporate Steward. The Corporate Steward category is dedicated to companies whose overall values, operational practices, and stakeholder strategies exemplify “shared value.”

Through an integrated corporate stewardship program called “Investing for Good,” Capital One creates lasting community impact and valuable business results through the delivery of high quality banking services, philanthropic support and pro bono volunteering. Capital One focuses its community investments in four areas that are key building blocks of economic opportunity: Affordable housing, Education, Economic Development, and Financial Literacy.  In 2011, Capital One associates volunteered more than 192,000 hours through the bank’s Investing for Good volunteer programs.

 “Capital One is honored to be named a finalist for the U.S. Chamber’s 2012 Best Corporate Steward award,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, president, Capital One Foundation, and managing vice president, Community Affairs, Capital One Financial Corporation.  “At Capital One, we are committed to making a positive economic impact in the many communities we call home. This award is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and talent of the thousands of Capital One volunteers and nonprofit partners who serve our communities every day through Capital One’s Investing for Good programs.”

The 2012 Citizens Awards encompass four categories – Best Corporate Steward, Best Business Neighbor, Best International Ambassador, and Best Partnership. The Corporate Steward category was launched in 2003 with the involvement of Donald L. Evans, 34th U.S. Secretary of Commerce; author and scholar Michael Novak, American Enterprise Institute; and Professor Michael Porter, Harvard Business School.

For the Corporate Steward category, a panel of preeminent experts in corporate citizenship and business performance, including Ethisphere and Boston College Carroll School of Management, will select the winner.

 “Corporations are made up of people, and the best companies in the U.S. are improving people’s lives in many different ways,” said U.S. Chamber BCLC Founder and Executive Director Stephen Jordan. “This year’s Citizens Awards finalists provide hope and inspiration for the future, and we congratulate them for their initiative and success.”

The winners of the 2012 Citizens Awards will be announced on December 6 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.  Learn more about the 10-year legacy of the Best Corporate Steward Award, the overall awards program, and Capital One’s story on BCLC’s website.

# # #

About the U.S. Chamber BCLC

BCLC is the U.S. Chamber’s resource and voice for business’ social and philanthropic interests. Its mission is to advance the positive role of business in society. The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

About the Corporate Citizenship Awards

The Corporate Citizenship Awards, known as the “Citizens” Awards, honor strategic and sustained positive impact on people, communities, the environment, and society. The Citizens have been presented every year since 2000 and are one of the nation’s premier recognition programs for companies that actively work to improve societal challenges.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, is a Fortune 500 company with approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Its subsidiaries, Capital One, N.A., Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., and ING Bank, fsb, offer a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. We apply the same principles of innovation, collaboration and empowerment in our commitment to our communities across the country that we do in our business. We recognize that helping to build strong and healthy communities - good places to work, good places to do business and good places to raise families - benefits us all and we are proud to support this and other community initiatives.

Contact: Bailey Gilchrist, U.S. Chamber BCLC, 202-463-5766

Contact: Shelley Solheim, Capital One Financial Corporation, 917-589-6203