MAY 9, 2001

People's Voted Best Bank
in Fairfield, New Haven Counties, Torrington

BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
The world seems to be filled with “experts” who rate everything from appliances to xylophones. But for businesses, only one group of experts counts. And those experts – customers – rate People’s Bank highly.

For the fourth straight year, People’s Bank has been voted “Best Bank in New Haven County” by readers of the New Haven Advocate. People’s completed a sweep of southwestern Connecticut by winning “Best Bank in Fairfield County” in the Fairfield County Weekly’s annual readers’ poll. People’s was also voted “Best Bank,” “Best Bank Hours” and “Friendliest Bank” in northwest Connecticut by readers of Winsted-based The Voice. People’s Torrington Super Stop & Shop branch was voted “Best Bank” by readers of the Register Citizen in Torrington.

The New Haven Advocate announced its award in its May 10 issue which is available today. The Fairfield County Weekly and Register Citizen awards were announced in those publications’ April 26 issues.

“We’re honored to be recognized by our customers, because they’re the ones we’re working for,” said Robert R. D’Amore, executive vice president, Marketing and Regional Banking. “These are tributes to our People’s people – our employees – and the efforts they make each and every day.”

In the past year, the bank has opened its revolutionary People’s Financial Centers in Monroe, Norwalk, Torrington and Avon, while its online banking service, peoples.com, has won acclaim from Internet experts and the national media.

People’s (peoples.com) is a diversified financial services company providing commercial, consumer, insurance and investment services. Founded in 1842, it is the largest state-chartered bank in Connecticut with managed assets of $14 billion, 143 branches and approximately 220 ATMs. People’s is a leader in consumer and commercial banking, residential lending, insurance sales and supermarket banking. A leading credit card issuer, it ranks 16th nationally as an issuer of MasterCard and Visa credit cards. People’s subsidiaries offer brokerage services, asset management, equipment financing and leasing, and insurance services.