Pacific & Western Bank of Canada (TSX: PWB) is pleased to announce that Moe Danis, Vice President of Structured & Corporate Finance, has been named Member of the Year 2013–2014 by the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA) at its 2014 Annual Conference. Moe Danis joined Pacific & Western Bank of Canada in September, 2010, to create a state-of-the-art small ticket lease and loan purchase program, referred to as the Bulk Lease & Loan Purchase Program.

In its announcement, CFLA Chairman, Mr. Eugene Basolini, stated: “We all know that capital is the lifeblood of our business. Capital has been called our inventory. Along with people it is our primary resource. Access to reliable funding at a reasonable cost is essential to making our industry work.”

CFLA’s announcement also noted that the book Unstoppable ~ The Story of Asset-based Finance & Leasing in Canada, was released at the conference, and, as the book points out, Moe Danis did not invent securitization, but he gets the credit for bringing the model to Canada and making it work. Mr. Basolini stated: “For almost 30 years, Moe has been a presence in our industry, always willing to help where he could. Always a source of wise advice that has benefited many in this room. It gives me great pleasure to present this award to Moe Danis in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of the asset-based financing, equipment and vehicle leasing industry in Canada and his participation in the work of CFLA.”

David Taylor, President & CEO of the Bank stated: “I congratulate Moe Danis on this impressive achievement and for being recognized by his peers at the CFLA as Member of the Year. Our Bulk Lease & Loan Purchase Program that Moe heads up is now growing rapidly and we are proud to be providing the much needed capital to small businesses and consumers throughout Canada. Canada has suffered with a shortage of financing for small and medium sized businesses, and we are pleased that our program is helping to fill this need, while presenting a tremendous growth opportunity for PWB.”

About Pacific & Western Bank of Canada
Pacific & Western Bank of Canada, a Canadian Schedule I bank, is a branchless financial institution that raises deposits through a network of deposit brokers located across Canada. The Bank invests these deposits in loans, leases, commercial mortgages, residential development mortgages, and debt of corporations. Headquartered in London, Ontario, the Bank was granted its Schedule I license under the Bank Act (Canada) on August 1, 2002, prior to which the Bank had operated as a provincially licensed trust company since 1979.

Pacific & Western Bank of Canada’s Common Shares trade on Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PWB.