Capital One Volunteers Partner with Local Nonprofits for 'One Week'
National Community Service Initiative

Volunteers expect to serve more than 50,000 children, teens and adults across the country during week-long company effort

MCLEAN, Va., Apr 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) associates this week will join together with local nonprofit organizations to participate in a week of volunteer activities as part of the company's 'One Week' national community service initiative. Capital One's 'One Week' program will run April 11-17, encompassing more than 80 volunteer activities across six states as well as the District of Columbia. During 'One Week,' more than 1,200 associates will serve more than 50,000 individuals through a variety of community service projects. In recognition of Financial Literacy Month in April, Capital One volunteers are putting a special focus on helping parents, teens and kids develop sound money management skills through financial education programs.

"Capital One's 'One Week' program is a company-wide volunteer initiative aimed at bringing Capital One associates and local nonprofit organizations together to make a difference in our community through volunteerism. During 'One Week,' our goal is to engage our associates in meeting the unique needs of each community where our associates live and work. Our volunteers will focus on community and economic development, education and financial literacy," said Carolyn Berkowitz, Vice President, Community Affairs, Capital One. "By connecting our talented associates with effective local nonprofits, we are working to deliver solutions that can make a tangible difference for the community and each person we reach."

Capital One's culture encourages a strong commitment among associates to community service and volunteerism, and a belief that change happens one person at a time. Last year, Capital One associates volunteered more than 84,000 hours in their communities, participating in a broad range of company-sponsored volunteer activities. In recognition of its volunteerism programs, Capital One received the 2009 Points of Light Institute's Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious awards honoring outstanding employee volunteer programs. By giving back during this special week of service, associates will continue to bring to life the company's commitment to volunteerism and community service.

As part of its One Week volunteer efforts, Capital One associates will participate in projects including:

  • Mentoring local high school students as they create a business plan for starting their own business at Futures and Options Inc. in New York;
  • Teaching middle school students practical financial education through the Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park program in Long Island, N.Y., and Houston, Texas;
  • Building and celebrating the opening of a new Heart of America Reading Corner by donating new books and reading to students in Richmond, Va.;
  • Delivering an interactive financial literacy learning experience for teens in the North Brooklyn YMCA after-school program, led by Capital One Bank high school student bankers who operate an in-school student-run bank branch at Fordham Leadership Academy for Business and Technology in the Bronx, N.Y.;
  • Constructing reading rooms at the Girls Incorporated of Metropolitan Dallas, Texas campus, providing more than 200 local girls access to over 900 books;
  • Conducting personal finance training and counseling programs for several organizations including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fort Worth, Texas, and the Volunteers of America in Baton Rouge, La.;
  • Repairing and revitalizing the homes of low-income residents in New Orleans and Lake Charles, La. with Rebuilding Together; and
  • Working in food banks and delivering food to those in need and participating in painting and landscaping projects across several locations.

"Volunteerism is both valued and prevalent within our organization -- every day our associates are engaged in some type of company-sponsored volunteer activity - each doing their part to make a tangible difference in their community. 'One Week' is meant to put a focus on the social needs of residents in our communities and on our unique opportunity to help our nonprofit partners to meet those needs," Berkowitz said. "With more 1,200 Capital One associates participating in the 'One Week' national community service initiative we're demonstrating the impact we can make in local communities across the country through volunteerism, one person at a time."

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A. and Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., had $115.8 billion in deposits and $212.0 billion in total managed assets outstanding as of December 31, 2009. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. Capital One, N.A. has approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index.

SOURCE: Capital One Financial Corporation

Capital One Financial Corporation
Shelley Solheim 917.589.6203
shelley.solheim@capitalone.com