U.S. Bank Celebrates Veterans Day with $25,000 Donation to Freedom Alliance

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

U.S. Bank kicked off its Veterans Day celebration with a $25,000 donation to Freedom Alliance, an educational and charitable organization which sponsors numerous program activities aimed at supporting and honoring America's service members and their families. U.S. Bancorp Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Davis, announced the donation during the company's annual Veterans Day conference call on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

A home donation program – “Homes for Heroes” – is U.S. Bank's program to provide renovated and mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans and their families. U.S. Bank partners with organizations including Freedom Alliance and Five Brothers, a real estate management company that helps renovate the homes. To date, U.S. Bank has donated six homes to wounded veterans and their families, with an additional home donation slated for later in November.

“One of the organizations we partner with for the Homes for Heroes program is Freedom Alliance. We will continue this program in 2015 to help make homeownership a reality for these wonderful patriots,” said Davis.

During the call, Davis was joined by guest speaker David D. Hamlar Jr., Assistant Adjutant General, Minnesota National Guard; Vice Chairman of Wholesale Banking, Richard B. Payne, Jr.; and President of The Private Client Reserve, Mike Ott, at the company's headquarters in downtown Minneapolis. An estimated 1,000 U.S. Bank employees – veterans and non-veterans – joined the call.

“It's an honor to have someone with the stature of General Hamlar speak to our employees,” said Davis. “It was an honor to recognize him and all members of the armed forces – past and present – who so valiantly serve our country and protect our freedom.”

General Hamlar assists in the oversight and leadership of Minnesota Air National Guard units and in deploying specific strategic themes relevant to external audiences, with a primary strategic objective to maintain two high-quality Air National Guard Wings assigned to the State of Minnesota. General Hamlar's stellar military career includes serving in support of Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and numerous military humanitarian efforts around the world.

U.S. Bank's Proud to Serve program (www.proudtoserve.usbank.com), now in its seventh year, supports military employees and their families. Approximately 2,000 U.S. Bank employees are veterans, including National Guard and Reserve members. Bankers in Boots, the company's veteran hiring campaign continues, as well as a variety of programs across the company, including 25 volunteer events, hosted by the company's Development Network, that will take place through the remainder of this year.

U.S. Bank has several recruiting and training programs specifically for veterans, including the Military Leader Development Program. U.S. Bank offers newly hired veterans extra paid time off to participate in re-integration activities or attend to service-related medical issues. Last year, U.S. Bank launched www.usbank.com/military, a website with tools and information specifically for customers serving in the military and their families. Likewise, U.S. Bank Military Service Center (1-800-934-9555) is a dedicated customer service line for military members and their families staffed with bankers familiar with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

U.S. Bank has been recognized for its hiring efforts and military friendly culture. In 2013, U.S. Bank received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Military Times magazine named the bank to its “Best of Vets: Employers” list in 2014, the fifth year on the list. In addition, G.I. Jobs magazine named U.S. Bank to its “Top 100-Military Friendly Employers” list for 2012 and 2013, and U.S. Veterans Magazine named the bank to its list of “Top 100 Veteran-Friendly Companies” in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp USB, with $391 billion in assets as of September 30, 2014, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the 5th largest commercial bank in the United States. The Company operates 3,177 banking offices in 25 states and 5,026 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.