**Butterfield Bank Voted Bermuda’s and Cayman’s Bank of the Year**

The Banker magazine has named Butterfield Bank as “Bank of the Year” in the individual Country Awards for both Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

President and CEO Alan Thompson said: *”We pride ourselves on our community banking activities in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, so we are particularly gratified to receive the award in both jurisdictions. This significant accomplishment can be attributed to the teamwork and commitment of Butterfield Bank employees, as well as the continued strength of our business strategy.”*

In selecting the winners, The Banker’s global editorial team considered not only financial performance, but also strategic initiatives, innovative use of technology, and commitment to human resources initiatives. The entries are judged on performance over the past year, as well as the strength of the banks’ position for the future.

The Banker Awards are sponsored by global IT and networking services company BT and software solutions provider Oracle. They reflect the success and overall achievements of the world’s financial institutions, with the Bank of the Year awards granted in over 100 countries each year.

Mr. Thompson points to the institution’s sound business strategy and strong core businesses, and the number of financial and strategic accomplishments during the past year – including the acquisition of Thorand Bank & Trust (Bahamas), Leopold Joseph (Bahamas), The Mutual Bank of the Caribbean (Barbados), Deerfield Fund Services (Bahamas), and Leopold Joseph Holdings (London and Guernsey) by the Butterfield Group in less than a year.

The three acquisitions in The Bahamas have been successfully integrated in one location and re-branded, giving the group a significant presence in wealth management in the jurisdiction. Robert Lotmore, Managing Director of Butterfield Bank in The Bahamas, says he and his team are pleased to be a part of the Butterfield family of award winning banks. *”This recognition given to the Bermuda and Cayman banks is indicative of the high standard of service that the group maintains internationally,”* he says.