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Bank of the West Creates Scholarship Program with $10,000 Grant to American Indian College Fund

March 22, 2011

The American Indian College Fund has received a $10,000 grant from San Francisco-based

Bank of the West to establish a scholarship program. The Bank of the West Tribal College Scholarship Program will provide scholarship support to American Indian students attending South Dakota tribal colleges and universities.

Ten scholars will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for use during the spring 2011 semester. Scholarship recipients must be in good academic standing; have an interest in pursuing a career in business or finance; and attend Oglala Lakota College, Sinte Gleska University, or Sisseton Wahpeton College.

“Bank of the West is pleased to invest in our future by providing scholarships to college st

udents needing financial assistance,” said Brad Rasmus, Executive Vice President and Midwest Division Executive.

“We are honored to establish this partnership with Bank of the West,” said Richard B. Williams, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund. “We look forward to seeing this program help Native scholars achieve their educational dreams.”

About the Bank of the West
Based in San Francisco, $58 billion-asset Bank of the West offers a full range of business, corporate, personal, trust and international banking services and operates more than 700 branch locations and commercial banking offices in 19 Western and Midwestern states. Founded on a commitment to relationship banking, the Bank’s Wealth Management Group provides banking, wealth planning, insurance and investment services to high net worth individuals. Bank of the West's holding company, BancWest Corporation, is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, among the six strongest banks in the world, according to Standard & Poor's. For more information please visit www.bankofthewest.com.