Press Release
January 20 2009, 1245 pm EST
Source: RBC: Royal Bank of Canada

RBC Bank
One of World's Top 100 Sustainable Companies

TORONTO, Jan. 28 /CNW/ - Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) has been named one of the world's top 100 sustainable companies, according to the fifth annual "Global 100: Most Sustainable Corporations in the World" ranking unveiled today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This is the fifth consecutive year RBC has been name to the Global 100 list.

RBC was one of the only 16 companies in the financial services sector globally, and one of only five Canadian companies included on the 2009 Global 100 list.

"I'm proud that RBC and our employees continue to be recognized for our efforts to do business in a sustainable and responsible manner," said Gordon M. Nixon, president and chief executive officer, RBC. "RBC is committed to doing better for our clients, our investors, our employees and our communities, through a focused approach to corporate responsibility, a disciplined strategy, sound risk management, strong balance sheet, and a diversified business mix."

The Global 100 list identifies companies that have the best-developed abilities, relative to their industry peers, to manage environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities. The list is based on research and analysis by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors and Corporate Knights. Companies were selected from Innovest's universe of 1800 publicly-traded, MCSI world-listed companies, and include those that achieved a combined AAA score from Innovest as of December 31, 2008.

This honor adds to an impressive suite of recognition garnered by RBC for programs and performance related to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

RBC is listed on the 2008-2009 Dow Jones Sustainability Index, recognizing the world's financial, social and environmental corporate leaders, as well as the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC was also among 67 companies and one of only 18 financial institutions worldwide named to the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index 2008, a prestigious honor roll of world leaders at understanding and managing the financial risks and opportunities resulting from climate change. In 2007, RBC released the RBC Environmental Blueprint, containing the company's commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and energy use and outlining how RBC will approach new, existing and emerging environmental issues in its lending activities.

ABOUT RBC

Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. We are Canada's largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization, one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies and among the largest banks in the world, as measured by market capitalization. We provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and investment banking and transaction processing services on a global basis. We employ more than 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 17 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 48 other countries. For more information, please visit www.rbc.com.