Lévis (Québec), December 31, 2008 – Desjardins Group is proud to announce that it can now be found on the very prestigious list of the 50 Best Employers in Canada. And so, with its 40,000 employees, Desjardins, the largest private employer in Québec, has established itself at the national level.

The news was welcomed with a great deal of pride and enthusiasm, in particular since Desjardins Group had never before participated in such a contest. "We are very proud to be among the country's 50 Best Employers. I believe that this recognition shows that we are on the right track and that we must continue to poll our employees and to listen to them, especially in the current economic context," stated Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

The employee engagement survey was sent to some 20,000 Desjardins employees and formed the basis on which Hewitt—a human resources consulting firm—relied to select the 50 Best Employers. “The 75% participation rate is very representative of the employee engagement that makes Desjardins a successful and distinctive organization. Furthermore, the fact that our employees took the time to answer this survey shows us that they have their future at Desjardins in mind," said Ms. Leroux.

Employees put forward several factors that contribute to their engagement. They are proud of the efforts made by Desjardins in the area of sustainable development. They also particularly appreciate their stimulating work environment, teamwork among colleagues and the support they receive from their managers. Furthermore, they are proud of Desjardins Group as a cooperative movement that stands by its values.

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, with overall assets of $150 billion, as at September 30, 2008. It comprises a network of caisses, credit unions and business centres in Québec and Ontario, and some twenty subsidiary companies in life and general insurance, securities brokerage, venture capital and asset management, many of which are active across the country. Drawing on the expertise of its 40,000 employees and the commitment of more than 6,500 elected officers, Desjardins offers its 5.8 million individual and corporate members and clients a full range of financial products and services. Its physical distribution network is complemented by leading-edge virtual access methods. To find out more, consult www.desjardins.com.

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