CIBC’s Amicus Financial has launched Safeway SELECT Bank in Arizona with a cash giveaway.

Amicus presented 10 ice sculptures, carved in shapes that ranged from grocery bags to personal computers, at Arizona’s first Safeway SELECT Bank pavilion in Phoenix. As the carvings melted they revealed over US$10,000 frozen in the carvings. The contest prize money was distributed to customers who signed up for Safeway SELECT Bank’s services.

The entry of Safeway SELECT Bank into Arizona is its first expansion beyond the initial launch in San Jose and Sacramento, Calif., and Denver in October 2000. Safeway SELECT Bank currently operates over 70 banking pavilions located inside Safeway stores. “We expect to have the same immediate acceptance in Arizona as we’ve seen in our initial bank installations in supermarkets all across North America,”said Brian Cassidy, CEO of Amicus.

In addition to Safeway SELECT Bank, Amicus Financial operates Marketplace Bank in Winn-Dixie supermarkets in the U.S., as well as President’s Choice Financial services in the Loblaw Companies Limited’s chain of supermarkets in Canada. In May 2001, Amicus Financial announced a strategic alliance with Ahold USA, Inc. to provide electronic banking services in the northeastern U.S. market.