(November 15 – 16:20 ET) – Citizens Bank of Canada has released the results of its first ethical policy compliance audit.

Available online at www.citizensbank.ca, the report reviews the first six months of implementation following the launch of the bank’s ethical policy in June 1999.

The ethical policy summarizes the bank’s position on human rights, employee relations, military weapons, the environment, the treatment of animals, sustainable energy, tobacco and business conduct. Citizen’s Bank says compliance with the ethical policy involves managing the bank’s internal and external relationships to reflect consistency with the positions stated in the policy.

“Auditing and reporting our compliance with our ethical policy is essential to the integrity of Citizens Bank,” says president and CEO Linda Crompton. “This report marks a major step forward in our commitment to corporate accountability, and serves as a benchmark for future progress.”

The report examines Citizens Bank’s screening process of investments and business relationships as well as survey results from members and employees regarding their impressions of the bank’s business conduct and employee relations.

As a benchmark document, the report goes further in outlining eight new commitments and goals for the bank to achieve before the next compliance review. “This report gives us the documentation we need in further integrating our ethical policy into all aspects of our operations,” says Crompton. “It ensures that our ethical policy is more than good intentions — it is the foundation of the way we do business.”