(March 8 – 11:00 ET) – Royal Bank is packaging several of its services in an attempt to grab more business from first-time home buyers.

The First-Time Home Buyers Package is a bundle of incentives and information designed to meet the needs of first-time home buyers to help them with the financial aspects of buying their home.

The package includes: a five-year, fixed rate closed mortgage, an investment contribution of $500 for five years into a Royal Bank RSP or Royal Bank non-registered investment, free Internet access with AOL Canada for one year, free Royal Certified Service and online banking access for six months, a no-fee VISA Gold card for one year, and a free annual financial review.

“It’s no secret the needs and concerns of first-time home buyers are different from those of repeat home buyers. Royal Bank is trying to help Canadians address these obstacles and acquire their first home,” said Louise Mitchell, Royal Bank’s national manager, consumer markets. “Buying a first home is a major life event for Canadians and, as the market leader in residential mortgages, the bank recently conducted extensive research which concluded that first-time home buyers are looking for more than just a mortgage.”

The package will be available to first-time home buyers March 1 to December 31, 2001.