QUINCY, Mass., Dec. 17, 2001 –Youssef Abdouh, manager of Eastern’s Hancock Street branch, recently presented a check for $4,900 to Major Douglas Jones of the Salvation Army in Quincy to help needy families this holiday season.

Eastern’s “Salvation Army Santa Committee” sponsored several fundraisers across the bank, including a bake sale and drawings for everything from gift baskets to one extra week of vacation. Employees also participated in “Jeans Day,” with 457 employees donating at least $5 each to wear jeans to work on Friday, Nov. 16.

Eastern employees began raising money to benefit the Salvation Army several years ago, starting with the Salvation Army unit in Lynn. Each year, the employees have experimented with different fundraisers.

Eastern Bank is a $4 billion full-service banking company with 46 offices in the Greater Boston area. Eastern’s lines of business include consumer banking, corporate lending, capital markets, small business banking, cash management, equipment leasing, private banking, trust and investment management, mortgage banking, and consumer finance.

For more information, contact: Joe Bartolotta, Public Relations Director, Eastern Bank,
(781) 596-4411, or e-mail Joe Bartolotta.