Mr. Vineet Malhotra reports

CIBC PARTNERS WITH UNIONPAY INTERNATIONAL TO OFFER CLIENTS NO-FEE RMB MONEY TRANSFERS TO CHINA; LUNAR NEW YEAR IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR REMITTANCES TO CHINA

Ahead of this year's lunar new year, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has partnered with UnionPay International, one of the world's largest international bank card networks, to help clients send money transfers to China within 24 hours with no costly upfront remittance fees.

"This partnership further solidifies CIBC as a leader in the remittance industry by providing fast, secure service with no upfront fees, saving money for our clients and making it easier for their families to receive deposits," said Vineet Malhotra, managing director and head of the alternative solutions group and the retail solutions group, CIBC. "With the Chinese New Year, one of the busiest times of the year for remittances to China, our money transfer service gives clients a less expensive way to send money abroad."

Canadians send more money abroad to China than any other country, according to the latest statistics available from World Bank. Canadians sent approximately $4.2-billion (U.S.) to China in 2015, about one-fifth of Canada's total global remittances.

CIBC introduced its no-fee CIBC global money transfer service in 2015, and since then, it has grown to more than 45 countries, including the United States, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, and now China. CIBC has also provided service to Hong Kong since the introduction of the service. Recipients receive funds in their local currency. For example, in China, recipients receive money transfers in renminbi.

Features of the CIBC global money transfer service include:

• No upfront fee to send money abroad;
• Competitive exchange rates;
• Daily transfer limits of $9,999.99 (through on-line/mobile banking and CIBC banking centre combined);
• Most transfers will be received by the recipient within one business day;
• Available through CIBC mobile banking app, CIBC on-line banking and CIBC banking centres.

From Jan. 16 to Feb. 16 (midnight Eastern Time), every client who sends money to China using the CIBC global money transfer service will receive a complimentary year-of-the-rooster pure silver coin and will be entered to win one of eight pairs of tickets to Beijing or Shanghai.

About CIBC

CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with 11 million personal banking and business clients. It has three major business units -- retail and business banking, wealth management, and capital markets.