Tis the season…to avoid the stress of holiday shopping and give the gift that keeps on giving

RBC

Team Canada RBC Visa Gift Card - a great gift that also supports the Canadian Olympic Foundation with $2 donation from every sale

TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - With the holiday season just around the corner, Canadians may feel that some of the stresses of shopping are unavoidable. In a recent survey, almost half of Canadians (48 per cent) say the biggest annoyances they face when holiday shopping are the crowds, going to the mall and long line ups. This is followed by not knowing what to buy (43 per cent) and having difficult people to buy for (29 per cent).

"We all want to give gifts that will be appreciated by the receiver. However, it can be difficult to find the perfect gift, which in turn can make shopping really stressful," said Prashant Sharma, vice-president, Retail Cards, RBC. "The holidays are demanding enough already, but there are alternative options to help alleviate the pressures of gift giving, such as a prepaid gift card."

For those facing the struggles of finding a perfect gift, a prepaid card can be easy and convenient. Many Canadians already choose to give a gift card as an easy way to reduce frustrations:

• When they are not sure what to buy (39 per cent)
• When they want to give the recipient options (35 per cent)
• When it's what the recipient asked for (34 per cent)
• When they can't decide on an actual gift (28 per cent)

Just in time for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, RBC is excited to announce the launch of the limited edition Team Canada RBC Visa Gift Card, featuring an iconic image of the Women's Gold Medal winning hockey team from 2010. As part of RBC's continued commitment to supporting Canadian athletes, RBC will donate $2 from the sale of every Team Canada RBC Visa Gift Card sold from December 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014 to the Canadian Olympic Foundation. Team Canada RBC Visa Gift Cards can be purchased at any RBC Royal Bank branch.

"We are so fortunate to have partners like RBC who truly appreciate and understand that it's a long journey to the top of the podium for our Canadian athletes," said Leanne Nicolle, executive director, Canadian Olympic Foundation. "This is a great initiative and the funds raised from sales of these prepaid gift cards will support our athletes as they prepare to compete against the best in the world."

Last year, RBC removed most fees on the RBC Visa Gift Card and announced that funds on the RBC Visa Gift card will not expire. Available in denominations ranging from $25 to $500, RBC Visa Gift Cards may be purchased at any RBC branch across Canada and are accepted worldwide for purchases. More secure than cash, RBC Visa Gift Cards can be used anywhere around the world where Visa cards are accepted, including online, and provide friends and family more options than traditional store gift cards.

Learn more about RBC Visa Gift Cards at rbc.com/visagiftcard.

About the Poll
The survey is conducted online via Ipsos Reid's national I-Say Consumer Panel to 3,261 Canadians (530 British Columbia, 450 Alberta, 452 Saskatchewan/Manitoba, 813 Ontario, 563 Quebec, 453 Atlantic Canada). Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. Data collection was October 1 to 9, 2013. The precision of Ipsos Reid polls are calculated using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is considered accurate within ±2 percentage points of all Canadians.

About RBC and Amateur Sport
RBC supports amateur sport in communities across Canada, from recreational to competitive activities, and from grassroots to elite-level athletes. At the grassroots level, RBC is committed to supporting programs which help children develop the confidence and skills they need to enable them to play, and become happy, healthy and active for life. RBC is proud to be the longest-standing corporate supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, since 1947, as well as a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada. Visit www.rbc.com/sponsorship.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in sponsorships.

Image with caption: "Team Canada RBC Visa Gift Cards featuring Women's Gold Medal Winning hockey team from the 2010 Olympic Games (CNW Group/RBC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131128_C5708_PHOTO_EN_33951.jpg

SOURCE: RBC

Kate Yurincich, RBC Communications, 416 974-1031, [email protected]
Suzanne Willers, RBC Communications, 416 974-2727, [email protected]