Bank of the West Continues Commitment as Title Sponsor of the Bank of the West Classic

SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of the West today announced it has renewed its commitment as the title sponsor of the Bank of the West Classic, which will take place in Stanford, California from July 9 – 15, 2012.

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The multiyear sponsorship continues through 2017, and will mark over 20 years that the bank has supported the world's longest-running women's professional tennis tournament. The Classic is in its 42nd year and is the first stop in the Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series, which begins after Wimbledon and concludes with the U.S. Open.

"Bank of the West is proud to be the sponsoring organization that brings professional women's tennis to the San Francisco Bay Area," said Maura Markus, president and chief operating officer at Bank of the West. "The Bank of the West Classic with these remarkable athletes is a venue that allows us to reflect the same values that are at the core of our relationships with customers – excellence and performance. The Bay Area has been home to this iconic tennis tournament since 1971 and we're pleased to be a part of the Classic's history and to continue a long tradition that marks our commitment and involvement in the community."

Highlighting the 2012 Bank of the West Classic player field will be 13-time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams returning to defend her title, 2009 Bank of the West Classic Champion Marion Bartoli, and the 2011 U.S. Open semi-finalist Angelique Kerber. This year, the Bank of the West Classic will also host a series of exhibition matches featuring tennis legends Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang.

The tournament, which is owned and operated by IMG, has a 28 player singles draw and a 16 team doubles draw, with total prize money of $740,000.

"We are extremely pleased that Bank of the West has chosen to renew its title sponsorship of the event through 2017," said Bank of the West Classic Tournament Director Kim Hall Uliasz. "The bank is a tremendous supporter and we look forward to a collaboration where the Bank of the West Classic continues as the premier tournament for professional women's tennis."

Bank of the West's sponsorship of professional tennis aligns with its parent company BNP Paribas who recently confirmed its role as a major sponsor of Roland Garros and has been an active supporter of professional tennis since 1973.

About Bank of the West
Founded in 1874, $62.4 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com), member FDIC and equal housing lender, offers a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services. The bank operates more than 700 retail and commercial banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, which has a presence in 80 countries with nearly 200,000 employees.

About IMG

IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG's areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging:  IMG College; IMG's Joint Ventures in China, Brazil, India and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing.  More information is available at www.imgworld.com

SOURCE Bank of the West