Capital One and Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence to Launch Program to Support Women Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Across the U.S.

Capital One's $750,000 Grant and Three-Year Commitment Will Create Small Business Training Program for Women Veteran Business Leaders

MCLEAN, Va., June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) today announced at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting that it will partner with Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence, the leading not-for-profit provider of business education and resources for women, to help create a new small business training program for women veteran business owners this Fall.

Capital One's $750,000, three-year commitment will fund a new program launching in December that will focus on reaching women veteran business owners who are past the start-up phase, but encountering challenges that are blocking continued business growth. There are currently more than 100,000 businesses in the U.S. that are at least 50 percent owned by women veterans.

"After serving our country, service members are returning home and looking for ways to translate their unique skill sets into the civilian workforce. At Capital One, we're proud to support our veterans during this important transition," said John G. Finneran, Jr., General Counsel, Capital One. "We are committed to doing our part.  Working together with Count Me In we believe that there is a tremendous opportunity for us to help women veteran business owners succeed and watch their businesses grow."

The new program will kick-off in December of 2012 with a two-day Leadership Institute at Capital One's McLean, Virginia, headquarters, right outside of Washington, D.C. The inaugural forum will gather hundreds of women veterans and business growth experts to participate in a variety of panels and workshops, some of which will be led by other female veterans. The forum's agenda will be shaped by a Women Veterans Steering Committee, comprised of a diverse group of public and private sector authorities on women veteran's affairs and women-owned business issues.

The event will be followed by a six-month intensive group coaching program designed to help women business owners focus on personal growth and increasing business skills, based on Count Me In's successful model for women entrepreneurs. Capital One will also engage its skilled pro bono volunteers to provide a range of assistance to the participants and provide additional volunteer services.  Capital One and Count Me In will hold additional Leadership Institutes for women veteran business owners over the course of the three-year program.

Capital One has committed $750,000 and additional in-kind services such as coaching and mentoring. The new program builds on Capital One's three-year, $4.5 million commitment to support the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes initiative, a program which provides job fairs and workforce training initiatives across the United States for veterans and military spouses.  In March 2012, Capital One, the U.S. Chamber and National Chamber Foundation announced "Hiring 500,000 Heroes," a national campaign to engage the business community in committing to hire 500,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014.  

About Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence

Count Me In is the leading not-for-profit provider of business education and resources for women focused on business growth. Founded in 1999, the organization inspires and instructs thousands of women business owners online, at live events, and through peers, coaches and experts to significantly increase revenues and create new jobs. CMI has developed a reputation nationally and internationally for accelerating business growth and positioning women in the forefront of global economic recovery. 

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A., Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., and ING Bank, fsb, had $216.5 billion in deposits and $294.5 billion in total assets outstanding as of March 31, 2012. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One and ING Direct offer a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients through a variety of channels. Capital One, N.A. has approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

CGI's Annual Meeting is held each September in New York City. CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.

About CGI America

President Clinton established the Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) to address economic recovery in the United States. CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting in June 2011, CGI America participants have made more than 100 commitments valued at $11.8 billion. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will improve the lives of three million people, create or fill more than 150,000 jobs, and invest and loan $354 million to small and medium enterprises in the United States. The 2012 CGI America meeting will take place June 7-8 in Chicago. To learn more, visit cgiamerica.org.

SOURCE Capital One