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TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage celebrates 25th anniversaryTORONTO, Apr 6, 2009 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- Twenty five years ago, TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage, then known as GREEN LINE INVESTOR SERVICES, opened for business. With an office at the intersection of King and Bay in Toronto, it began offering self-directed trading services. Self-directed retail investors today may take for granted that they guide their own portfolio strategy and control their own investments. And yet in 1983, they had fewer choices in the management of their wealth and trading commissions were regulated and fixed. "In 25 years, the social and technological progress that we've seen in many facets of life has also been reflected in the brokerage and self-directed investment industries," said John See, President, TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage. "Our ability to provide clients with advanced tools, resources and research has been a critical factor in the increase of do-it-yourself investing." See recognizes the role that TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage's clients played in helping drive this innovation forward and make self-directed investing in Canada what it is today. "We know our clients demand excellent customer service, industry-leading resources, and powerful trading platforms, all at competitive prices. While a lot has changed over the last 25 years, our commitment to deliver on all these fronts remains stronger than ever," he added. Over the years, TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage achieved a number of innovations that raised the industry bar: << - In 1988, first to offer customer service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Today, it remains the only discount brokerage to offer 24/7 service in four languages. - In 1992, Green Line MicroMax and Green Line TeleMax begin providing customers electronic access from personal computers and touchtone phones. - In 1996, launches WebBroker, the first Internet brokerage service in Canada, offering unprecedented convenience to clients, and radically transforming the industry. - In 1997, first to offer flat commission fees to clients across Internet, Windows, DOS, Mac and automated telephone based platforms, which quickly became popular throughout the industry. - In 2008, first and only discount brokerage to launch a voice authentication system for clients using state-of-the-art biometric technology. >> "TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage has been a key driver in the growth of the self-directed investment industry in Canada," said Bill Hatanaka, Group Head, Global Wealth Management and Chairman and CEO, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. "We continually look for ways to improve clients' trading experiences with new technology, such as the award-winning platforms, WebBroker and Active Trader," said See. Recent new features include option chains, streaming quotes, stock screeners, interactive charting tools, and event email and text alerts. TD Waterhouse Discount Brokerage also offers the best selection of independent research of any discount brokerage in Canada, including resources such as Standard & Poor's, Reuters, Argus, Recognia, and many others that keep clients informed and able to make knowledgeable decisions about their investments. For more information, please visit www.tdwaterhouse.ca/discountbrokerage. About TD Bank Financial Group The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Financial Group. TD Bank Financial Group is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves approximately 17 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in key financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Insurance; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an investment in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking through TD Banknorth and TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD Bank Financial Group also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with more than 5.5 million online customers. TD Bank Financial Group had CDN$585 billion in assets on January 31, 2009. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. About TD Wealth Management TD Wealth Management provides a wide range of investment products and services to a large and diverse retail and institutional global client base, with operations in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. Domestically, TD Wealth Management comprises a number of advisory, distribution and asset management businesses within TD Waterhouse and TD Mutual Funds. << /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca. Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/ >> SOURCE: TD Bank Financial Group SOURCE: TD Waterhouse Group, Inc. For media inquiries, please contact: Barbara Timmins, (416) 307-6498 |