Equitable Bank upgraded to BBB(high)/stable by DBRS Morningstar

TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - EQB Inc. (the "EQB"), (TSX: EQB) (TSX: EQB.PR.C), announced upgrades to the ratings of EQB, Equitable Bank (the "Bank", "Canada's Challenger Bank™") and Concentra Bank by DRBS Limited ("DBRS Morningstar", "DBRS") following an annual review of performance and the closing of the Bank's acquisition of Concentra Bank.

DBRS referenced that the ratings upgrades reflect the increasing diversification of EQB's funding sources, along with consistent profitability and sound credit fundamentals, per the November 28, 2022 press release.

Trends on all ratings are Stable, with the below Long-Term issuer rating summaries:

• EQB: to BBB from BBB(low)
• Equitable Bank: to BBB(high) from BBB
• Concentra Bank: to BBB(high) from BBB

"We have stated for many years now that EQB has been materially discounted in the equity capital markets, plus under-rated by rating agencies. We are pleased to see this notch increase from DBRS which is one step towards more ratings upgrades we will be focused on to best reflect the capital, liquidity, credit and diversification of what is now Canada's 7^th largest independent Canadian bank by assets," said Chadwick Westlake, Chief Financial Officer.  "As a digital first Challenger Bank, we'll remain focused on delivering consistent performance to achieve our next upgrade."

EQB Inc. trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: EQB and EQB.PR.C) and serves more than 370,000 Canadians through its wholly owned subsidiary Equitable Bank, Canada's Challenger Bank™. Equitable Bank's wholly owned subsidiary Concentra Bank supports credit unions across Canada that serve more than 5 million members. Equitable Bank has over $100 billion in combined assets under management and administration, with a clear mandate to drive change in Canadian banking to enrich people's lives. Founded over 50 years ago, Canada's Challenger Bank™ provides diversified personal and commercial banking and through its EQ Bank platform (eqbank.ca) and has been named the top Schedule I Bank in Canada on the Forbes World's Best Banks 2022 and 2021 lists. Please visit equitablebank.ca for details.

Statements made in the sections of this news release, in other filings with Canadian securities regulators and in other communications include forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (forward-looking statements).  These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Bank's objectives, strategies and initiatives, financial performance expectations and other statements made herein, whether with respect to the Bank's businesses or the Canadian economy.  Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "planned", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases which state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved", or other similar expressions of future or conditional verbs.  Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, closing of transactions, performance or achievements of the Bank to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to risks related to capital markets and additional funding requirements, business integration risks, fluctuating interest rates and general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory developments, changes in accounting standards, the nature of our customers and rates of default, and competition as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Management" in the MD&A and in the Bank's documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.  All material assumptions used in making forward-looking statements are based on management's knowledge of current business conditions and expectations of future business conditions and trends, including their knowledge of the current credit, interest rate and liquidity conditions affecting the Bank and the Canadian economy.  Although the Bank believes the assumptions used to make such statements are reasonable at this time and has attempted to identify in its continuous disclosure documents important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.  Certain material assumptions are applied by the Bank in making forward-looking statements, including without limitation, assumptions regarding its continued ability to fund its mortgage business, a continuation of the current level of economic uncertainty that affects real estate market conditions, continued acceptance of its products in the marketplace, as well as no material changes in its operating cost structure and the current tax regime.  There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.  Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  The Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Equitable Bank

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