RBC Completes First Cross-Border Payment on Canada's New Renminbi (RMB) Trading Hub

TORONTO and HONG KONG, April 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Royal Bank of Canada (RBC; RY on TSX and NYSE) today announced the completion of the first cross-border Renminbi (RMB) payment on Canada's new RMB Trading Hub through the hub's designated clearing bank, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (Canada).

The cross border bank-to-bank payment follows the inauguration ceremony of Canada's RMB Trading Hub, held in Toronto on March 23. At the ceremony, RBC, alongside other Canadian banks and government delegates, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with respect to Bilateral Renminbi Cooperation.

"RBC has been active with industry peers in promoting and securing the opportunity for Canada to become a Renminbi trading hub," said James Rausch, head of Transaction Banking - Banks, Brokers and Exchanges, RBC Investor & Treasury Services. "Given RBC's long-standing relationship with China, we view this as a positive development for Canada, for our clients, and for trade between Canada and China."

"RBC looks forward to supporting the RMB Trading Hub in Canada, and expects it will enable Canadian companies to see greater access to Chinese trade and investment opportunities," said Philippe Savoy, managing director, head of Foreign Exchange Sales, Americas, RBC Capital Markets.

RBC was the first North American bank to have a presence in China, having entered into a correspondent banking relationship with the People's Bank of China in 1954. RBC also has experience with Chinese financial markets in advising clients on direct investment in Chinese mainland securities.

Prior to the recent announcement of a RMB Trading Hub in Canada, RBC already offered a broad suite of RMB products for clients in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, enabling issuers to raise debt in RMB and investors to access RMB-denominated Fixed Income, FX and Global Equity-Linked Products. RBC also provides clearing and cash management services for Chinese banks with operations in Canada, and actively supports Canadian trade with China through advice, product and solutions including the issuance and confirmation of guarantees and letters of credit.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's largest bank, and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We employ approximately 78,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 39 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

SOURCE RBC