Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC- Our Long Tadition

1920 -

The Eastern Bank Ltd. opened a branch office at Chatham Street, Colombo

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1939 -

The Branch Office of the Eastern Bank, situated at Chatham Street, was shifted to the previous Commercial Bank, City Office premises, situated at 57, Sir Baron Jayathilake Mawatha.

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1957 -

The share capital of Eastern Bank Ltd. was acquired by the Chartered Bank.

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1969 -

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon Limited was duly incorporated in Sri Lanka (then ceylon) with Eastern Bank holding 40% of its equity. The business of the Colombo branch of the Eastern Bank was acquired by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon Limited.

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1971 -

The Business of the Eastern Bank Ltd. was taken over by the Chartered Bank.

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1972 -

Two new Branches were opened at Galewela and Matale.

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1973 -

A new branch was opened at Matara. The Business of the Galle, Jaffna and Kandy branches of the Mercantile Bank Ltd. was acquired by the Bank.

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1974 -

Two new branches were opened at Wellawatte and Kollupitya.

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1975 -

The Chartered Bank transferred its business to Standard Chartered Bank. A new branch was opened at Kotahena.

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1979 -

The Foreign Currency Banking Unit was formed in order to promote off-shore banking business.

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1980 -

The Bank promoted a property development company, namely Commercial Development Company Ltd., to construct a Headquarters building for the Bank. The Bank enjoyed 40% equity participation in this company.

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1981 -

A new branch was opened at Negombo

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1983 -

A new branch was opened at Hikkaduwa

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1984 -

The Headquarters of the Bank was shifted to "Commercial House" , 21 Bristol Street, Colombo 1, bringing the operations of Head Office to a centralised location. The Bank embarked on a computerisation programme which would progressively cover the entire branch network. A new branch was opened at Hingurakgoda.

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1985 -

The Foreign Department of the Bank was elevated to the status of a fully-fledged branch. This move completed the reorganisation process where by three independent offices representing City Office, Foreign Branch and Head Office were created, segregating the different operations.

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1987 -

An associate company, Commercial Insurance Services (Pvt) Ltd., was formed in which the Bank enjoyed 40% equity participation.

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1988 -

A new branch was opened at Maharagama. An associate Leasing Company , Commercial Leasing Ltd., was formed

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1990 -

Three new branches were opened at Borella and Kegalle. Automated Teller Machines were installed at the Foreign, Borella, Nugegoda, Kotahena and Kollupitiya branches.

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1991 -

Two new branches were opened in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone and Narahenpita. An associate Company, Commercial Stock Brokers (Private) Ltd., commenced operations. The Bank enjoyed 40% equity participation in this company.

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1992 -

Seven new branches were opened at Pettah, Battaramulla, Mutwal, Wennappuwa, Koggala, Embilipitiya and Galle. The Bank sponsored Fund Management Company, Commercial Fund Management (Pvt.) Ltd. was formed for the purpose of operating unit trusts. The Bank enjoyed 50% equity participation in this company.

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1993 -

International Comprehensive Banking System (ICBS) was introduced linking nine metropolitan branches. Three new branches were opened at Kanadana, Maradana and Akuressa. An Automated Teller Machine was installed at Wellawatte Branch

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1994 -

Three new branches were opened at Minuwangoda, Keyzer Street, Panadura and they were linked to the International Comprehensive Banking System. ATMs were installed at City Office, Minuwangoda, Keyzer Street, Panadura, Maradana and Battaramulla Branches. Religious ceremonies were held and a special bonus of one month's salary was paid to mark the 25 ^th anniversary of the Bank.

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1995 -

Two new branches linked to the ICBS were opened at Aluthgama and Kaduwela. The existing branches at Kurunegala, Mutwal and Pettah were linked to the ICBS. ATMS' were installed at Aluthgama, Kaduwela, Kurunegala, Mutwal and Pettah branches.

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1996 -

Five new branches with ICBS linkage were opened at Old Moor Street, Katugastota, Nuwara-Eliya, Chilaw and Gampaha. The existing branches at Galle City, Matara, Negombo, Matale and Katunayake(FTZ) were also linked to the ICBS. ATMs were installed in these branches except in Katunayake (FTZ). The bank increased the Shareholding in Commercial Development Company Ltd., to 94.55% through a share swap.

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1997 -

Eight new branches were opened at Ratmalana, Kirullapone, Union Place, Colombo 7, Ratnapura, Kuliyapitiya, Badulla and Anuradhapura. The existing branches at Kandy, Kandana, Maharagama, Hikkaduwa, Wennappuwa, and Kegalle were also linked to the ICBS. Automated Teller Machines were installed in these branches and in Katunayake (FTZ) branch.

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1998 -

365 day branch at Colombo 7 Branch was opened. Sophisticated Online Banking System which permits clients to conduct a variety of banking transactions through their personal telephone, personal computer or laptop was installed. All branches except Jaffna were linked to the ICBS.

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1999 -

Banking and supermarketing were combined by opening the first "MiniCom" at the Staple street Cargills Food City outlet. Rated as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by Global Finance.

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2000 -

Launched internet Banking. 5 new branches, 4 Customer Service Points and 2 MiniCom outlets were opened. Rated as the Best Bank for the second consecutive year.

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2001 -

Received SL AA+ rating from Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd. Rated as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by Global Finance for the third consecutive year. Selected as the Bank of the Year by The Banker Magazine. Opened the 100^th branch at Kaduruwela and Gold trading Unit at the Foreign Branch.

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2002-

Selected as the No.1 Corporate in Sri Lanka by "Business Today" Magazine. Rated as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by "Global Finance" for the fourth consecutive year. Selected as the Bank of the Year by "The Banker" Magazine for the second consecutive year. Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd. upholds the SL AA+ rating in their annual review. Winner of the overall National Award for HRM - 2002. South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) ranks the Bank's Annual Report for 2001 to be the first in the Financial Sector.

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2003-

Rated as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by "Global Finance" for the fifth consecutive year. Selected as the Bank of the Year by "The Banker" Magazine for the third consecutive year. Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd. upholds the SL AA+ rating in their annual review. SAFA rates Annual Report 2002 as the Best Presented Accounts of the Financial Sector. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) ranks the Annual Report 2001 of the Bank as the Overall Winner, the Winner of the Financial Sector and Winner of Corporate Governance Disclosure Award. The operations of Credit Agricole Indosuez in Bangladesh is taken over. The first service point at Arpico Super Centre was opened at Dehiwela.

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2004-

Rated as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by "Global Finance" for the sixth consecutive year. Selected as the Bank of the Year by "The Banker" Magazine for the fourth consecutive year. Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd. upholds the AA+ (sri) rating in their annual review. SAFA rates Annual Reports 2002 and 2003 as the Best Presented Accounts of the Financial Sector. The ICASL ranks the Annual Reports 2002 and 2003 of the Bank as follows:

Award	2003	2002
Overall	Winner	Winner
Banking Sector	Winner	Winner
Corporate Governance Disclosure	Joint 1^st Runners up	Winner
Corporate Social Responsibility	Joint 1^st Runners up	Joint 2^nd Runners up

Overall HRM winner in the Large Service Sector and winner - most innovative HR Practices. Commercial Bank Social Responsibility Trust was set up in September.

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2005-

Rated as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by “Global Finance” for the seventh consecutive year. Selected as the Bank of the Year by “The Banker” Magazine for the fifth consecutive year. Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd. upholds the AA+ (sri) rating in their annual review. SAFA rates Annual Report 2004 as the Overall Winner and the Best Presented Accounts of the Financial Sector. The ICASL ranks the Annual Report 2004 of the Bank as the Overall Winner, the Winner of the Financial Sector and the Winner of Corporate Governance Disclosure Award. Won three awards at the ‘National Business Excellence Awards - 2005’ organised by the National Chamber of Commerce. Raises US $ 65 million 2-year syndicated loan with an option to extend it for a further year at the option of the lender, the first such loan by a non-sovereign corporate in the country. Makes a scrip issue on the basis of 1:1. Introduces the first mobile ATM in the country.

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2006-

Rated as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka by "Global Finance" for the 8th consecutive year. Fitch Ratings Lanka Ltd., upholds the AA+ (lka) rating in their annual review. SAFA rated Annual Report 2005 as the Winner in the Best presented Accounts in the Banking Institutions Sector and also as the Winner of the inaugural award for the Corporate Governance Disclosure.

The ICASL ranked the Annual Report 2005 of the Bank as the Overall Winner and the Winner of the Banking Sector for the 5th consecutive year. Won 5 main awards including the Overall Winner award at the "National Business Excellence Awards - 2006" organised by the National Chamber of Commerce. Raised US $ 10 Mn. by issuing five year bonds, the first of its kind by an indigenous bank in Sri Lanka.

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2007-

Links up with 'MoneyGram' for Fund transfers arround the world. Launches "Pay Master" total payment solution. Bank disposes its investment in the shares of Commercial Fund Management (Pvt) Ltd.

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