FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2004

RBC CENTURA BANK TO MOVE ITS REGIONAL
HEADQUARTERS TO DOWNTOWN NORFOLK

RBC Centura will become the newest bank to join the skyline of downtown Norfolk when it opens its new location at 555 East Main Street , according to a joint announcement from RBC Centura and Harbor Group International (HGI).  RBC Centura is a subsidiary of RBC Financial Group, which is one of the largest financial services providers in North America.  RBC Centura is currently located in the Twin Oaks Office Park near Norfolk International Airport.

The bank will occupy 22,000 square feet, which includes the ground floor branch, the complete 10 th floor, as well as the drive-through area. The branch will open as soon as construction is completed on the new space.

RBC Centura will gain signage on the crown of the building, which is located at St. Pauls Boulevard and Main Street, the key gateway to downtown.
Harbor Group International has already completed painting, cleaning, and minor cosmetic upgrades to the building’s façade in advance of the move.

" We are pleased that RBC Centaura's Virginia state headquarters is coming to downtown Norfolk, and would like to express our appreciation for their continuing confidence in our City.  With this move, downtown Norfolk again demonstrates why we are the Hampton Roads region's financial, business and cultural center," said Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim.

" We are very excited at the opportunity to become more involved in the financial district of Norfolk, said Scott Custer, President, RBC Centura.  This expansion will affirm our long term commitment to the Hampton Roads market."
The move into downtown Norfolk is one of the steps RBC Centura is taking to expand their footprint throughout the southeastern US.  The relocation will allow RBC Centura to offer a wide range of financial services to customers in and around downtown Norfolk.

“ We look forward to relocating our Virginia regional headquarters to downtown Norfolk,” said  Bill Newell, Regional President, Virginia Commercial Markets. The move underscores RBC Centura's commitment to continue to grow our bank in Hampton Roads."

“ We are pleased and honored to welcome RBC Centura to downtown Norfolk,” said Jordan E. Slone, Chairman & CEO of Harbor Group International. “RBC Centura is positioning itself to be an important financial institution in Hampton Roads.”

RBC Centura is the second major financial institution to sign a significant lease with Harbor Group International in the past month, underpinning the importance this area as a financial center. 

About RBC Centura

RBC Centura Bank offers a wide range of financial services and advice, including a complete line of banking, investment, loan, mortgage, life insurance and other services, to individuals and businesses in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Florida.  RBC Centura's multifaceted customer access network includes more than 260 full-service financial offices, an extensive ATM network, and telephone and Internet banking. In addition, RBC Centura offers residential mortgages through its wholly owned subsidiary, RBC Mortgage, one of the largest retail mortgage originators in the U.S., and builder finance products through RBC Builder Finance.  RBC Centura Banks, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE, TSX: RY), Canada’s largest bank as measured by market capitalization and assets and one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies. Additional information may be found at www.rbccentura.com.

In addition to RBC Centura, RBC's U.S. operations include: Minneapolis-based RBC Dain Rauscher, a full-service securities firm; RBC Capital Markets, with corporate and investment banking operations in New York, Greenwich, and other select U.S. locations; RBC Insurance, which provides individual insurance and administration solutions through its operating businesses, Liberty Life Insurance Company and Liberty Insurance Services Corporation of Greenville, S.C.; and Royal Bank of Canada Global Private Banking in New York and Miami.

About Harbor Group International

Harbor Group International, LLC, headquartered at 555 E. Main St. in Norfolk, Va., is one of the largest owners of office property in Hampton Roads. The company’s major holdings in the area include 555 and 500 East Main Street and Interstate Corporate Center. Founded in 1985, the company owns office, retail and residential property throughout the country. HGI currently owns an investment portfolio worth nearly $900 million.

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