PrimeVest-Affiliated Individuals and Programs Receive BISA Awards of Excellence

The Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA) named PrimeVest Financial Services Advisory Board Member Anne Dunne as its 2005 Executive of the Year, and Guaranty Bank as its Regional Institution Program of the Year at the BISA Annual Convention recently held in Florida.

Dunne heads the investment program available at TD Banknorth, N.A., and operated by Bancnorth Investment Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PrimeVest. Lorin McMurray, program manager at Texas-based Guaranty Bank, accepted honors on behalf of his firm, for which PrimeVest also owns and administers the broker-dealer - Guaranty Brokerage Services, Inc.

The annual BISA Awards of Excellence program consists of four honors: Executive of the Year, Large Institution Program of the Year, Regional Institutional Program of the Year, and Community-based Program of the Year. Program of the Year distinction can be presented to a securities, insurance, or combined program that demonstrates the consistent and effective implementation of best practices within the industry.

"This is a tremendous honor not only for Anne and Lorin, but for their financial institutions as well," said Randall Ciccati, president of PrimeVest. "Their performance speaks for itself, but gaining recognition like this is a fitting tribute to their considerable accomplishments. PrimeVest congratulates Dunne and Guaranty Bank on their exemplary performance and much-deserved BISA recognition."

Dunne was recognized specifically for "assembling a team of executives and advisors who have been able to deliver superior growth, while holding staffing level constant, and delivering superior customer satisfaction," according to BISA.

Guaranty Bank gained acclaim for its "unique and effective approach to making investment and insurance service available to the widest segment of its customer base through a platform program."

About PrimeVest

PrimeVest Financial Services is a self-clearing broker-dealer serving the clients of over 500 financial institutions in 50 states and Guam. PrimeVest delivers innovative investment and insurance solutions, comprehensive support and a flexible program structure. PrimeVest is one of the broker-dealers of ING, one of the world's largest financial services organizations. PrimeVest is a shareholder of the Chicago Stock Exchange and a member of the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), the Securities Investors Protection Corporation (SIPC) and the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).

About ING

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 115,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S. (NYSE: ING), the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 15 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com

SOURCE: ING U.S. Financial Services

CONTACT: Philip Margolis of ING U.S. Financial Services,
+1-860-723-4783, or phil.margolis@us.ing.com

Web site: http://www.ing.com/