Socially responsible investment industry leaders will focus considerable attention on the global financial crisis at the 19th annual SRI in the Rockies Conference October 26-28, 2008.

A record 720 participants are expected to converge on The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, in Whistler, British Columbia. Several of the scheduled conference sessions will feature experts discussing how socially conscious investors can help to reshape the future of the global financial system around the principles of transparency, fairness, good governance, and long-term thinking, including:
• A CEO Roundtable on Industry Trends;
• A Banking Sector panel focused on Sustainable Global Finance;
• A session on Philanthropy and Mission-Related Investing;
• An expert panel on the Sub-Prime Mortgage Situation;
• A roundtable discussion with International SRI Industry Leaders;
• A discussion about how wise management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues can reduce risk and position companies to excel over the long term; and
• A Special Session that will focus specifically on the global financial crisis.

“This is a unique opportunity for SRI leaders to strategize on integrating the principles of socially and environmentally responsible investing – such as responsible corporate governance – into the nation’s financial infrastructure moving forward,” said Lisa Woll, Chief Executive Officer of the Social Investment Forum (SIF).

SRI in the Rockies, a collaboration between First Affirmative Financial Network and the Social Investment Forum, is the premier annual conference for the sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) industry in North America.

“The financial crisis has put a spotlight on some of the worst practices on Wall Street, many of which socially conscious investors have worked to remedy over the years,” said George R. Gay, CEO of First Affirmative Financial Network and a Director of the Social Investment Forum. “We believe that a more socially responsible approach to investing can—and should—play a role in helping to transform the investing world.”

SRI in the Rockies takes place against the backdrop of an industry that continues to expand rapidly. According to the SIF’s “2007 Trends Report,” nearly one out of every nine dollars under professional management in the U.S. in 2007 was involved in SRI. From 2005-2007, SRI assets increased more than 18 percent while the broader universe of professionally managed assets expanded less than 3 percent.

ABOUT THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT FORUM (SIF)
SIF is the U.S. membership association dedicated to advancing the concept, practice, and growth of socially and environmentally responsible investing. SIF members integrate economic, environmental, social, and governance factors into their investment decisions. SIF membership includes more than 500 social investment practitioners and institutions, including financial professionals, analysts, portfolio managers, banks, mutual funds, researchers, foundations, community development organizations, and public educators. More information about the Forum, including the 2007 Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States, is available at www.socialinvest.org.

REGISTRATION AND SPONSORSHIPS
To register to attend the conference, go to www.sriintherockies.com/register.jsp. For assistance with registration and sponsorships, please contact Krystala Kalil at 303-442-4463 / krystala@SRIintheRockies.com.

Chris Ostrowski, Technical Management Consultant at TUSC will present the implementation and benefits of the lightweight Service Oriented Architecture at the 2008 Financial Services Technology Forum. Register now for your complimentary All-Access Pass.
Visit http://e-financial.wowgao.com/registration/multiple Internal and External Application Integration - Oracle Fusion Web Services Having ventured down the path of a full bore implementation of internal and external application integration in what he perceived as the most efficient and cost effective manner; attendees will get the benefit of his hindsight introspection today. Specifically, he will explain the implementation and benefits of the lightweight Service Oriented Architecture (i.e. Web Services) wherever it makes sense. This presentation will discuss the good, bad and ugly about this approach that was taken. Chris Ostrowski is a Technical Management Consultant for TUSC in Lakewood, Colorado. Chris has worked with Oracle technologies for almost 20 years and is the author of two Oracle Press books, “Oracle 10g Application Server Development”, co-authored with Brad Brown and the “Oracle Application Server Portal Handbook”. Chris is focused on Service-Oriented Architecture and Fusion Development. He is also a proud member of the Oracle ACE community.

2008 Financial Services Technology ForumThe 2008 Financial Services Technology Forum focuses on new, cutting-edge enterprise applications and solutions that are sustainable, flexible, and increase profitability. This year’s event features over 30 interactive expositions and 20 engaging conference sessions presented to all corporate users, from service providers to small, medium and large businesses alike.To receive complimentary all-access passes to attend this event, please register online at http://e-financial.wowgao.com/registration/multiple or call 1-416-292-0038 ext. 812

For more information:
Registration http://e-financial.wowgao.com/registration/multiple
Agenda http://e-financial.wowgao.com/agenda
Sponsors http://e-financial.wowgao.com/exhibitorlist
Accommodation http://e-financial.wowgao.com/accommodation

Celtic Bank recently closed a commercial loan for Woodcraft franchisee, Boettcher Group, a retail company that provides woodworking tools and supplies. Located in Ventura, California, Woodcraft is delighted to offer their products and services to woodworking professionals and hobbyists in the surrounding area. Wendy Boettcher, President of the company “applauds Celtic’s even-keeled approach to being duly diligent while still working to support the small business owner.”

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, and loan production offices in California, Celtic Bank supports customers throughout the country and is a leading provider of small business, real estate and construction loans. Celtic Bank’s trained specialists can help with a variety of products including SBA and commercial loans, construction, real estate financing, and residential mortgages. Celtic Bank is an Equal Housing, Preferred SBA, and FHA lender and is insured by the FDIC. For more information, visit www.celticbank.com.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Lloyds TSB has become the first bank in the UK to offer a range of banking services allowing customers to monitor and manage their money on a mobile phone.

The new Lloyds TSB Mobile Services are unique in giving customers the ability to move money instantly between accounts through a Mobile Banking application and receive text messages about their finances.

Mobile Services allows customers to securely move money between their Lloyds TSB accounts on their mobile phone. They will also be able to view their account balances, check their last six transactions and receive a wide range of text alerts, to keep them up-to-date with their finances.

The new service will also include an Overseas Transaction Alert. Subscribers will receive an alert if their debit card is used to withdraw cash from a cashpoint or to make a purchase abroad. This alert is designed to give customers control and peace of mind in always knowing what is happening on their savings or current accounts.

Lloyds TSB has four million customers registered for its Internet Banking service and new research2 shows that nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of people use Internet Banking to keep track of their finances.

However, the research also reveals that two thirds (60 per cent) want to be able to keep tabs on their accounts using their mobile phone, while half (53 per cent) want to be able to actively move money between accounts. Over a third (36 per cent) say that being able to manage their money in this way would help them to keep a closer eye on their finances.

Catherine McGrath, director of current accounts, Lloyds TSB said: “Technology is evolving at lightning speed and with these changes come new demands from our customers and new possibilities for products and services to meet their needs.”

The research highlighted the growing trend for mobile phones to be used for a range of purposes other than phone calls. Eight out of ten (81 per cent) say they send or receive texts; more than half (57 per cent) use their phone as a camera; a third (36 per cent) use it as a diary; a quarter listen to the radio through their phones; and a fifth (19 per cent) access the Internet.

Catherine McGrath adds, “Gone are the days when we used our phones only to call friends and family. Mobile phones are now part of our daily lives in a way few would have imagined just a few years ago. Just as Internet banking has taken the country by storm over the past decade, mobile banking is now set to change the way we mange our money.”

“Many customers are already used to the idea of keeping tabs on their bank account using a mobile phone, but we’re launching the next generation of mobile banking that allows people to stay in real control of their money wherever they are.”

http://www.lloydstsb.com/

M&S Money has launched a new ethical fund, designed specifically for customers who want to invest their money with the same principles they apply to other areas of their life. Recent research indicates more than one in five (22%) investors now consider ethical investment when choosing a fund and see it as a mainstream option*.

The M&S Ethical Fund, which can be sheltered within the tax-efficient** ISA wrapper, will seek to provide investors with long term capital growth by investing in predominantly UK companies that meet the social, environmental and ethical criteria defined in the investment policy. The aim is to invest in companies that make a positive contribution to the community or environment. It will avoid investing in companies that have a poor environmental record or are primarily involved in*** the following activities; armaments, gambling, the fur trade, tobacco, and pornography.

The fund will also avoid investing in companies that conduct or commission animal testing for cosmetic or toiletry purposes or make use of child labour.

M&S Money have chosen two expert fund managers to manage the Fund, namely Jupiter Asset Management Limited and Sinopia Asset Management (UK) Limited, which is a specialist fund manager within the HSBC Group.

Brendan Cook, chief executive of M&S Money, commented, “Our saving and spending decisions are increasingly influenced by a desire to take personal responsibility for our impact on society and the environment which is why we are launching a new ethical investment product”.

About M&S Money:
M&S Money (originally called Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc. The company is now a top ten credit card provider and the second largest travel money retailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers travel insurance and insurance for homes, cars, pets and weddings, as well as loans, savings and investments such as a stock and shares ISA.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations with over 9,500 offices in 85 countries and territories. The business continues to operate under the M&S Money brand, with an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

The company employs 1,200 staff at its headquarters in Chester, delivering personal financial services to its customers, reflecting the core values of Marks & Spencer - quality, value, service, innovation and trust.