Ohio Treasury Partners With U.S. Bank To Help Ohioans Conserve Energy And Lower Utility Costs

Cincinnati, OH – February 19, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Treasury announced that it will partner with U.S. Bank to offer the Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-LINK) program to help Ohioans save money as they make their homes more energy efficient. Ohio homeowners are eligible to receive a 3 percent interest rate-reduction on qualifying bank loans for five years. They may also qualify for up to $1500 in federal tax credits and additional rebates.

“I am pleased that U.S. Bank will partner with us to provide reduced- rate financing opportunities for Ohioans who complete energy efficient projects on their homes, “said Treasurer Kevin Boyce. “To date, we have 20 financial institutions who are offering this program in 79 counties throughout the state, but our goal is to expand ECO-Link to all 88 counties. This partnership will allow us to offer the residents in Cincinnati and across the state the opportunity to conserve energy, reduce their utility rates and spur job creation for Ohio.”

Jim Schwab, U.S. Bank Cincinnati market president, said, “U.S. Bank is excited to partner with the Ohio Treasury to provide the ECO-LINK program to our customers, who can stop into any our 328 offices within the state and discuss this great partnership. We are open for business and ready to lend.”

Lisa O’Brien, director of environmental affairs at U.S. Bank, added U.S. Bank proudly supports green initiatives such as ECO-LINK. “This program will help our customers conserve energy through more affordable financing of the improvements to their homes. Customers may also benefit from additional tax credits and rebates for qualifying energy efficient upgrades, making it a great way for customers to save money while also saving resources.”

The mission of the Ohio Treasury is to protect and invest state funds, while providing innovative financial education and resources, empowering Ohioans to make Smart Money Choices. To learn more about the Ohio Treasury, visit: www.ohiotreasurer.org.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $281 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2009, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,015 banking offices in 25 states and 5,148 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.
To learn more about the ECO-Link program, visit: ecolink.ohio.gov or call 1.800.228.1102.

Media Contacts: Níel M. Jurist – Ohio Treasury -614.466.5341
Lisa Clark – U.S. Bank – 608.877.7517