Customers
"We want to see Farm Boy ten years from now across Canada bringing the best fresh shopping experience to all Canadians, and TD is going to be there to support our growth." – Jeff York
Farm Boy, Ottawa, Ontario
Partnering for healthy growth
For Farm Boy, a market-chain specializing in farm fresh produce and a unique shopping experience, TD Bank Group is the cream of the crop. The grocer has been a loyal customer of the bank for more than 30 years.
Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, the company's humble beginnings as a produce stand in Cornwall, Ontario, led to a successful, 14 -store chain throughout Canada's capital and its neighbouring communities – with no plans to slow down. The company is looking to expand outside of Eastern Ontario and in the future, across Canada. Farm Boy, like TD, is always looking forward.
The Farm Boy leadership team sees customer service as a key ingredient for their growth and success. They know it's important to meet customers' needs and provide a great experience every day, and they value the fact that TD shares this commitment to service. "TD has been there whenever we've needed them," said Jeff York, Farm Boy's Chief Executive Officer.
Hear Jeff tell their story.
"The outstanding relationship and banking expertise we enjoy with our TD team is an added bonus…" – Tom Liagridonis
The Knight Automotive Group, Regina, Saskatchewan
A powerful partnership
The Knight Automotive Group is one of the fastest growing auto dealer groups in Western Canada. They needed a strong financing partner who would understand their business, and they chose TD.
Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, The Knight Group retails six automotive brands across 10 dealerships, as well as offering lease rental and recreation vehicle financing. Beginning last year, TD's Business Bank and TD Auto Finance teams collaborated to offer first rate support to the growing Knight Group. Today, TD Auto Finance continues to drive Knight Group growth and profitability through innovative floor plan financing, specialized loans, and advanced cash management capabilities.
"The origination of our floor plan and banking was very transparent and seamless," said Tom Liagridonis, Chief Financial Officer, Knight Automotive Group. "We are thankful to work with a team at TD that fully understands the automotive finance business, and the capital requirements of a growing enterprise."
From wholesale financing to retail financing to revolving lines of credit, TD supports Knight Automotive Group growth in multiple ways.
"The outstanding relationship and banking expertise we enjoy with our TD team is an added bonus," Tom continued. "We look forward to a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship going forward."
"People would walk in and just cry, and I have to be honest, I cried with them. They didn't want you to be a banker, they wanted you to be a person, and to understand." – Debby Rumbolo
TD is stronger than the storm
As Superstorm Sandy roared towards the Eastern Seaboard last October, experts predicted an epic storm, prompting evacuations and wide scale shut downs. By the time it was over, millions were without power, thousands without homes, and countless others faced life-changing hardship.
The storm also impacted TD in a way never experienced before. Nearly 1,000 of the 1,300 TD locations were closed at the storm's peak. While the recovery began, TD Bank quickly turned its attention to its employees, customers and communities.
Working around the clock to get employees back to work and customers back in business, TD teams on both sides of the border had 90% of TD locations serving customers within a week, dispatching mobile banking units to the hardest hit areas.
TD waived fees on consumer and small business deposit accounts, credit cards and early Certificate of Deposit withdrawals. Also, TD paid for expedited delivery of debit and credit cards to customers in need. Likewise, TD Auto Finance offered a disaster hardship program to impacted customers who requested assistance regarding their monthly automobile payment.
To help communities rebuild and recover, TD Bank Group and the TD Charitable Foundation donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross the day after the storm. At the local level, TD employees put the interests of others above their own as they stepped in to help out wherever they could.
"People would walk in and just cry, and I have to be honest, I cried with them," said Debby Rumbolo, Ortley Beach, New Jersey, Store Manager, who also had three feet of water in her home. "They didn't want you to be a banker, they wanted you to be a person, and to understand."
Stories like Debby's show why Banking Human can make a world of difference after a disaster strikes.
"When the atmosphere is consistent every time a customer steps into branch, it will most certainly result in a loyalty that cannot be breached." – Katharine Almas
Katharine Almas, Lake Country, British Columbia
Loyal for life
Every day across TD's footprint, our employees strive to make a difference in the lives of our customers. Whether in a branch or store, on the phone or online, we take the time to show those who bank with us how much we care. Katharine Almas, impressed with her experience, let us know the difference we made for her.
A resident of Lake Country, British Columbia, Katharine has been banking with TD since a student in her painting class (and former TD employee) suggested she make the move. She has been a fan of the Lake Country branch since it opened in March 2012, and recently decided to put it in writing.
"From the first moment I walked in the door, it was different," said Katharine in her handwritten letter sent to TD this year. "A young man looked up from his work, smiled and said 'Good morning.' I looked over my shoulder to see who he was talking to."
Whether she needed assistance with taxes, pension plans or a savings account, Katharine got help above and beyond what she expected from the courteous, respectful and professional staff – every time.
"When the atmosphere is consistent every time a customer steps into branch, it will most certainly result in a loyalty that cannot be breached," she said.
Katharine knows she isn't the branch's biggest customer – "In fact, I'm probably their smallest!" she laughed – but the employees make a positive impact at every interaction and consistently treat her like a VIP.
"When you make customers feel valued they are yours for life," said Katherine. "This is my bank. You couldn't drag me to another."
"The TD team was always available to discuss issues, bounce ideas around and talk strategy..." – David Cornhill
Altagas, Calgary, Alberta
Energizing success
From a startup in 1994 to a company worth close to 8 billion dollars today, AltaGas has turned molehills into mountains. Under the leadership of founder David Cornhill, working with TD as a strategic financing partner, the company has grown to become a leader in North American energy infrastructure.
"The relationship with TD was invaluable during our startup phase. The TD team was always available to discuss issues, bounce ideas around and talk strategy," said David Cornhill, AltaGas Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "They asked very good questions that made us think. This type of dialogue has carried on throughout the years."
Based in Calgary, AltaGas owns and operates assets in gas, power and utilities across North America with a focus in Canada and the northern and western United States. Over the last five years, AltaGas has added more than $4 billion in new assets, and TD has been a valued advisor and key partner in helping to finance that growth.
"We get together on an annual basis with the TD team to review the company, discuss where AltaGas is going and talk about how TD can help us on the finance and business side," added David. "They are always responsive and offer straightforward advice."
TD recently co-led the largest-ever common offering by AltaGas, to successfully finance a key transaction, involving equity and investment banking teams in both Calgary and Toronto.
The long-term nature of the energy business leads to many considerations when making strategic capital market and investment decisions. "The TD team understands this dynamic and knows the energy sector well, which is why we turn to them for advice."