Visionary Program Provides College Scholarships and Helps City's Students Prepare for the Future as part of Company's Powering Potential Focus

PITTSBURGH, December 22, 2009 — BNY Mellon (NYSE: BK) today announced it will contribute $500,000 to The Pittsburgh Promise from its charitable foundation. The Pittsburgh Promise is a scholarship and college access program designed to help students graduating from the Pittsburgh Public Schools who are also residents of the City of Pittsburgh pursue further education after high school, as well as to enhance the growth, stability, and economic development of the Pittsburgh region.

"BNY Mellon has a strong history of leadership in the Pittsburgh region," said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. "The company realizes that the economic vitality of our City is dependent upon having a well-educated workforce that can support a growing economy. Thanks to BNY Mellon's generous support, The Pittsburgh Promise will continue to grow, offering our young students a chance for a better tomorrow."

"This is a down payment on the future workforce of our region, as well as an investment that assists in strengthening an important school district," said Vincent V. Sands, Chairman, BNY Mellon of Pennsylvania. "We believe in powering the potential of the youth in this region."

Powering Potential, BNY Mellon's philanthropic focus, is designed to help others in need by concentrating workforce development or the provision of basic needs. The company's workforce development investments improve access to employment through job training, education, mentoring and skills development.

"Our goal with The Pittsburgh Promise is to help our children and their families plan, prepare and pay for education after high school," said Pittsburgh Public Schools' Superintendent Mark Roosevelt. "With the support of BNY Mellon and others, our youngest citizens will be preparing for the important work of their future and transforming their communities too."

Launched in 2007 with a $100 million commitment by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, The Pittsburgh Promise makes higher education achievable for all Pittsburgh Public Schools students regardless of need or income. The Pittsburgh Promise operates as a supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation, with financial and administrative oversight provided by a twelve-member Board of Directors comprising civic and community leaders from the Pittsburgh region.

Graduates who qualify for Promise scholarships may choose from any public or private University in Pennsylvania. To qualify for grants from The Pittsburgh Promise, students must meet residency, enrollment and Grade Point Average (GPA) criteria. Requirements include residency within the City of Pittsburgh, enrollment in Pittsburgh Public Schools, including schools chartered by the district, as well as a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a minimum attendance rate of 90 percent.

"The Promise is already motivating the Pittsburgh Public Schools students to 'Dream Big' and 'Work Hard' in order to improve the prospects for their future," said Executive Director, Saleem Ghubril.

For more information, visit PittsburghPromise.org.

BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. The company is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $22.1 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $966 billion in assets under management, services $11.9 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.6 trillion per day. Additional information is available at bnymellon.com.