WASHINGTON & MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Richard Davis, chairman, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Bancorp (USB), led a delegation of U.S. Bank employees to accept the Freedom Award from the Secretary of Defense and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve on Thursday, Sept. 26, at a ceremony in Washington D.C.

U.S. Bank is one of only 15 companies chosen to receive this years award from 2,900 nominations. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest honor given to employers in recognition of the companys commitment to supporting National Guard and Reserve employees.

This week, we honor members of the National Guard and Reserve who carry that legacy forward, said President Barack Obama in a September 20 proclamation honoring the award recipients. We thank the employers who support them; and we reaffirm our promise to provide our troops, our veterans, and our military families with the opportunities they have earned.

It is inspiring and a great honor to be recognized by our nations leaders for the work that thousands of U.S. Bank employees have done and continue to do to make our company a great place to work for veterans and active duty soldiers, Davis said. We are humbled and deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice of our military families, and will continue to build a legacy of support for those who have given so much on behalf of our country.

The 2013 award recipients include large and small businesses, as well as public sector agencies that have gone above and beyond their legal obligations to military employees, offering formal and informal initiatives that ensure service members and their families are taken care of throughout all types of military service. The recipients measures of support included creating special hiring programs, providing personal support to families such as home maintenance, and continuing full benefits, salary and additional paid leave options during deployment.

U.S. Bank supports Guard and Reserve employees through the Proud to Serve program, a company-wide initiative focused on hiring and supporting service members and their families. U.S. Bank committed to hiring 1,000 service members and veterans by the end of 2013. U.S. Bank was also recognized for the Freedom Award for providing two weeks of additional paid leave to family members impacted by a deployment, among other military support policies. U.S. Bank currently employs more than 2,000 current and former members of the U.S. military.

In addition to its employment practices, which have been recognized by Military Times and G.I. Jobs, U.S. Bank has a number of banking services in place to support veterans and military families. The company offers military members its Platinum Package which entitles them to a full suite of benefits that include waived monthly maintenance fees on checking accounts and no annual fees on home equity lines of credit. U.S. Bank provides a dedicated customer service center and financial education resources specifically for military families. In 2013, U.S. Bank began a home donation program for veterans in need through nonprofits Military Warriors Support Foundation and Freedom Alliance.

A complete list of Freedom Award honorees is available at http://www.FreedomAward.mil.

About ESGR Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense office established in 1972, develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR's mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce. On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, ESGR runs the annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award program. Created in 1996, the Freedom Award has been presented to 175 employers since its inception.

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U.S. Bank Accepts Freedom Award in Washington D.C. Ceremony