PNC and Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce to Announce Results of Business Owners' Survey

- 'PNC Economic Outlook' gauges outlook for sales, hiring, credit and housing;

       Chief Economist Stuart Hoffman forecasts U.S. economic trends -

                 MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:  OCT. 4 at 8:30 a.m. ET

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 2, 2007 -- The new results from the PNC Economic Outlook survey of Maryland and Greater Washington Area business owners will be announced Thursday, October 4, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), also will analyze the national results and provide his economic forecast.

The details will be presented to a gathering of business owners and executives at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center. Hoffman will be joined by PNC's Michael Harreld, regional president, Greater Washington Area, and Kenneth Cook, regional chief executive officer, Commercial Banking. Insights also will be shared by Georgette (Gigi) Godwin, president and chief executive officer of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and Edward Hall Asher, president and chief operating officer, The Chevy Chase Land Co., and chairman of the Chamber's board.

PNC's semiannual survey of small and mid-sized business owners across the United States began in 2003. The results include expectations for their own business performance, including sales and profits, for the next six months and beyond.

"The owners of small and mid-sized businesses provide unique insights into the issues that impact economic growth at the local and national levels," said Hoffman, recognized in March by USA Today as one of the nation's leading economic forecasters. Findings from the survey help to uncover economic trends and the outlook on sales, profits and hiring among business owners. The results also delve into their views on credit availability and the continued weakness in the housing market, which have both created anxiety on Wall Street.

Presentation: Thursday, Oct. 4, at 8:30 a.m. ET

Harreld will introduce the presentation, which is the first event hosted by PNC in the Bethesda area since its acquisition of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation. Hoffman will present the survey's national results and his forecast. Cook will discuss the regional findings and Godwin and Asher will provide their local business perspective. National and regional news media are invited to attend the presentation or participate in the live teleconference and webcast hosted by PNC.

    Location:        Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center
                     5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda.

    Internet:        Live audio-only webcast accessible at
                     www.pnc.com/go/presskits/eos

    Dial-in Number:  800-439-1803 or 706-643-9224, Conference ID: 18379837

    Replay Details:  Available on PNC's Web site for 30 days, and via
                     telephone for one week at 800-642-1687 and 706-645-9291,
                     Conference ID: 18379837

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (www.pnc.com) is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations providing consumer and business banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management; asset management; and global fund services.

    CONTACT:

    Sonia McCormick
    (202) 835-5486
    sonia.mccormick@pnc.com

SOURCE The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

Released October 2, 2007