Lead by RBC Financial Group, six of Canada’s biggest financial institutions were rated among the Top 25 of the country’s most-respected corporations, according to a survey published today.

RBC was rated at the most-respected corporation for the second year in a row by 255 chief executive officers in a survey by Ipsos-Reid and sponsored by KPMG. The survey asked Canadian CEOs to indicate the corporations they most admire and respect in nine categories.

RBC lead in five of the nine categories measured by the survey: best long-term investment value; human resources management; financial performance; corporate social responsibility; and corporate governance.

“Today, corporate reputation matters more than ever,” Bill Dillabough, managing partner-markets, KPMG, said in a statement. “This survey recognizes businesses that, through their actions and their policies, have earned the respect of corporate Canada’s leaders. We at KPMG are proud to support this survey, which draws attention to the importance of respect and integrity in the business world.”

Bank of Nova Scotia finished seventh, up from 12th last year, while BMO Financial Group was ninth, up from 20th in 2002. CIBC placed 13th, up from 16th, and Manulife Financial Corp. was 15th, up three spots. TD Bank Financial Group fell nine places to 18th in the annual survey.

No financial institutions placed in the Top 10 in the “innovation and product/service development” category (lead by research In Motion Ltd.). RBC was the only financial institution in the Top 10 (seventh) in the “high quality service/product” category.

The survey was conducted between August and November 2003, and was based on interviews conducted with 255 Canadian CEOs. The interviewees were selected at random from the Report on Business Public 1000 and the Financial Post 500 rankings for 2003.