U.S. Bank will award up to 40 Internet scholarships for the 2009 – 2010 academic year. Previously, U.S. Bank awarded up to 30 Internet scholarships each year, and it was limited to graduating high school seniors.

"Attempting to address the economic challenges that many students and their families are experiencing, U.S. Bank is providing ten additional Internet scholarships this year,” said Beth Dinndorf, senior vice president and manager of U.S. Bank Student Banking. “We also want students who are currently enrolled as undergraduates at a college or university to be able to apply for an Internet scholarship.” Scholarship awards for the past 13 years total more than $350,000.

The U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship program, available only via U.S. Bank’s web site, will award up to 40 college scholarships valued at $1,000 each. The U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship Program application is available exclusively via the Internet between now and March 31, 2010. Internet access is available at most high schools, colleges and public libraries at no charge. Eligible high school seniors and college or university undergraduates can now go online to access this source of college scholarship dollars at www.usbank.com/studentloans.

Scholarship award recipients are selected through a random drawing process. A high school senior planning to enroll or a current college freshmen, sophomore or junior at an eligible four-year college or university participating in the U.S. Bank No Fee Education Loan Program are eligible to apply. They must also be a United States citizen or permanent resident alien, and be enrolled by September 2010. Recipients of a U.S. Bank Internet Scholarship will be notified of their selection during the spring of 2010. Visit the web site at www.usbank.com/studentloans for additional scholarship information.

U.S. Bank is one of the top student banking institutions in the nation, providing a comprehensive line of student banking products including private student loans, campus ID card programs, Internet banking, U.S. Bank student checking and savings and Visa Buxx^® prepaid spending cards. U.S. Bank’s private No Fee Education Loan can help fill the gap when federal Stafford loans are not enough. Students can access the No Fee Education Loan, as well as paying for college information at U.S. Bank's web site www.usbank.com/studentloans.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with assets of $265 billion, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 2,851 banking offices and 5,175 ATMs in 24 states, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of U.S. Bank. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.