News Releases

BMO Bank of Montreal today announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art main branch in the heart of Ottawa’s business district at 269 Laurier Avenue West. The new main branch will replace BMO’s former main branch located at 144 Wellington Street and the BMO L’Esplanade-Laurier branch at 144 O’Connor Street.

The new BMO-branded tower creates a distinctive presence in downtown Ottawa with its dramatic glass atrium rising from the ground floor and capped on all four sides by 25 by 11 foot signs featuring BMO’s ‘red rondel’ logos. BMO’s main branch will occupy the first two floors of the 19-story 400,000 square foot office tower.

“We’re excited at moving into the new facility and enthusiastic about helping acquaint our existing and new customers with the enhanced services that we are able to offer at this new location,” said Jamie McMillan, Senior Vice President Eastern and Northern Ontario District, BMO Bank of Montreal. “We are extremely proud to be able to add BMO’s presence to the evolving skyline of the nation’s capital and to be able to welcome our customers to what I believe to be one of the most customer-friendly and best designed bank branches in the country.”

The new bank branch will offer BMO customers full personal and commercial banking services such as loans, mortgages, investments and everyday banking services.

In addition, the branch will feature:

• Financial planners
• Investment and retirement planning specialists
• BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisors
• A BMO Harris Private Banking Consultant
• Full wheelchair accessibility
• Five Automatic Banking Machines (ABMs) providing access to accounts and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week

As part of the opening week’s events, the branch will be hosting a charity barbeque to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Customers and guests are welcome to join branch staff at the barbeque, which will be held on Thursday, June 9, from 10 am to 2 pm EDT.

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $292 billion as at April 30, 2005, and more than 33,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions. BMO Financial Group serves clients across Canada through its Canadian retail arm, BMO Bank of Montreal; and through BMO Nesbitt Burns, one of Canada’s leading full-service investment firms. BMO Financial Group is a major contributor to many Ottawa-area institutions including the University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital and the United Way of Ottawa. BMO Bank of Montreal has 22 branches serving its customers in the Ottawa Carlton Area.

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