News Releases

CHICAGO, February 12, 2010 - BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), is pleased to announce the inaugural issue of the Busch Global Political Strategy Report (Busch GPS).

Busch GPS will provide clients and media with up-to-date information on the latest major political developments in Washington as well as frequent analysis of political themes impacting the global financial markets. Written by Andy Busch, Global Currency and Public Policy Strategist, BMO Capital Markets, the report will be issued on a bi-weekly basis.

"BMO Capital Markets' additional focus on public policy is of growing importance to our clients as the role of government has become more intertwined with the markets and the private sector," said Mr. Busch.

Today's edition of Busch GPS focuses on the following items:

• Senate Jobs Bill - What might the bill contain?
• Obama Budget - What will be the impact of proposed individual tax rate increases on the small business sector?
• Financial Regulatory Reform - How to deal with the "Too-Big-To-Fail" firms?
• Chinese Lending - How are markets reacting to uncertainty over Chinese monetary policy and what are the long-term effects?

Based in Chicago, Mr. Busch provides clients with insights on public policy issues in both the United States and Canada. He also publishes the Busch Update, a daily report which studies factors impacting global foreign currencies.

Mr. Busch is widely followed by clients and media for his daily commentaries and his appearances on major financial news outlets, including CNBC where he is a regular contributor. He is a recognized expert on world financial markets and how these markets are shaped by political events.

In 1990, Mr. Busch joined BMO's Foreign Exchange Group in Chicago. Prior to that, he traded foreign exchange at Northern Trust Company. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University and received a MBA from the University of Chicago.

To be added to the distribution list for the Busch GPS or Busch Update reports, please call (416) 867-3996.

About BMO's Global Research Group
BMO's leading team of 70 research analysts covers more than 850 stocks across diverse industry sectors, and has an excellent long-term track record. BMO Capital Markets also provides clients with equity strategy, quantitative analysis and portfolio management services. For more information, visit, http://www.bmocm.com/research/equities

About BMO Capital Markets Global Foreign Exchange Group
BMO Capital Markets' Foreign Exchange Group is a team of nearly 100 professionals based in eight cities around the world from Beijing to Chicago. The FX group holds a dominant position in the Canadian-dollar foreign exchange market and is top-ranked by large hedge funds and pension funds for institutional liquidity and pricing capacity. In November, BMO Capital Markets was named the Best Bank for the Canadian Dollar by FX Week Magazine. In September, BMO Capital Markets was recognized as the Top Foreign Exchange Bank in Canada by European CEO Magazine. Earlier this year, BMO Capital Markets was voted best FX market-maker in a survey by the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) and the Interbank Funding Centre. BMO's Foreign Exchange Group trades in all major and other exotic currencies - 40 tradable currencies and exotics and over 100 currency pairs. For more information, visit: www.bmocm.com/products/marketrisk/fx/

About BMO Capital Markets
BMO Capital Markets is a leading full-service North American financial services provider, with more than 2,200 employees operating in 14 North American offices and 27 worldwide, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with $389 billion total assets and more than 36,000 employees as at October 31, 2009.