News Releases

TORONTO, June 10, 2010 - Maclean's Magazine today revealed that BMO Financial Group has been named among its 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations. This is the second year in a row BMO has received this honour, having been named to the inaugural list in 2009.

In naming BMO to the list, Maclean's cited three elements in particular:

• BMO's introduction of the Clear Blue Skies Initiative, a company-wide strategy aimed at protecting and improving air quality through energy reduction and efficiency; waste management; and sustainable transport, materials and procurement;
• BMO's introduction of BMO SmartSteps, a program designed to help customers save, and a support program to help those most affected by the economic downturn;
• BMO's provision of basic banking services in remote northern and Aboriginal communities, and its on-reserve housing loan programs.

"We are very proud to have been recognized among the most socially responsible corporations in Canada," said Bill Downe, President and CEO, BMO Financial Group. "Operating our business ethically and according to the principles of honesty, transparency and accountability are central to who we are and what we stand for. We also understand that we can't belong to a community - share in its resources, enjoy its benefits - without giving back."

Companies are selected on the basis of their performance across a broad range of environmental, social, and governance indicators tracked by Jantzi Sustainalytics.

BMO and Corporate Social Responsibility

In 2009, BMO contributed $55 million in donations, sponsorships and events to support charitable and not-for-profit organizations in communities across Canada and the United States. Contributions were strategically focused on five main areas; education, health care, arts and culture, civic and community initiatives and national federated appeals.

BMO is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Series Index. BMO has also appeared on Corporate Knights Magazine's Best 50 Corporate Citizens list every year since 2003.

BMO is a long-time signatory and respondent to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP); it is also one of the highest scoring companies in the world and the only Canadian bank in the CDP's Global 500 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index for 2009.

BMO is a leader in reducing its non-renewable energy consumption. BMO purchases over 115,200 megawatt hours per year of emission-free electricity from clean, renewable sources like wind and low-impact water to power facilities across North America. Together, these purchases will have mitigated approximately 35 per cent of BMO's total enterprise emissions while supporting the development of non fossil fuel based energy sources.Visit BMO's Corporate Responsibility website (www.bmo.com/corporateresponsibility) for additional information including our 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report and Public Accountability Statement.