News Releases

NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(Marketwire - May 27, 2011) -

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BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), has donated $200,000 to the Financial Women's Association (FWA) of New York Educational Fund. FWA is professional organization that helps to shape leaders in the financial services industry, emphasizing the roles and development of women. The contribution was made via the BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education program, a charitable initiative aimed at creating a more diverse workplace. It offers support to help bright, deserving people realize their educational ambitions by giving them opportunities they might not otherwise have.

"We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the Financial Women's Association – their work helps achieve our goal of levelling the playing field in the financial sector and the financial services industry," said Patrick Cronin, Head of Trading Products, BMO Capital Markets. "Whether in the private or non-profit sectors, the beneficiaries of the FWA's programs are already making an impact and helping to pave the way for the next generation of great women business leaders."

The donation will support the FWA-BMO Capital Markets Scholarship Fund at Baruch College as well as the BMO Capital Markets Undergraduate Scholarships for FWA-Murry Bergtraum High School Mentees. Both programs provide scholarships for post-secondary education as well as a mentoring program.

To date, Equity Through Education has raised CDN$9.6 million (US$8.85 million), which has gone toward funding assistance to more than 2,000 students through scholarships, bursaries, mentoring programs and job search strategy forums.

"The FWA applauds BMO Capital Markets for its ongoing support of student programs. As a result of BMO's generous contributions, we have been able to expand our initiatives to help more young women be better prepared when they enter the workforce," said FWA President Susan Ganz.

This year's cheque presentation was made at the FWA's 2011 Annual Dinner and 27th Women of the Year Awards, held on Thursday, May 19, in New York City. BMO Capital Markets has contributed more than US$1.2 million to the Financial Women's Association since 2005.

About the BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education program

Equity Through Education is a charitable initiative aimed at creating a more diverse workplace by offering support to help people realize their educational ambitions by giving them opportunities they might not otherwise have.

Each year the equivalent of one day's worth of North American institutional equity trading commissions are donated to organizations dedicated to the education of bright and deserving individuals.

To date, Equity Through Education has raised CAD$9.6 million (US$8.85 million). This translates into assistance to over 2,000 students through scholarships, bursaries and job search strategy forums.

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider, with over 2,000 employees operating in 14 North American offices and 26 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:BMO)(TSX:BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$437 billion total assets and 38,000 employees as at April 30, 2011.

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