News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO and NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(Marketwire - Oct. 6, 2011) - BMO Capital Markets, the investment & corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO), announced today it will donate CAD $1.5 million (US$ 1.4 million) to eight charities across North America through the firm's Equity Through Education charitable initiative.

The donation represents commissions earned on all institutional equity trades executed by BMO Capital Markets in Canada and the U.S. on October 4, 2011.

"I want to thank our clients for supporting Equity Through Education each and every year. Their trades help hundreds of young people achieve their educational ambitions, and in turn, creates a more diverse workplace," said Eric Tripp, President, BMO Capital Markets. "Congratulations to our Equity Products team, as well, for their ongoing commitment to this important initiative."

Since the launch of the program in 2005, Equity Through Education has raised a total of CAD$11.1 million (US$10.4 million), assisting more than 2,500 individuals who have directly benefited from scholarships, bursaries and other educational programs.

This year, the proceeds from BMO Capital Markets' Trading Day will go to the following eight North American charities:

• Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation
• The Financial Women's Association
• Foundation for the Advancement of Aboriginal Youth
• The Jackie Robinson Foundation
• Lime Connect
• National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
• Pathways to Education Canada
• Women in Capital Markets Return to Bay Street program

About BMO Capital Markets' Equity Through Education Program

Equity Through Education is a charitable initiative and is aimed at creating a more diverse workplace by offering support to help people realize their educational ambitions by providing those individuals with opportunities they might not otherwise have. To learn more about Equity Through Education visit: http://www.bmocm.com/equitythrougheducation.

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider, with 2,200 employees operating in 17 North American locations and 29 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$499 billion total assets and more than 47,000 employees as at July 31, 2011.