News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 7, 2011) - BMO Financial Group was named today as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, an annual, national competition which recognizes Canada's best places to work.

"We are proud to be honoured as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers," said Lynn Roger, Senior Vice-President, Talent Strategies and Executive Resourcing, BMO Financial Group. "Our steadfast commitment to supporting our people and creating a work environment that truly helps employees' turn their potential into performance underpins everything we do and makes us an employer of choice."

The bank received an A+ or A rating in five of eight categories:

• Training & Skills Development, A+ : Exceptional
• Community Involvement, A+ : Exceptional
• Financial Benefits and Compensation, A+ : Exceptional
• Physical Workplace, A: Above Average
• Employee Engagement, A: Above Average

BMO's work atmosphere and vacation/time-off programs were deemed to be very good (B+).

Judges noted several reasons for BMO's selection, highlighting:

• Maternity and parental leave top-up payments to employees who are new mothers, fathers, or adoptive parents (to 95 per cent of salary for 6 weeks) along with health benefit coverage during their leave as well as the option to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence
• Great financial rewards including signing bonuses for some employees, year-end bonuses, low interest home loans, and a share purchase plan available to all employees – letting everyone share in the company's success
• Ongoing employee development through subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation, as well as hundreds of course offerings through the banks impressive Institute for Learning in Toronto
• Paid internship opportunities, formal mentoring program and career planning workshops that help employees advance their careers at BMO
• Retirement planning assistance that helps older workers prepare for life after work, generous contributions to a defined benefit pension plan, and health coverage that extends into retirement (with no age limit)
• An enlightened sick-day policy through which employees can apply for personal days off (called People Care Days) that may be used for everything from moving to extended family responsibilities

A full explanation of the editorial reasons for BMO's selection can be found at Eluta, Canada's Top 100 Employers' job search engine by clicking on the following link: http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-bank-of-montreal.