News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO and NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(Marketwire - Oct. 5, 2012) - BMO Capital Markets, the investment & corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO), announced today it will donate CAD $1.25 million (US $1.27 million) to eight charities across North America through the firm's Equity Through Education program.

Every year, since the program launched in 2005, BMO Capital Markets has donated the institutional equity trading commissions earned in the U.S. and Canada during the course of a day to North American charities that support education.

To date, Equity Through Education has raised more than $12 million (US $12.5 million). The program has helped more than 2,500 individuals who have directly benefited from scholarships, bursaries and other educational initiatives, such as job search strategy forums.

"For the past eight years, we've seen enormous support for this program from our clients and our Equity Products team," said Eric Tripp, President, BMO Capital Markets. "This program helps people achieve their dreams with the opportunity to develop themselves through education."

This year, the proceeds from the BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education 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

• Indspire

• Lime Connect

• Pathways to Education Canada

• Women in Capital Markets

About 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 providing them 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 29 offices worldwide, including 16 in North America and 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, one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with total assets of $542 billion and more than 46,000 employees as at July 31, 2012.