News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 15, 2013) - For the seventh consecutive year, BMO Financial Group has been recognized for exceptional customer service with the Mutual Funds Service Award by DALBAR Inc., the world's premier financial services strategy and operations research firm.

The BMO Investment Centre, which provides mutual fund advice and assists clients in building mutual fund portfolios, ranked highest among mutual fund companies for its English- and French-language services in DALBAR's Performance Evaluation of Mutual Funds Service, Annual Rankings and Trending Report.

BMO Financial Group's top ranking can largely be attributed to placing number one in the following categories measured by DALBAR:

• Expertise
• Sales Effectiveness
• Client Accommodation

"We are honoured to win this prestigious award for the seventh consecutive year and are thrilled that our ongoing commitment to enhancing the customer experience is being recognized," said Connie Stefankiewicz, Senior Vice President, North American Customer Contact Centres, BMO Financial Group. "Our team is made up of knowledgeable and courteous individuals who are focused on understanding the needs of our clients and engaging them in holistic conversations to help them achieve their financial goals."

Ms. Stefankiewicz noted that this acknowledgement from DALBAR validates the BMO team's efforts to go above and beyond industry standards in customer service, expertise, sales effectiveness and professionalism.

"BMO Financial Group continues to lead the Canadian mutual fund industry in providing outstanding customer service," said Michelle Slute, Director Client Relations & Communications at DALBAR. "For seven years now, the BMO team has set the standard for effectively addressing the needs of clients. Our sincerest congratulations to BMO for winning yet another Mutual Funds Service Award."

DALBAR Measurement

These awards are given to the firms placing first in DALBAR's year-end rankings, which are based on evaluations made over the calendar year measuring a company's quality of performance in product and procedural knowledge, professionalism, level of accommodation and their ability to expand and deepen relationships with clients.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $525 billion as at October 31, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.

BMO Mutual Funds are offered by BMO Investments Inc. a financial services firm and separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal.

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About DALBAR, Inc.

As the world's premier financial services strategy and operations research firm, DALBAR, INC. helps leading enterprises develop, build, and operate strong businesses that deliver sustained shareholder value growth. DALBAR's proprietary business design techniques, combined with its specialized industry knowledge and behavioural research expertise, enable companies to anticipate changes in customer priorities and the competitive environment, and then design their businesses and improve operations to seize opportunities created by those changes. The firm serves clients in the Americas and Europe.