News Releases

PORT COLBORNE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 22, 2013) - BMO Bank of Montreal today announced the opening of its new branch in Port Colborne. The new 'studio' model branch is located within Port Colborne Mall at 287 West Side Road. The branch was previously located at 124 Clarence Street.

"This is the third studio branch BMO has opened - a model that reflects our continued efforts to address the changing needs of our customer base," said Paul Dilda, Head, North American Branch Channel, BMO Bank of Montreal. "The new studio branch is fully integrated within a commercial real estate development right where customers have told us they want to do their banking."

The new Port Colborne branch serves customers six days a week and is designed to provide a great banking experience through a variety of financial services and conveniences. The studio branch features include:

• Open banker workstations: The traditional enclosed office spaces have been replaced with an open layout to allow customers greater visibility and access to branch staff.
• Shared customer meeting spaces: The studio branches include new customer meeting spaces that allow for more comfortable, collaborative and private conversations between customers and BMO staff.
• Central location: The new branch is conveniently located in Port Colborne Mall.
• Condensed size: The studio branch model boasts a smaller footprint, at 1,000 square feet.
• Customer connectivity: BMO WiFi network provides free internet access for branch customers for their banking and other personal needs.
• Additionally, the branch will provide a 24-hour ATM, services provided in five different languages and barrier-free access.

Mr. Dilda added that BMO's mandate of providing a great customer experience means connecting with customers where they live and work, a concept the new studio branch model is designed to address.

The studio branch will employ five BMO bankers that will be able to provide both sales and service expertise depending on the needs of the customer. The other studio branches are located within Oakridge Mall in Vancouver, British Columbia and on Nun's Island in Verdun, Quebec.

"We're very excited to be bringing a studio branch to Port Colborne. We feel its unique location, layout and extended banking hours will make it more convenient for our customers to fit in conversations with our team about all of their financial needs," said Richard Jaques, District Vice President, Personal Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal.

In celebration of the branch opening, customers who open a new BMO Kids Discounted Banking Plan and deposit $25 before August 31, 2013, will receive another $25 from BMO to help kick-start their children's savings. For more information, please visit the branch.

The Port Colborne branch's extended hours of operation are:

• 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday;
• 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday; and
• 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

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 $555 billion as at April 30, 2013, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.