News Releases

- Canadians will donate an average of $487 in 2011

- Charitable donations usually spike during the holiday season and so do fraudulent charity schemes

- It's critical for Canadians to do their due diligence before making a donation

- Canadians expect to spend $1397 this holiday season

- Gift giving spend decreases while holiday entertaining spending accounts for the biggest year-over-year increase - up by more than $100

- Albertans set to spend the most on average on gifts

- BMO study finds that most grandparents give approximately $100 a year in gifts to each of their grandkids

- A holiday gift of $100 a year from each set of grandparents to an RESP can provide a child with up to $11,000 for their post-secondary education

- Current cost of a four-year degree can be up to $60,000; it could be as high as $140,000 for a child born in 2011

- BMO offers advice on how to maximize education savings

Writing a story on retirement or investing? Need some background, a quote, a different perspective?

Call the BMO RRSP Media Hotline at 1-866-298-8385 or e-mail Rachael McKay at rachael.mckay@bmo.com

Paying down household debt and holiday gifts top uses for year-end bonuses

- 29 per cent of working Canadians expect to receive a year-end bonus

- 79 per cent of those who anticipate receiving a bonus believe it will be the same or more than last year

- Over half of Canadians who expect to receive a year-end bonus will use the money to pay down household debt

- Over 78,000 franchises across Canada employ more than 1 million people

- Franchising accounts for over 10 per cent of Canada's GDP

- Franchised businesses account for over 40 per cent of all retail sales

BMO Reiterates that the 25 Year Amortization is the Right Mortgage for Right Now

- Only 37 per cent of Canadian parents have appointed a guardian

- 80 per cent of parents would look to family when choosing a guardian

- Majority don't know how much money they would leave to a guardian to cover additional expenses

- The holiday season is an excellent time to begin discussing guardianship with family and friends

- UBC Dairy Education & Research Centre in B.C.'s Fraser Valley receives BMO Financial Group gift

- Research key to the sustainability and productivity of the Canadian dairy industry

- Agriculture sector to grow 2 per cent in 2012, 2 to 3 per cent in subsequent years

Pledge to Fund State-Of-The-Art Equipment at Royal Jubilee Hospital's New Patient Care Centre

- Douglas Porter, Andrew Busch, and Paul Taylor take a look back at 2011 and provide forecast for the year to come

- First bank to introduce RDSP recommends lifetime contribution limit increase to $500,000

- Proposes changes to 10-year rule for accessing funds

- Annual contribution deadline is December 31

- 57 per cent of employers will be hosting an employee holiday party

- 21 per cent of Canadians will be purchasing gifts for co-workers, and

- 6 per cent will be buying a gift just for their boss

- BMO Ultimate Fan contest for Windsor Spitfires will provide fans a chance to win a trip for two to the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup

- Community celebration to kick off four-year partnership with BMO

- Windsor one of 41 communities across Canada where local celebrations will take place

- December 31st deadlines loom for Canadians who want to minimize taxes on their investments

- BMO survey finds that three-quarters of Canadians don't consider tax implications when investing; 40 per cent are not confident they're taking advantage of all tax incentives

Schools, businesses and universities rally behind robotics to promote student success and engage youth in learning

- New BMO branch in the Aspen Landing Shopping Centre represents a $1.1 million investment into the community

- Offers customers extended banking hours, including Sundays

- 'Making Money Make Sense' in four languages

- New program offers simple and cost effective way to buy and hold physical gold

- Allows investors to hold gold in a custodial account or arrange for home delivery

- BMO to hold celebrations in 41 Canadian communities to kick off four-year partnership with the Canadian Hockey League

- BMO launches national Ultimate CHL Fan Contest, providing a lucky fan in each of the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League a chance to win a trip for two to the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup