What's a "bee-mo"?
Our name is BMO – pronounced "bee-mo." Short for Bank of Montreal (our founding name), BMO is the symbol that links our member companies and is also our stock ticker symbol on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.
BMO Financial Group
Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is one of the largest diversified financial services organizations in North America with US$437 billion in assets and more than 39,000 employees.1 With the addition of M&I operations, we are over 45,000 employees strong.
In both Canada and the United States, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial, wealth management and investment and corporate banking products and solutions. Over the years we have grown our operations in many other countries, including China, to better meet the evolving business and personal needs of our North American clients.
BMO has been providing financial services to customers in the United States since before the Civil War. When we acquired Chicago-based Harris Bank in 1984, we took a significant step forward in our strategy to become a diversified North American financial services organization. BMO Financial Group is the ninth largest financial institution in North America.2
Learn more about BMO Financial Group
1 As at April 30, 2011.
2 Ninth largest financial institution in North America based on market capitalization as of June 27, 2011, source: Bloomberg.
What kind of company is BMO?
Shared beliefs are what bring people, as well as businesses, together. BMO believes that:
A company’s first responsibility is to be well managed.
We run our company ethically and transparently and we understand the important role we play in supporting a stable, prosperous economy. Sensible risk management is part of our culture and guides every aspect of our business.
The ultimate measure of our success is our customers’ success.
A commitment to helping our customers succeed is at the center of everything we do and everything we are. It’s the reason we aspire to be the bank that defines great customer experience.
Community matters.
BMO was founded on the belief that all banking is local. A deep understanding of the people, communities and local economies we serve is essential to helping both customers and communities thrive.
A company is only as strong as its people.
We believe in our people and we support them in their work. They deliver on our promises every day. We know that in the end, it all comes down to relationships between individuals. Sustainability and success go hand in hand. Helping to ensure a greener tomorrow isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also good business. BMO is building more environmentally friendly branches, choosing video conferencing over travel, powering branches and offices with 100% renewable energy, and investing in community greening initiatives.
A long and proud history in the United States
1818
As Bank of Montreal, we established our first agency in the United States in 1818, just one year after incorporating in Canada. We set up our first permanent office in Manhattan’s bustling financial district 41 years later.
1861
A group of Chicago grain merchants invited Bank of Montreal to set up a permanent agency in their city. The bank soon emerged as the leading source of finance for Chicago’s export trade.
1871
After Chicago’s Great Fire, Bank of Montreal became one of the major corporate contributors to the Fire Relief Fund. Community support continues to be an important part of our culture and commitment.
1984
BMO acquired Chicago-based Harris Bank, significantly expanding our North American footprint.
1994
We became the first Canadian bank to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange – a further sign of our commitment to the U.S. market.
1994 – 2010
We continued to expand our U.S. presence and the strength of our offering through a series of acquisitions, growing to serve nearly 1.3 million customers in the U.S. 2011 BMO Financial Group acquired Wisconsin-based M&I Corporation. Our combined banking operations make BMO the 11th largest bank in North America by number of branches.3
Learn more about the history of BMO 
3 Source SNL Financial and Company disclosure at April 30, 2011.
