BMO Harris Bank Employees Provide Helping Hands Across Chicagoland

CHICAGO, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago employees of BMO Harris Bank are setting out to make a difference. During the week of June 4, over 1,500 employees will be taking time away from their desk to volunteer at over 50 organizations in the Greater Chicagoland Area.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is one of many organizations benefiting from BMO's Volunteer Day, when nearly 100 employees will work alongside Garden botanists on plant production, display gardens and the restoration of native prairie areas.

"The Chicago Botanic Garden is incredibly grateful to be chosen as a partner for BMO's annual Employee Volunteer Day," said Steve Ball, Director - Corporate Relations, Chicago Botanic Garden. "BMO is already an outstanding partner to the Garden by supporting the Antiques & Garden Fair and the Farm Dinner Series -- but our partnership takes on a new dimension when employees take the time to volunteer at the Garden and work alongside our own staff and volunteers -- we could not do what we do without their support!"

In addition, nearly 100 employees will work with Friends of the Chicago River, cleaning and restoring a section of the Chicago River. Through the company's Junior Achievement Program, nearly 50 employees will spend their morning at Darwin Elementary, teaching students the basic concepts of business and economics while exploring the roles of consumers and workers in the community.

These activities are part of BMO Volunteer Day, in which over 6,500 BMO Financial Group employees across North America will be participating in over 400 projects to improve their communities. BMO Volunteer Day is an initiative that encourages employees to recognize the needs of their local community, establish a volunteer project and mobilize teams to fill that need. This is the first North American-wide BMO Volunteer Day, which initially started with efforts at both M&I in 2001 and Harris and BMO Capital Markets in 2007.

"Lending a hand to our communities is something our employees are encouraged to do, not just today but all year long," said Mike Lewis, Regional President, BMO Harris Bank. "This year more employees than ever will be out in our communities, making an even greater impact on the well being of our neighbors and local nonprofits."

About BMO Harris Bank
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 650 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida.  BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S.  Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank(SM) is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.

BMO Harris Bank is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Banking deposit and loan products and services are provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Brokerage products are offered through Harris Investor Services, Inc. (HIS), a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and SEC-registered investment advisor. Insurance products are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Investment banking services are provided by BMO Capital Markets Corp. (BMOCMC) and BMO Capital Markets GKST, Inc. (GKST), a Municipal Bond Dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc. (Harris SBSB), an SEC registered investment advisor. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC (Harris myCFO), an SEC-registered investment advisor and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors (Stoker Ostler) is an SEC-registered investment advisor. Investment advisory services to institutional clients are provided by Harris Investment Management (HIM) or its wholly-owned subsidiary HIM Monegy (Monegy), SEC-registered investment advisors. Products offered by HIS, HBIS, BMOCM, Harris SBSB, Harris myCFO, Stoker Ostler, HIM, and Monegy, which are affiliated companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of BMO Financial Corp.,: Are not insured by the FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, not a deposit of or guaranteed by any Bank or Bank Affiliate, may lose value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition to any bank loan or service. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank