BMO Bank of Montreal Completes Major Upgrade to Almost 2000-Strong ABM Network across Canada
State-of-the-art features and security enhancements offer window on the future of banking

TORONTO, December 14, 2006 – BMO Bank of Montreal has completed a major, year-long upgrade of its network of Automated Banking Machines (ABMs), installing almost 2000 new, state-of-the-art ABMs throughout its network of 963 branches and off-site locations across Canada. The last of the new ABMs were installed at branches in Hamilton, Ontario, and St. Bruno Quebec, this week.

“This was a major undertaking,” said Michel Chalifoux, Vice-President, Electronic Infrastructure, BMO Financial Group. “We have completely replaced every automated banking machine in the BMO retail bank network with the most advanced machines on the market.”

Chalifoux said the new generation of ABMs have been loaded with new customer service features that will make banking from an ABM faster and simpler. The new ABMs also allow for additional future banking functions such as cheque imaging and the ability to use ‘smart’ Chip Card technology when it rolls out across Canada over the next few years.

The new BMO banking machines provide many services and features not included on the previous generation of ABMs , including:

• Improved customer ease of use with redesigned screens and improved transaction flows. For example,
  
  • the new BMO ABMs will save customers time by enabling them to add up to five deposit
  “items” using one screen and to deposit all the items using a single envelope.
  
  • Customers can also save processing time using the new fast cash” withdrawal option, bypassing certain screens and procedures.
  • Customers will be able to view up to three bills that were paid during each session on the ABM screen.
• Numerous security enhancements, such as
• providing a flexible key pad shield on every ABM and new recessed screens that limit side viewing, helping to prevent customer data from being observed by others, and
• new built-in security enhancements which can better detect fraud and help limit criminal activities such as card “skimming”.


• The new ABMs also have improved accessibility by lowering the machine height and, where possible, made the ABMs "front accessible" for wheelchair users.