BMO Opens New Branch at Kingsway & Cecil in East Vancouver

• New branch represents an investment of $1.3 million and is open six days a week
• Experienced financial services team will be Making Money Make Sense
• BMO SmartSteps delivers a straightforward approach that adds up to real savings

VANCOUVER, BC, October 26, 2009 – BMO Bank of Montreal today opened its newest full service branch in Vancouver at 3263 Kingsway Avenue.

The Renfrew - Collingwood – Killarney area is a busy commercial and residential area known for its multicultural diversity. The Kingsway & Cecil branch is on a major thoroughfare between Vancouver and Burnaby, and is only three blocks from the Joyce Street Skytrain Station.

“The new BMO branch in the former Collingwood Town Centre, a popular shopping destination, makes for an ideal location within a dynamic family-oriented neighbourhood,” said Kulwinder Sidhu, Branch Manager, BMO Bank of Montreal.

“Residents have access to financial advice, whether it’s finding the right mortgage solution or planning for retirement, and they can start putting money back in their pockets by taking advantage of our BMO SmartSteps initiative,” added David Eleiter, Personal Banking Area Manager, BMO Bank of Montreal.

“BMO is here to help customers Make Money Make Sense, especially during these economic times. We are pleased to offer historically low mortgage rates as well as other cost saving advice,” said Mr. Eleiter. “With BMO, homebuyers have the ability to lock in at historically low rates if they are not ready to buy at this time, and our First Home Essentials Kit can provide a step-by-step guide to entering the real estate market.”

“A diverse range of sectors makes Vancouver an ideal stomping ground for small businesses in the services, industrial and resource industries,” said Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist, BMO Capital Markets, in the recent Canada’s Small Business Juggernaut Report issued by BMO Economics. “Longer-term, Vancouver is ideally located as an access point to fast-growing Asian markets, and small business will benefit as trade to that region continues to expand”, she added.

Customers can expect:

• A highly experienced, multi-lingual team of 11 financial services professionals including access to a financial planner, mortgage specialist, commercial banker and a BMO Nesbitt Burns investment advisor;
• Commercial account and deposit services;
• Two Instabank automated banking machines (ABMs);
• Ample free parking for BMO customers in the underground parkade; and
• Full wheelchair accessibility.

Hours of operation are:
Monday to Thursday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Friday 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Customers are invited to come into the branch for a 20 minute conversation on ways to save money. “Our new BMO SmartSteps program delivers a straightforward approach that can add up to real savings for customers through reduced fees, lower interest costs and less money going towards taxes,” said Henry Donkers, Vice-President, Vancouver District, BMO Bank of Montreal.

These tips include:
1. Generate automatic monthly savings;
2. Minimize banking fees;
3. Take years off of mortgage payments and become debt-free quicker;
4. Open a Tax Free Savings Account
5. Automate money transfers to avoid extra fees.

The Kingsway and Cecil branch joins other new BMO branches in British Columbia that are part of the bank’s Green Energy Initiative. All new branches in B.C., Alberta and Ontario are Bullfrog-powered. BMO is committed to purchase over 8,300 megawatt hours of emission free electricity annually - generated from clean, renewable sources like wind power and low-impact hydro.

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