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    Harris Nesbitt Announces Senior Executive Appointments and Organizational Realignment

      Harris Nesbitt Announces Senior Executive Appointments and Organizational Realignment

      CHICAGO, December 1, 2005 – Harris Nesbitt, the U.S. investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), today announced a number of senior executive appointments and a realignment of its organizational structure to best serve its middle-market corporate clients.

      Geoff Belsher and Dominic Petito have been appointed co-heads of Investment and Corporate Banking. Belsher and Petito will be based in Chicago and will have responsibility for driving an integrated national business and coordinating the strategy of the Banking group's 10 industry-specific teams (Healthcare, Energy & Power, Media, Technology & Communications, Business Services, Real Estate & Construction, Financial Services, Consumer & Leisure, Food, Financial Sponsors, and Commercial & Industrial) and five product groups (M&A, Lending, Equity Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets and Cash Management) to ensure optimized delivery of products and services to clients.

      Belsher joined BMO's Canadian M&A team in Toronto in 1997 and has since worked on numerous significant transactions and cross-border deals. In 2001, he was appointed head of Canadian M&A and, in 2004, he transferred to Chicago as executive managing director and head of North American M&A for Harris Nesbitt. Prior to joining BMO, Belsher spent 15 years as a corporate securities lawyer with Blake Cassels & Graydon.

      Petito joined BMO in 2003 and was most recently executive managing director and deputy head of client coverage for Harris Nesbitt. Previously, Petito was Director of Investment Banking for Gerard Klauer Mattison (GKM), the New York investment bank acquired by BMO in 2003. Prior to GKM, Petito practiced corporate and securities law.

      Tom Wright, has been appointed vice-chair, Harris Nesbitt, where he will be responsible fo r focusing on the organization's highest priority opportunities, including strategic clients and accounts.

      Wright joined BMO Financial Group in 1972 and has held various roles in Toronto, New York, Houston and Chicago. Most recently, he was executive managing director and head of client coverage, Harris Nesbitt.

      "The strength and performance of our franchise depends upon strong leadership and a commitment to focus our resources on where we have the greatest potential," said Bill Downe, deputy chair, BMO Financial Group and chief executive officer, Harris Financial Corp. "These appointments reflect that commitment and will allow us to better integrate our activities for the benefit of our clients."

      Harris Nesbitt is an investment and corporate bank offering clients access to a full range of products and services including investment and corporate banking, treasury services, market risk management, institutional investing and research. Harris Nesbitt is part of Harris, an integrated financial services organization providing more than one million personal, business, corporate and institutional clients with banking, lending, investing and financial management solutions. Harris Nesbitt is a member of BMO Financial Group. For more information, please visit www.harrisnesbitt.com.

      Contacts:
      Chris Nardella, Chicago, (312) 461-6625
      Kevin Windorf, New York, (212) 885-4111
      Mirette Ghanem, Toronto, (416) 867-4924

      HarrisTM is a trade name used by various financial service subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Banking products and services are provided by Harris N.A., The Harris Bank N.A. and their bank affiliates. Members FDIC. Insurance and annuities are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Securities are provided by Harris Nesbitt Corp. (HNC), a registered broker dealer , member NYSE, FINRA and SIPC. HBIS and HNC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Products offered by HBIS and HNC are Not Insured by the FDIC or any Government Agency, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by any Bank- May Lose Value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition on any bank loan or service. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros and Blaney, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisor. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO,Inc.. Investment Advisory services are also offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Service LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.


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