News Releases

Harris Nesbitt Hires Todd Freeland to Lead Media, Communications & Technology Investment Banking Group

CHICAGO, February 6, 2006 - Harris Nesbitt, the U.S. investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), today announced it has hired Todd C. Freeland as the managing director and head of its Media, Communications & Technology Group. Freeland will lead a team of approximately 25 investment banking professionals focusing on the media, communications and technology industries and will be based in New York.

Freeland has more than 16 years of investment banking experience and has executed over $50 billion of M&A, corporate finance and other advisory assignments in more than 15 countries du ring his career. He joins Harris Nesbitt from Goldsmith Agio Helms, where he led the firm's Media & Communications investment banking practice. Prior to that, he served as a managing director at Dilworth Partners, a private investment and advisory firm focused on the media and communications industries. He also spent more than 12 years in the investment banking divisions of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. At Goldman Sachs, he was a founding member of the firm's global Communications, Media & Entertainment banking group, and served as the head of both its U.S. broadcasting practice and its European cable and broadcasting practice.

"We are delighted to have Todd join our organization," said Dominic Petito, executive managing director and co-head of Investment and Corporate Banking, Harris Nesbitt. "Todd has had an impressive career in investment banking and we are confident that his extensive experience will contribute to Harris Nesbitt's future success."

Freeland earned his Masters of Management degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he was an Austin Scholar. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in economics from the University of North Carolina, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

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 (NYSE, TSX: BMO). 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

Harris™ 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.