News Releases

Harris Helps You Shop Green

CHICAGO, July 31, 2008 – In recent years, the environment has become a major focus for people in Chicagoland, and many hometown companies are taking notice. Harris is proud to be part of the green efforts in our communities by distributing eco-friendly shopping bags.

Throughout several farmers markets around the city and suburbs, Harris employees will be handing out the reusable shopping bags for free. The bags will provide a handy reference card on seasonal fruits and vegetables and reasons to shop locally.

Reusable bags or totes offer a better solution for the environmentally-friendly consumer, because they are usually sturdier and easier to carry, and they cut down on the number of plastic bags that ends up in landfills.

"I believe making small changes in our habits have a positive effect on our environment," said J ustine Fedak, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing for Harris. "As the city of Chicago takes steps to go green by banning plastic bags next year at these markets, this is a great way to offer community members the alternative to paper or plastic in a convenient way."

The bags come in two different designs; one reads "I (strawberry/denotes love) Farmers" and the other "Locally Grown," which also alludes to Harris's Chicago roots. These bags cannot be ordered and are only available at the designated farmer's markets through the end of August.

Harris volunteers will be handing out these bags at farmer’s markets in downtown Chicago, Elmhurst, Evanston, Glencoe, Northfield and Wilmette. For more information regarding where to pick up a reusable shopping bag and other green tips, visit .

Harris has been helping its customers and the communities it serves for generations and has more than 230 full-service locations and more than 600 ATMs in Illinois and Indiana.

About Harris
Harris is an integrated financial service organization providing more than 1 million personal, business and corporate clients with banking, lending, investing, and wealth management solutions. The organization is a member of the BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), which also provides corporate and investment banking services in the U.S. under the BMO Capital Markets name. For more information, please visit www.bmocm.com or www.harrisbank.com.

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. Brokerage products are offered through Harris Investor Servi ces, Inc. (HIS), a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and SEC registered investment adviser. Insurance and annuities are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Securities are provided by BMO Capital Markets Corp. (BMOCM), a registered broker dealer and member NYSE, FINRA and SIPC. HIS, HBIS and BMOCM are affiliated companies and are wholly owned subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Products offered by HIS, HBIS and BMOCM 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. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc., an SEC registered investment adviser. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.