News Releases

Harris brings Financial Literacy for Money Smart Week

CHICAGO, April 15, 2009 – Harris announced today that it will sponsor financial workshops for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Money Smart Week.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago presents its annual Money Smart Week that will run from April 18 through the 25^th. This weeklong series of free classes and activities are designed to help consumers gain a better understanding of financial concepts and practices.

In past years, the number of Money Smart Week seminars held in the suburbs was limited to a few locations. As one of this year’s participants, Harris is presenting more than 60 sessions in the greater Chicago area.

“Harris has a commitment to provide sound financial education to the communities it serves,” said Yasmin Bates-Brown, Executive Vice President Community Affairs, Harris. “The Money Smart Week workshops are a great opportunity to provide the type of information that can affect the financial health of our customers.”

The free workshop topics include Foreclosure Prevention, Credit Matters, Making Sense of Today's Financial Markets, Banking Basics, Borrowing Basics, Saving and Establishing Good Credit, Money Management for Teens, Protecting Your Nest Egg, Pay Yourself First, First Time Home Ownership, Business Plan Workshop, Charge It, Investing for Your Future in Today's Market, Refinancing Your Home - Available Options for Homeowners, Setting Financial Goals and Economic Outlook 2009, among others.

The seminars are not limited to adults; several programs are aimed at giving kids and teenagers the basic tools to help manage their finances.

Additionally, Harris has partnered with DuPage County and the DuPage Community Foundation to offer two Money Smart Kid Scholarships of $1,000 for DuPage County Residents.

Money Smart Week workshops will be held in Calumet City, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, East Hazel Crest, Elmhurst, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Joliet, Homer Glen, Midlothian, Naperville, Oakbrook Terrace, Orland Park, Plainfield, Romeoville, Roselle, South Holland, Summit, West Chicago,  and Willowbrook.

For a full list workshops and activities during Money Smart Week, consult the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago at http://www.chicagofed.org/education/msw/msw_index.cfm

Harris has been helping its customers and the communities it serves for generations and has more than 280 full-service locations and more than 630 ATMs in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

About Harris
Harris is an integrated financial service organization providing more than 1.2 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.

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 Services, 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.

Chris Nardella, Harris (312) 461-7570