News Releases

Harris Honored for Equitable LGBT Policies, Practices

Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index Gives Harris Perfect Score

CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 14 – Harris today announced it achieved a perfect 100 percent rating in the 2010 edition of the Corporate Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual measure of how equitably U.S.-based businesses treat their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Harris joins an elite group of employers that also received top ratings. The 2010 Corporate Equality Index, which rated 590 businesses on a scale from 0 to 100 percent, reports 305 businesses achieved perfect scores – up 20 percent from 260 last year, despite a challenging economic environment.

“With a 125-year legacy of honesty and fair dealing, Harris knows that respecting all our employees not only makes good business sense – it’s the right thing to do, plain and simple,” said Deirdre Drake, senior vice president, Human Resources, Harris N.A. “Harris is heartened to see a rising number of businesses also committed to cultivating an atmosphere which embraces diversity, promotes equity, and encourages every individual to contribute their best.”

Recognizing diversity as a key asset, Harris has long valued the benefits of recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce. The company currently offers its more than 7,000 employees several affinity groups, including Lion’s Pride, which offers LGBT employees a supportive forum for mentoring, networking, and career development within Harris Bank and BMO.

“This is a meaningful milestone for Harris and all its employees,” said Kurt Dahl, chairperson of Lion’s Pride. “I feel privileged to work for a company that values the many iterations of diversity not only in policy, but also in practice.”

To view the complete Corporate E quality Index report, visit www.HRC.org/CEI .

About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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). Investment banking services 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 Affi liate, 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, a SEC-registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services to institutional clients are provided by Harris Investment Management (HIM), a SEC-registered investment adviser. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.

Rachel Gerds , Harris (312) 461-7865