News Releases

BMO Harris Bank Provides Stepping Stone for United Way of Walworth County
Bake sales, silent auctions and start-up fund grant combined to provide financial boost for newly developed organization

Lake Geneva, Wis. April 23, 2012 - Fundraising efforts in the Lake Geneva and Delavan areas, combined with a grant installment payment, led to BMO Harris Bank's donation today of over $8,700 to the United Way of Walworth County in Wisconsin.

The $8,700 donation includes:

1. A $5,000 installment payment, which is part of an overall $10,000 donation from BMO Harris Bank to be used towards start-up costs for the United Way of Walworth County.
2. $3,700 resulting from bake sales and silent auctions held by the Lake Geneva and Delavan branches.

In addition, the M&I Foundation donated $5,000 to United Way of Walworth County in 2010.

"As an organization focused on improving the quality of life in Walworth County, we wanted to provide this jump-start to the local efforts of United Way," said Mary Willmer, Community President, BMO Harris Bank. "Our team was inspired by the knowledge of where the funds were going -- we knew they were supporting an organization that will make a huge difference in our community for years to come."

The United Way of Walworth County, which serves over 40 agencies in the region, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Salvation Army, is a new organization -- the result of a combination of two all-volunteer United Way groups in the county. A majority of the donation will go towar ds start-up costs for the United Way of Walworth County.

"United Way of Walworth County is proud to partner with BMO Harris Bank in our efforts to improve the lives of our friends and neighbors in Walworth County," said Chris Stebnitz, Chairman of the United Way of Walworth County Board. "They have been a great supporter for many years through employee campaigns, special events like their annual bake sale and volunteering for various United Way of Walworth County events. We look forward to many more years of a great partnership."

About BMO Harris Bank N.A.
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 650 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris BankSM and M&I® are trade names used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS# 401025.

BMO Harris Bank is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Banking deposit and loan products and services are provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Brokerage products are offered through Harris Investor Services, Inc. (HIS), a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and SEC-registered investment advisor. Insurance products are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Investment banking services are provided by BMO Capital Markets Corp. (BMOCMC) and BMO Capital Markets GKST, Inc. (GKST), a Municipal Bond Dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc. (Harris SBSB), an SEC registered investment advisor. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC (Harris myCFO), an SEC-registered investment advisor and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors (Stoker Ostler) is an SEC-registered investment advisor. Investment advisory services to institutional clients are provided by Harris Investment Management (HIM) or its wholly-owned subsidiary HIM Monegy (Monegy), SEC-registered investment advisors. Products offered by HIS, HBIS, BMOCM, Harris SBSB, Harris myCFO, Stoker Ostler, HIM, and Monegy, which are affiliated companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of BMO Financial Corp.,: 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. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.