News Releases

BMO Harris Bank Makes the Connection with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Sponsors the 2012 IHCC Hispanic Business Expo at Navy Pier

CHICAGO (August 2, 2012) – BMO Harris Bank partners with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) to present the 2012 Make the Connection! Hispanic Business Expo at Navy Pier.

The 2012 Make the Connection! Hispanic Business Expo is one of the largest events for Hispanic businesses and professionals in the country. This single-day event is intended to establish relationships between thousands of Hispanic business owners and decision makers in both government agencies and Corporate America.

"BMO Harris Bank has been a proud sponsor of IHCC's Hispanic Business Expo for several years because we believe in providing business owners with the tools and resources needed for growth and success," said Mike Lewis, Regional President, BMO Harris Bank. "We continuously strive to deliver excellent service and creative financial solutions for our customers and small business is a huge part of that, which is why we continue to devote an increasing amount of our organization's time and resources to the unique needs of this market."

The event presents more than 115 exhibition booths and 10 free business and career development workshops. Exhibitors include decision makers in the public and private sectors, top Hispanic entrepreneurs, Hispanic professionals and employers seeking a diverse talent pool.

"IHCC is proud to once again partner with BMO Harris," said Omar Duque, President & CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber. "We're pleased with BMO Harris' ongoing support of IHCC and we're especially pleased with their commitment to helping Hispanic-owned businesses have access to much needed capital and support to help them grow and create much needed jobs in communities across Illinois," Duque said.

The expo kicks off with a breakfast in the Grand Ballroom of Navy Pier with special guests speakers, BMO Harris Bank Regional President Mike Lewis and Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford. For years the opening breakfast has served as a platform for business and political leaders to share their visions to promote Hispanic business growth and success. Past speakers include then U.S. Senator Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, and former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

For more information about the 2012 Make the Connection! Hispanic Business Expo, visit .

About the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) is the largest community of Hispanic business owners in Illinois and the Midwest. IHCC works with business owners, providing unique and strategic one-on-one services designed to help businesses thrive and grow, while also regularly hosting networking and public policy events for their 1,500 members. In a 20-year period, IHCC has helped to increase Hispanic business revenue by more $200 million and currently works with many Hispanic high-growth potential firms with the capacity to reach a combined revenue of more than $1 billion in the next ten years.

About BMO Harris Bank
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 Bank? is a trade name 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.