News Releases

BMO HARRIS BANK EXPANDING SBA TEAM
Partners with the SBA to Connect Small Business Owners with Needed Capital

Chicago, IL (March 18, 2013) - BMO Harris Bank announced today that it has hired Ejaz Syed to lead its SBA loan program efforts in the Greater Chicago area. Ejaz will be based in Naperville and will focus on building the bank's SBA loan portfolio by working with the small business banking and business banking groups to market and facilitate the SBA loan programs.

"BMO Harris Bank is committed to helping business owners secure the working capital needed to grow and succeed," said Margie Lawless, Senior Vice President of Small Business Banking. "The addition of Ejaz Syed brings a combination of vast, practical hands-on experience in commercial an d Small Business Administration lending, business development, financial and credit analysis which allows BMO Harris Bank to further provide innovative financing solutions for our customers."

"The hiring of Ejaz Syed is part of our overall focus to expand and increase our SBA loan activity," said Julie Curran, Regional President, BMO Harris Bank. "BMO Harris Bank also participates in a variety of SBA programs, including the SBA's reengineered CAPLines program designed to help small businesses meet their short-term and cyclical working capital needs. Too often businesses find it difficult to secure the necessary financing to finance contracts."

Ejaz began his SBA lending career eight years ago as a Regional Account Manager with the SBA Division of CIT Group Inc.

His SBA background includes both 7(a) and 504 loan experience. His roles have encompassed business development, resolving SBA eligibility issues and SBA Underwriting. Ejaz has an additional background of fourteen years in commercial banking, including international trade, plus five years of financial accounting experience.

Along with the award of ACIB (Chartered Institute of Bankers England and Wales), Ejaz received his BSc in Financial Services through the IFS School of Finance in Kent, UK.

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 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. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank^SM is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO H arris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,600 branches, and approximately $525 billion in assets (as of Oct. 31, 2012).