BMO Brings Clarity to Financial Decisions for Customers in Aurora

    
    -   Experienced financial services team of 22 will be Making Money Make
        Sense for customers in six different languages six days a week
    -   BMO SmartSteps delivers a straightforward approach that adds up to
        real savings
    -   Branch powered entirely from clean, renewable energy purchased from
        Bullfrog Power
    

AURORA, ON, Dec. 4 /CNW/ - BMO Bank of Montreal has invested $1.4 million into a new 6,000 square foot, full-service branch that opens Saturday, December 5 , at the corner of Wellington and Bayview.

"Our staff will be Making Money Make Sense for customers in six languages, including English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Armenian, Danish and Farsi," said Bruce Collier , Branch Manager, BMO Bank of Montreal . "Many of the branch staff have also lived and worked in the Aurora area for a long period of time and are very familiar with the community," added Mr. Collier .

"By using our BMO SmartSteps guide, customers can simplify their savings plan - all it takes is a 20-minute conversation with one of our financial services professionals," said Rick Wagner , Personal Banking Area Manager, BMO Bank of Montreal . "First-time homebuyers have the ability to lock in at historically low rates if they are not ready to buy at this time, and our First Home Essentials Kit can provide a step-by-step guide to entering the real estate market.

"The GTA represents the heart of the Canadian economy, home to the financial centre and a diverse range of Fortune 500 businesses," said Robert Kavcic, Economist, BMO Financial Group. "Aurora is an important, affluent and fast-growing part of the Toronto economy - it has seen its population grow about 20 per cent this decade, and its residents earn above-average household incomes."

The new branch is staffed by 22 financial service professionals, including a BMO Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor, who can collectively provide a full range of financial services and advice. For added convenience, the branch is equipped with two Instabank machines for customers' everyday transactions.

Hours of Operation:

    
    Monday to Wednesday         9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
    Thursday and Friday         9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
    Saturday                    9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
    

BMO SmartSteps

BMO SmartSteps delivers a straightforward approach that can add up to real savings for customers through reduced fees, lower interest costs and less money that goes towards taxes. It provides customers with five essential banking tips they can do on the spot as part of their visit to a branch:

    
    1.  Generate automatic monthly savings
    2.  Minimize banking fees
    3.  Take years off of mortgage payments and become debt-free quicker
    4.  Start saving tax-free
    5.  Automate money transfers to avoid extra fees.
    

For further information: Martha McInnis, [phone], [email protected] Internet: www.bmo.com