TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 06/15/12 -- BMO Bank of Montreal has been recognized by research group Celent with a prestigious 2012 Model Bank Award for its Online Banking for Business Platform. The annual award program selects 'model banks' and recognizes them for their achievements in the strategic development, effective deployment, and business and customer impact of banking technology. BMO Bank of Montreal was the only Canadian bank to be honoured with a 2012 Model bank Award by Celent.

BMO is the first bank in Canada to launch a single commercial online platform for business. BMO's Online Banking for Business platform, which was launched in the fall of 2010, is a multi-channel, global commercial online banking solution, that consolidates multiple online systems into one single-access point.

The new system represents the next generation of treasury management services and was designed with enhancing the customer experience as its highest priority. Online Banking for Business provides customers with a comprehensive view of their financial information, including payment products and banking services, in an easy-to-use internet environment. Customers ranging from small businesses to large capital market corporations are able to manage all aspects of their treasury needs from a user-friendly customizable home page.

Last year, BMO also launched a mobile banking service that enables businesses to make urgent payments safely and securely over mobile devices - a first for business banking customers in Canada.

"We are proud to be recognized by Celent for our Online Banking for Business platform," said Andrew Irvine, Senior Vice President, North American Integrated Channels, BMO Financial Group. "This award is external affirmation of what we are hearing from our business customers. The new platform has made their banking experience better with an integrated, simple, and effective way to manage important transactions, as well as the information they need to effectively run their business."

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly-diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $525 billion as at April 30, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.