TORONTO, ONTARIO and CHICAGO, ILLINOIS--(Marketwired- May 21, 2013) - BMO Financial Group (TSX: BMO)(NYSE: BMO) has announced that Ambassador David Jacobson, who currently serves as United States Ambassador to Canada, will join the bank as Vice-Chair this October.

"Unequivocally, the contribution that Ambassador Jacobson has made to strengthening the important economic, social and cultural ties between Canada and the United States is immense," said Bill Downe, President and Chief Executive Officer of BMO Financial Group. "His deep knowledge of both countries - their joint history, privileged relationship and unique interconnectedness - makes the Ambassador particularly qualified for this role at BMO where, like so many of our corporate customers, we operate integrated businesses on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border."

Based in Chicago, Ambassador Jacobson will be responsible for building and reinforcing key customer relationships and business development and will report to Bill Downe.

Prior to his swearing in as Ambassador, he served as Special Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel. Before serving in the White House, he spent 30 years as a lawyer in Chicago, gaining expertise in complex commercial, class action, securities, insurance and business litigation.

Ambassador Jacobson received a J.D. from Georgetown University where he was the Administrative Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. He received his B.S. from The Johns Hopkins University.

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 $542 billion as at January 31, 2013, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.

Contact Information

Contacts:

Media Contacts

Paul Deegan, Toronto

(416) 867-3996

[email protected]

Jim Kappel, Chicago

(312) 461-2478

[email protected]

Ronald Monet, Montreal

(514) 877-1873

[email protected]

Laurie Grant, Vancouver

(604) 665-7596

[email protected]

Web: www.bmo.com

Twitter: @BMOmedia