News Releases

Michael Chin of Harris Bank Elected Board President of the Asian American Alliance Small Business Development Center

CHICAGO, March 1, 2004 - Harris Trust and Savings Bank is pleased to announce Micha el Chin, vice president, Harris Bank, Commercial Mid Market Group, was elected Board President of the Asian American Alliance Small Business Development Center.

The Asian American Alliance, incorporated in 1994, is a not-for-profit small business advocacy organization committed to assisting Asian American, minority, non-minority, women-owned small and disadvantaged business owners in Illinois. The organization's members consist of the Chinatown, Korean, Philippine, and Vietnamese American Chambers of Commerce. The Asian American Alliance Small Business Development Center works closely with entrepreneurs, providing them technical assistance as well as access to resources as they are starting up or expanding an existing business.

As Board President, Mr. Chin will be responsible for the strategic planning around the Center's programs, workshops, and fundraising efforts as well as to increase the Center's awareness and the visibility of the Asian Chambers throughout Chicagoland. In addition, he will oversee the Board and its membership.

Harris Bank has been actively involved with the Asian American Alliance for several years and was given the "Business Partner of the Year Award" in 2003, which the Alliance gives out annually. The mission of the Asian American Alliance supports Harris' business banking strategy - making it more convenient to do business with and proactively finding solutions to unmet needs of the small business owner - and the bank's overall efforts at reaching out and responding to Chicagoland's diverse communities.

"I'm honored to be elected president and look forward to working with the Board in providing solutions to our clients," said Mr. Chin. "Whether it is helping with technical assistance, providing workshops on governmental lending programs, identifying available commercial lending sources, or even assisting with the development of a business plan."

Mr. Chin is the current board president of the Chicago Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans and is a member of Mayor Daley's 21st Century Leadership Council. He also serves on the Boards of both, the Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA) and Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Chin joined Harris in 1996 as a Commercial Banking Officer with the Business Banking Group as part of Harris' acquisition of Household Bank. In his five year tenure at Household, he worked in several capacities including consumer finance, mortgage banking, and small business banking. He received a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and obtained an MBA from Lewis University with a concentration in Finance/Marketing. Mr. Chin and his wife, Sybil, live in Chicago's South Loop.

Harris Bank, with $30 billion in assets, is one of the largest community bank networks in Illinois, serving both individuals and businesses through out the diverse Chicagoland area. Harris clients have access to over 150 full-service branches, and more than 450 ATMs free of charge. Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group (NYSE: BMO), a highly diversified financial services organization.

For more information, visit:
www.harrisbank.com
www.asianamericanalliance.com