News Releases

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Nov 26, 2014) - BMO Harris Bank today announced that it received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This is the fourth year in a row that the bank has scored 100 per cent on the Index. BMO Harris Bank joins the ranks of 366 major U.S. businesses which also earned top marks this year.

"BMO Harris Bank is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that recognizes and supports the personal a nd professional growth of our LGBT employees," said Brad Chapin, Executive Vice President, Business Banking, and Executive Sponsor of BMO Harris Lion's Pride -- a formal group of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Straight employees and their associates at BMO Harris Bank. "We're here to help our employees as we work together to create a diverse and equitable environment because we truly understand that hiring the best talent leads to the bank's success."

"In order to achieve a perfect score, a company has to show a deep and serious commitment to treating their LGBT employees fairly and equally on the job," said Chad Griffin, HRC President. "We also look at whether a company is speaking out in the public square to advocate for LGBT equality here in this country and around the world. BMO Harris Bank not only meets these standards, it goes above and beyond them, making commitment to equality a fundamental aspect of its corporate values."

The 2015 CEI rated 971 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. BMO Harris Bank's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

For more information on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through more than 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and m id-market focus throughout the U.S. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Banking products and services are provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. and are subject to bank or credit approval. BMO Harris ® and BMO Harris Bank^® are trade names used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,600 branches, and CDN $582 billion in assets (as of April 30, 2014).

About The Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.