As of today, BMO Financial Group customers will begin to notice changes to the look and feel of many of their banking and investment services as BMO begins implementing its unified branding program across the country.

The new branding initiative, announced in June 2002, reinforces the links between retail banking, wealth management, investment banking and the umbrella corporate organization.

One of the most visible changes to the financial group’s brand in Canada is the use of the prefix “BMO” by all business and product distribution groups. For example, the retail banking division will now officially be referred to as “BMO Bank of Montreal”, and the group of companies, which includes more than thirty lines of business, will now operate under the BMO Financial Group name umbrella.

This approach has already been used to identify the brokerage firm BMO Nesbitt Burns and other divisions within the financial organization.

As of today, new signage is in use at BMO’s flagship bank branch at King and Bay Streets in Toronto. As well BMO is rolling out a sign change program for properties across the country. Signage will be changed at BMO Bank of Montreal branches and BMO Financial Group facilities across the country over the next 12 months as part of an overall program of branch revitalization.

BMO has officially changed its logo from the traditional blue “M-Bar” to a unified BMO “Red Roundel” look for all divisions. Branches will continue to be identified “Bank of Montreal” with the inclusion of the BMO prefix and the red roundel.

The bank also launched a new BMO Financial Group homepage on the internet site, which not only incorporates the new logo but also simplifies the navigation and usability of the site itself.