BMO Financial Group today announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange has accepted notice of BMO’s intention to make a normal course issuer bid through the facilities of the TSX.

BMO may, during the period commencing Sept. 6, 2006, and ending Sept. 5, 2007, purchase for cancellation on the Toronto Stock Exchange up to 15 million common shares, being approximately 3% of the public float.

The actual number of common shares that may be purchased and the timing of any such purchases will be determined by BMO. BMO will pay the market price for the shares at the time of acquisition.

BMO’s previous 12-month normal course issuer bid expires on Sept. 5, 2006 and as at Aug. 31, 2006, 6,169,900 common shares were repurchased under that bid at an average price of $62.47. There were 500,037,530 Bank of Montreal common shares issued and outstanding as at August 28, 2006 and the public float was 499,502,012 common shares.