BMO Capital Markets Appoints Industry Veteran to U.S. Public Finance Team

* Ellen Jewett, 20-year public finance specialist, to focus on infrastructure and airports
* BMO Capital Markets has hired nearly 100 senior professionals since 2009

CHICAGO - BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), announced today the appointment of Ellen Jewett as Managing Director in its Public Finance Group.



Ms. Jewett will be based in New York and focus on covering infrastructure and airports. She has more than 20 years of industry experience at Goldman Sachs holding various positions within the Infrastructure and Public Finance department, including, Head of Public Sector Transportation, Head of Airports and Chief of Staff for the department.



“Ellen brings great experience, partnership and leadership to BMO Capital Markets,” said Lyle McCoy, Managing Director & Sector Head, Public Finance & Infrastructure Banking, BMO Capital Markets. “She will be a strong addition to our team and will play a significant role in the continuing development of our banking practice.”



Ms. Jewett has been involved in a wide range of financings, including developing public private partnerships as well as innovative project financings. She served as senior managing underwriter for more than US$25 billion municipal revenue bond issues, leading teams to develop, evaluate and bring to market all types of investment grade revenue securities.



Ms. Jewett earned a Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University, a MSc. in Psychoanalytic Theory at University College London, and a BA from Wesleyan University in Government.



BMO Capital Markets has been steadily attracting new talent, hiring close to 100 senior professionals since 2009. The firm has also made recent investments to enhance its ability to deliver a broad array of capital markets services and products, including the unveiling of a new 16,000 square-foot trading floor facility in the heart of Chicago’s financial district.



About BMO Capital Markets’ Public Finance Group



BMO Capital Markets’ expertise in the bond market is reflected in the leading solutions many of its dedicated public finance professionals offer for all types of municipalities and infrastructure projects. The firm is committed to providing comprehensive debt structuring, underwriting, financial and infrastructure advisory services to all types of U.S. Municipal and not-for-profit groups including state and local governments, public and private educational institutions, healthcare institutions, public power, as well as port and transportation sectors. BMO Capital Markets currently ranks as the No. 1 senior managing underwriter of Illinois taxable and Build America Bonds and Build America Bonds for Higher Education. BMO Capital Markets is among the top three underwriters of taxable municipal issues in the U.S.



- 30 -



About BMO Capital Markets



BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider, with over 2,200 employees operating in 15 North American offices and 28 worldwide, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$373 billion total assets and more than 36,000 employees as at January 31, 2010. For more information, visit www.bmocm.com.