OREANDA-NEWS. September 23, 2015. BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO)(TSX:BMO), announced today that its 2015 Equity Through Education trading day raised C\\$1.3 million to go toward scholarships for youth.

Each year, BMO Capital Markets donates a day of institutional equity trading commissions from the United States, Canada and Europe to charities that provide greater access to education for less advantaged students through scholarships, bursaries and other programs.

"We are very proud of this program, which has helped over 3,000 students with limited opportunities across North America and Europe to achieve their dreams," said Alan Tannenbaum, Managing Director and Co-head of Global Equity Products, BMO Capital Markets and Executive Sponsor of the program.

The Equity Through Education initiative has also helped BMO, which has hired candidates from the programs it supports. "We have hired scholars as full-time employees in Toronto, New York and Vancouver, and this past summer two internships were given to qualified candidates from our partner charities," said Mr. Tannenbaum.

"On behalf of the Financial Women's Association, I want to thank BMO for their ongoing generosity and support of the FWA Educational Fund," said Katrin Dambrot, President, Financial Women's Association. "Through our mentoring and scholarship programs, we see young, deserving lives transformed every year."

Since it was launched, Equity Through Education has assisted more than 3,000 individuals. This year, the proceeds from the BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education trading day will go to eight charities:

• The Financial Women's Association

• Imperial College

• Indspire

• The Jackie Robinson Foundation

• KIPP

• Lime Connect

• The Loran Scholars Foundation

• Women in Capital Markets Return to Bay Street program

About BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Program

Equity Through Education is a charitable initiative aimed at creating a more diverse workplace by offering support to help people realize their educational ambitions by giving them opportunities they might not otherwise have. On one day each year all institutional equity trading commissions are donated to organizations dedicated to the education of bright and deserving individuals. To date, Equity Through Education has provided assistance to over 3,000 students through scholarships, bursaries and job search strategy forums.

To learn more about Equity Through Education visit: http://www.bmocm.com/equitythrougheducation.

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American financial services provider. With more than 2,300 employees operating in 29 locations, including 16 in North America, BMO Capital Markets offers 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:BMO)(TSX:BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America, with total assets of CDN \\$672 billion as of July 31, 2015, and more than 47,000 employees.