TORONTO, ONTARIO and NEW YORK, NEW YORK and LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - Sep 23, 2014) -

Editors Note: There are two photos associated with this press release.

BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO), will once again be "Trading it Forward" when it hosts its 10th annual Equity Through Education trading day on September 24, 2014.

BMO Capital Markets will donate the value of institutional equity trading commissions that it earns on Sept. 24, in the U.S., Canada and London, to charitable organizations that seek to improve access to education through scholarships, bursaries and other programs. BMO's Equity Through Education targets charities that promote a more diverse workplace by offering support that helps people realize their educational ambitions by providing opportunities they might not otherwise have.

"BMO's Equity Through Education program is unique in that it is geared to providing direct support to young, promising individuals through scholarships and bursaries, ensuring that the money raised is maximized to its fullest," said Eric Tripp, President, BMO Capital Markets. "BMO is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse workforce that reflects the society in which we live and work; this program's focus is an example of that commitment in action."

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the trading day, Mr. Tripp will open the market at Toronto Stock Exchange on the morning of September 24th.

This year, the proceeds from the BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education trading day will go to the following charities, with UK charities to be announced later this year:

- Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation

- The Financial Women's Association

- The Jackie Robinson Foundation

- Foundation for the Advancement of Aboriginal Youth

- Indspire

- Lime Connect

- Women in Capital Markets

- KIPP

The program has raised more than C$13.4million since it was established in 2005 and assisted more than 2,500 individuals through scholarships, bursaries and job search strategy forums.

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 raised C$13.4 million (US$12.8 million). This translates into assistance to over 2,500 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 more than CDN $586 billion and approximately 47,000 employees at July 31, 2014.

To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/bmo09231.jpg

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/bmo09232.jpg