Harris and Its Parent, BMO Financial Group, Announce $370,000 Donation to Support Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

CHICAGO-- Harris N.A. and its parent, BMO

Financial Group, today announced that it will donate up to $370,000 to support

relief efforts in the Gulf Coast following the destructive impact of Hurricane

Katrina.

Harris will make a corporate contribution of $100,000 to the United Way of

Metropolitan Chicago Hurricane Katrina Response Fund and match employee and

customer contributions to the United Way's Fund, up to $100,000, for a total

Harris donation of $200,000.

Harris will begin accepting customer contributions on Tuesday, Sept. 6, on

behalf of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Hurricane Katrina Response

Fund.

In Canada, BMO Financial Group will make a corporate contribution to the

Canadian Red Cross of Cdn$100,000 (approximately US$85,000) and match its

employee and customer contributions to the Canadian Red Cross, up to

Cdn$100,000 (approximately US$85,000), for a total donation of Cdn$200,000

(approximately US$170,000).

Harris(TM) is an integrated financial service organization that provides

more than 1.5 million personal, business, corporate and institutional clients

with banking, lending, investing, financial planning, trust administration,

portfolio management, family office and wealth transfer services. Harris is a

member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE: BMO; Toronto).

Harris is a trademark used by various financial service providers in the

BMO Financial Group, a marketing name used by Bank of Montreal. Banking

products and services are provided by Harris N.A. and The Harris Bank N.A.

Members FDIC. Insurance and annuities are offered through Harris Bancorp

Insurance Services, Inc (HBIS). Securities are provided by Harris Nesbitt Corp

(HNC), a registered broker dealer, member NYSE, NASD and SIPC and Harrisdirect

LLC, a registered broker dealer, member NASD and SIPC. HBIS, HNC and

Harrisdirect are wholly owned subsidiaries of Harris Financial Corp. Products

offered by HBIS, HNC and Harrisdirect are Not Insured by the FDIC or any

Federal Government Agency, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by Any Bank or Bank

Affiliate, May Lose Value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a

condition on any bank loan or service. Financial planning and investment

advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc.,

an SEC registered investment advisor. Family office services are provided by

Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are also offered by Harris

myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor

and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Not all products and

services are offered in every state and/or location.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.