BMO Targets Canada's Next Era of Growth with Commitment of up to $70 Billion for Critical Economic Sectors

Canada's first bank intends to mobilize up to $70 billion in new capital over 10 years for sectors critical to Canada's economic security and resilience.

TORONTO, Sept. 11, 2026 /CNW/ -- BMO today announced a new initiative to support critical economic sectors in Canada by mobilizing capital investment.

Building on more than 200 years of financing Canada's growth, BMO plans to mobilize up to $70 billion in new capital for sectors critical to Canadian economic security and resilience over 10 years, including:

• Electricity infrastructure (generation, transmission and distribution)
• Energy infrastructure (pipelines)
• Transportation infrastructure (roads, airports, terminals)
• Mining and critical minerals
• AI computing
• Defence & security
• Oil & gas

This initiative reinforces BMO's longstanding role as a partner in building the Canadian economy and is grounded in a history that stretches back to 1817, fifty years before Confederation. It also builds on BMO's role as a global leader in metals, mining and critical minerals investment and corporate banking capabilities.

"As Canada's first bank, BMO's story is Canada's story," said Darryl White, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group. "For more than 200 years, BMO has helped turn Canadian ambition into economic growth. Building Canada has always depended on bold ideas backed by capital. The opportunities before us today in these critical economic sectors are the latest chapter in that story. We are committed to helping businesses invest, communities grow and Canada compete by mobilizing capital, expertise and advice to support the country's next era of growth."

BMO has financed infrastructure, industries, businesses and communities that have shaped Canada. The bank helped fund the transportation networks that first connected Canada like the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Lachine Canal that opened St. Lawrence trade to the Great Lakes, supported the growth of major industries like hydroelectric generation in Churchill Falls and the full-scale development of Canada's oil production and pipeline transportation.

The capital mobilization comes at a pivotal moment for Canada as governments, businesses and institutions collaborate to strengthen economic resilience, improve productivity, accelerate investment and unlock the country's long-term growth potential. BMO's commitment is expected to support national priorities while helping Canadian businesses compete and succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.

Reflected in this commitment is the expected capital demand for initiatives proposed to Canada's Major Projects Office, projects supporting Canada's National Electricity Strategy, the Trilateral MOU amongst the Federal Government, the Province of Alberta and the Oil Sands Alliance, Canadian Sovereign AI initiatives, and proprietary BMO analysis for the defence and oil & gas sectors.

This planned capital mobilization is expected to take the form of bank financing, debt capital markets activity and the raising of public equity.

BMO's impact across Canada already includes:

• Authorized lending of nearly $300 billion to over 270,000 Canadian businesses and organizations in 2025.
• Approximately $3.4 billion invested in Canadian companies and innovation ecosystems through technology, partnerships and ventures portfolios.
• More than $133 billion invested in Canada through BMO-managed mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.
• More than 30,000 employees in cities and towns across Canada supporting clients and communities across the country.
• More than $320 million donated to Canadian charities by BMO and its employees over the past five years.

"Canada's next era of growth will be built by people and institutions that invest in that future," added Darryl White. "BMO has been doing that since 1817. We are proud of our history, confident in Canada's potential and committed to fueling the next era of Canadian growth and prosperity."

About BMO Financial Group 

BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of July 31, 2026. Serving clients for more than 200 years, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services across Canada, the United States, and select markets globally. BMO is innovating for business value, by deploying and integrating human, digital and artificial intelligence to personalize client experiences, augment teams, and automate its business responsibly. Driven by its purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Bank of Montreal's public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this document and may be included in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, but are not limited to: statements with respect to our commitment to mobilize up to $70 billion in new capital over 10 years for sectors critical to Canada's economic security and resilience; and include statements made by our management. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "target", "commitment", "intend", "initiative", "plan", "expect", and "will", or negative or grammatical variations thereof.

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We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Other factors and risks could adversely affect our results. For further information, please refer to the discussion in the Risks That May Affect Future Results section, and the sections related to credit and counterparty, market, liquidity and funding, operational non-financial, legal and regulatory compliance, strategic, environmental and social, and reputation risk in the Enterprise-Wide Risk Management section of BMO's 2025 Annual Report, and the Risk Management section in our Third Quarter 2026 Report to Shareholders, all of which outline certain key factors and risks that may affect our future results. Investors and others should carefully consider these factors and risks, as well as other uncertainties and potential events, and the inherent uncertainty of forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the organization or on its behalf, except as required by law. The forward looking information contained in this document is presented for the purpose of assisting shareholders and analysts in understanding the targets, commitments, and plans described herein, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Material economic assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained in this document include those set out in the Economic Developments and Outlook section of BMO's 2025 Annual Report, as updated in the Economic Developments and Outlook section and the Risk Management – Geopolitical and Trade Developments section in our Third Quarter 2026 Report to Shareholders, as well as in the Allowance for Credit Losses section of BMO's 2025 Annual Report, as updated in the Allowance for Credit Losses section in our Third Quarter 2026 Report to Shareholders. Assumptions about announced federal, provincial and private economic initiatives, the performance of the Canadian and U.S. economies, as well as overall market conditions and their combined effect on our business, are material factors we considered in determining the targets, commitments, and plans described herein.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

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