BMO Harris Bank Review

BMO Harris Bank is the American subsidiary of the Bank of Montreal. Headquartered in Chicago, the bank’s roots go back to 1882.

With over 12,000 employees, 500 physical branches, and access to more than 40,000 ATMs across the U.S., BMO Harris is the 19th largest financial institution in the United States.

In this post, you’ll learn all about BMO Harris Bank’s best products and features so you can get a sense of whether or not you should be a customer.

BMO Harris Checking Accounts

All BMO Harris checking accounts offer debit cards (with multiple options to choose from), check-writing, and online banking with bill pay.

Let’s take a look at what each specific account has to offer:

BMO Harris Smart Money™ Account

The Smart Money™ Account is a solid entry-level checking account with a $5 monthly maintenance fee, which is waived if you’re under 25 years old.

You won’t pay any overdraft fees with the Smart Money™ Account, and it takes just $25 to open an account.

BMO Harris Smart Advantage™ Account

The Smart Advantage™ is the bank’s most popular checking account and comes with all of the basic features that you might expect from a checking account, such as a free debit card, check writing, free in-network ATM access, and free Allpoint ATM network access.

There are no monthly fees if you elect paperless statements.

BMO Harris Premier™ Account

The Premier™ Account is a premium, interest-bearing checking account.

There is a $25 monthly fee, which you can avoid by maintaining a $10,000 minimum daily balance, or a $25,000 minimum balance across combined accounts.

As of September 1, 2022, you can earn a 0.01% APY on your deposits.

Otherwise, fees on things like cashier’s checks, money orders, and paper statements are waived, and you’ll get a $25 rebate for non-BMO ATM surcharges each month.

Learn More:

• Best Checking Accounts
• Best Free Checking Accounts
• Best Rewards Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses

BMO Harris Savings Accounts

Savings Builder Account

Savings Builder is a starter savings account that helps track your savings goals and earns a bit of interest.

You may be eligible to earn $5 in monthly savings rewards, if you grow your balance by $200 or more each month for the first year.

The account easily links with your BMO Harris checking account, and you can set up automatic, recurring transfers between accounts.

The minimum initial deposit is $25, and the current APY is 0.01% for all account balances.

Premier Money Market Account

Premier Money Market is the closest thing that BMO Harris offers to a high-yield savings account (HYSA).

You can earn a base APY of 0.05%, and you’ll need a daily balance of at least $10,000 to waive the monthly maintenance fee.

If you also have a BMO Harris Premier™ Account, the Premier Money Market account may be eligible to earn an additional rate of interest, with Relationship Package pricing.

You will need an initial deposit of at least $25.

Learn More:

• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Money Market Accounts vs. Savings Accounts vs. CDs

BMO Harris CDs (Certificates of Deposit)

BMO Harris has a few different options when it comes to CD accounts:

Standard CD

The BMO Harris Standard CD has a minimum deposit requirement of $1,000 and term lengths ranging from 3 months to 60 months.

Interest rates are tiered, and the longer you commit your funds, the more money you can earn. The highest current APY is only available with the longest 60-month term.

CD Specials

BMO Harris is currently running the following CD Specials which offer much more competitive rates, but require a higher minimum deposit of $5,000:

Bump Rate CD

You can open a Bump Rate CD is a 1-year CD and have the option to change your interest rate one time during the term.

The minimum initial deposit is $5,000, and you can choose between a 3 or 4-year term.

Learn More:

• Best CD Rates
• Money Market Accounts vs CDs

BMO Harris Retirement & Investment Accounts

BMO Harris offers options for both short-term and long-term retirement planning.

IRA Certificates of Deposit (CD)

For short-term retirement planning, BMO Harris has a CD account that also functions like an IRA.

It essentially works the same way as a standard CD, but with term lengths from 3 to 60 months. You’ll also need at least $1,000 to open an account.

IRA Premium Savers

Premium Savers IRA requires just $100 to open, and you can opt for a Traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA.

There’s no monthly fee, and you can make contributions at whatever pace you choose, whether it’s weekly, monthly, or in lump sums.–>

BMO Harris Credit Cards

Next, let’s take a look at BMO Harris Bank’s most popular credit cards:

Cash Back Mastercard

Cash Back is the bank’s entry-level cash rewards card pays 2% cash back on groceries and gas, and 1% on any other purchases.

There’s no annual fee, and you’ll get a 12-month 0% APR on balance transfers after you sign up.

New cardmembers can earn a $200 sign-up bonus by spending at least $2,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Platinum Mastercard

Platinum is a no-annual fee card that’s best used for anyone looking to rebuild their credit or pay down the debt from a previous card.

You won’t see any cash back or rewards points here, but you can get 15 months of no-fees on balance transfers, plus 6 months of no interest on purchases.

Platinum Rewards Mastercard

Platinum Rewards is a no-annual-fee rewards card that offers 25,000 bonus points if you spend $2,000 within the first three months of account opening.

There’s also a 10% points bonus on your enrollment anniversary every year, and balance transfers come with an intro APR of 0% for 12 months.

Premium Rewards Mastercard

Premium Rewards is BMO’s top-tier credit card that pays three points for every dollar spent on dining, hotels, and flights.

All other purchases earn one point per dollar, and there’s a 15% point bonus added every account anniversary.

This is the only BMO Harris credit card with an annual fee ($79), though it’ll be waived during your first year.

You can also earn 35,000 bonus points if you spend $5,000 in your first three months of account opening.

Premium Rewards also comes with no fees on foreign transactions, making it the best of the pack for frequent travelers.

BMO Harris Bank Features

• over 500 Branches In 8 States: BMO Harris operates local branches in 8 U.S. states — Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These locations provide access to banking products and wealth management services with BMO Harris Investment Services.
• 1,300 BMO Harris ATMs: BMO Harris has 1,300 of its own, branded ATMs. It also has a partnership with Allpoint, giving account holders more than 40,000 fee-free options when they need to get some cash.
• BMO Digital Banking: BMO Harris offers a full-service online platform with all accounts. You’ll be able to able to pay bills, manage your accounts with eStatements, and move money around for free with Zelle.
• Mobile App: The BMO Harris mobile app is available on both iOS and Android and is well-received on both platforms. The app currently holds a 4.7-star rating (out of 5) in the App Store and a 4-star rating (out of 5) in the Google Play Store.

BMO Harris Bank Fees

The good thing about BMO Harris is that the bank is pretty transparent about the fees it charges.

Each account page has a detailed list of the fees that you can expect to pay (rather than making you dig through the fine print to figure out what you’ll be charged, as is common with some large national banks).

Here’s a look at the most common fees that you’ll run into:

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Here’s a breakdown of the monthly maintenance fees that BMO Harris Bank charges (and how to avoid them):

ATM Fees

BMO Harris has a ton of options when it comes to free ATMs. If you do have to use an out-of-network ATM, the ATM fee is $3.

BMO Harris Premier™ Checking account holders are reimbursed for out-of-network fees, up to $25 each month.

Overdraft Fees

Unless you’re a BMO Harris Smart Money™ account holder, there’s a fee of $36 per overdraft.

This can add up in a hurry if you’re having a tough time settling your balance.

For overdraft protection, you can draw funds from a linked account or open up a line of credit, though both options come with fees of their own.

If you go with the credit option, it’s important to know that it comes with an 18% fixed APR, in addition to a $15 late payment fee.

Paper Statement Fees

Most accounts come with a $2 fee for paper statements. You can avoid this fee by signing up for paperless statements in BMO Digital Banking.

Other Fees

Here are some additional fees you can expect to see across all accounts, with the exception of BMO Harris Premier™ Checking:

• Wire Transfers: Free for incoming, $30 for outgoing domestic ($50 international)
• Check Images: $3 per request (waived if you enroll in paperless statements)
• Cashier’s Checks: $10
• Money Orders: $5

Getting Started

Signing up with BMO Harris can be done in person, online, or over the phone.

To sign up online, all you need to do is enter your basic contact details, Social Security Number, and employment information.

Once you’re enrolled, you can sign up for BMO Digital Banking, which gets you access to all of the bank’s online and mobile banking services.

BMO Harris Bank Promotions

Bank	Bonus	Expires	Requirements
BMO Harris Business Checking	up to $400	May 12, 2023	Min Balance	Learn More
BMO Harris Premier™	$350	June 2, 2023	Direct Deposit	Learn More
BMO Harris Personal Checking	$200	June 2, 2023	Direct Deposit	Learn More

Security

BMO Harris offers some useful tools to help you avoid phishing scams and other cybercrime.

Here are a few of the things that are in place to protect your money:

• 128-bit minimum encryption
• Online and Mobile Banking Guarantee: If an unauthorized transaction is made on your account, BMO Harris will cover it.
• Secure Login
• FDIC Insurance

Customer Service and Support

Overall, BMO Harris seems to have a pretty good reputation for customer service.

If you need help, the general customer service line is 1-888-340-2265.

As a customer, you can also pop into a local branch to sign up for an account, or meet with a banker in person to discuss your banking needs.

At the time of this writing, BMO Harris is saying that call volume is unusually high and is encouraging customers to utilize online support tools, which include FAQs, an interactive troubleshooting survey, and a secure “Contact Us” form.

This is just something to keep in mind if you plan on calling in for support.

Pros & Cons

Alternatives to BMO Harris Bank

Do you like what BMO Harris has to offer, but don’t live in one of the states that it serves?

If so, you might want to look into a big national bank such as:

• U.S. Bank
• Bank of America
• Chase Bank
• Wells Fargo

Alternatively, you could check out TD Bank, which is regionally located, and smaller than the biggest national banks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions that people are asking about BMO Harris Bank:

Is BMO Harris a real bank?

Yes, BMO Harris is a real bank, and it’s the 20th largest bank in the US in terms of total assets. Its parent company is the Bank of Montreal, which is the fourth-largest bank in Canada.

Is BMO Harris Bank FDIC insured?

Yes, as with all legit banks, your deposits with BMO Harris are protected by FDIC insurance.

What is the best BMO savings account?

Statement Savings is the best option for those that just need a basic savings account.

Is BMO Harris Bank Right For You?

The bottom line is that if you live in one of the eight states where a BMO Harris Bank has a physical branch, BMO Harris Bank has a lot to offer.

Plenty of locations, tons of ATMs, numerous account options, and robust online services make this bank a solid all-in-one option.

You won’t get the fee-free banking experience of an online bank, and the interest rates leave a little to be desired.

However, if you value the presence of physical branches, you’ll still be better off than the microscopic rates that large national banks tend to offer.

That said, residents outside of BMO Harris Bank’s service area are probably better off banking somewhere else. Without access to a local branch, there are more than a few online-only banks with more attractive perks, lower fees, and better interest rates.

Now that you know what to expect with BMO Harris, the next step is up to you. Here’s to finding the best bank that suits your personal financial situation. Good luck!

Accounts are subject to approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC.

Minimum opening deposit of $25 is required for BMO Harris personal checking and Savings Builder accounts. BMO Harris Premier™ Account and Savings Builder are variable interest rate accounts. Interest rates and Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) may change daily after the account is open. For account and fee information or current interest rates and disclosures, visit bmoharris.com.

Accounts with zero balance may be closed.

$2 monthly fee for paper statements and $3 monthly fee for check images are waived when you select paperless statements in BMO Digital Banking.

Items that overdraw the account are returned and ATM/everyday debit card transactions are declined.