BMO to donate $4 million

United Way, UPAF, Boys & Girls Clubs to get funds

BMO Harris Bank said Thursday it will donate more than $4 million to local programs in Wisconsin in 2017 as it celebrates the financial institution’s 200 years in business.

About $2.8 million of that amount will be distributed in metro Milwaukee, supporting initiatives such as the United Way of Greater Milwaukee’s effort to increase healthy births, the United Performing Arts Fund’s arts education outreach, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee programs to boost high school graduation and success in college.

The money is in addition to the annual fundraising drives BMO Harris employees participate in to support these local organizations, the bank said.

In addition, BMO said, it plans to hail its bicentennial by inviting people to go to

www.bmo200.com to make “wishes for a better tomorrow.” BMO said it will be fulfilling a number of the wishes, both big and small.

“Milwaukee is such an important market for us, and we’re very pleased to mark our bicentennial with the wishes we are granting and the donations we are announcing,” said David Casper, president and chief executive of BMO Harris Bank.

“The bank’s history in Milwaukee dates back 170 years, to the founding of M&I Bank in 1847. We have always been committed to giving back to the communities in which they serve, and we are proud to carry on that tradition.”

Toronto-based BMO Financial Group acquired Milwaukee’s M&I Bank, which was the largest bank based in Wisconsin, in 2011.

BMO Harris on Thursday noted other instances of support for metro Milwaukee:

A long-term partnership with Summerfest for the 5,000seat BMO Harris Pavilion

Plans for a new branch in the Sherman Park community to replace a branch destroyed in last summer’s riot. Groundbreaking for the branch is set for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and it is expected to be finished this fall.

Plans for construction of a 25-story office tower in downtown Milwaukee on the site of the parking garage of the old M&I headquarters building at 770 N. Water St. Work is expected to begin this year.

Sponsorship of the BMO Harris Bradley Center, and BMO’s role as the official bank of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Asked whether the BMO Harris might buy naming rights to the new Bucks arena, Casper said, “We love the Bucks,” but said it was too early to say. He noted the bank just held an event with business leaders at which Bucks co-owner Mark Lasry was a guest speaker.

“How about we leave it at this — we’re going to continue to be really supportive with the Bucks,” Casper said.