(March 14 – 09:15 ET) – Bank of Montreal will open 12 branches in IGA supermarkets in
Québec. The first one opens tomorrow in Laval.
The bank already operates 52 branches in stores. It expects to have more than 200 in-store branches in groceries by 2002. They won’t just be electronic kiosks. The BMO branches are staffed by real people who can offer mutual funds and “financial planning” tools along with other bank products. They will be open seven days a week for at least 60 hours a week in total.
François Vimard, vice president of finance at Sobeys Québec, says, “The integration of Bank of Montreal branches in IGA supermarkets will provide our customers with an
added service that they’ve been eagerly awaiting. They’ll find butchers and pastry chefs alongside bankers and financial specialists, all in a single location.”