Bank of Montreal has been named the “Best Internet Bank in Canada” by Global Finance Magazine in its annual report on the “World’s Best Internet Banks”.

The report, published in the magazine’s August issue, listed the best providers of online corporate and institutional financial services globally and in 36 countries or regions around the world.

The report highlighted BMO’s wireless banking and investment services as well as its Business Banking Centre, which offers Internet banking, online cash management and procurement services.

The banks included in the survey were evaluated on breadth of product offerings; success in getting customers to use online offerings; ability to form winning Internet partnerships or alliances; Web site design and functionality and diversity of access channels. Global Finance’s editors performed the final selection process with input from industry analysts, consultants and technology experts.

In addition to receiving this award, Bank of Montreal placed second out of the five largest banks and fourth of fourteen banks overall in the latest Canadian Internet Banking Scorecard released by Gomez Inc.

In its evaluation of Bank of Montreal’s online offering, Gomez stated, “We expect the firm to continue building upon an already solid offering that includes extensive access to virtually all financial services, which are provided in real-time updates for a number of these products. This is clearly a step above the competition.”

Lloyd Darlington, president and CEO, Emfisys and Head, E-Business, Bank of Montreal said, “We are extremely proud to receive both Canadian and international recognition as a premier bank for online innovation and e- business. These are important achievements for Bank of Montreal as we harness the power of technology to reinvent financial services and provide solutions for our customers.”