(January 16 – 11:15 ET) – Bank of Montreal and 724 Solutions Inc. today announced an agreement that will allow the bank to deliver 724 Solutions’ suite of wireless products to smaller North American financial institutions. The agreement is subject to regulatory approval.

BMO says will expand the reach of wireless financial services in North America by enabling these smaller institutions to implement 724 Solutions’ world-class platform and offer their own customers mobile banking, brokerage and commerce services, as well as related services like aggregation and intelligent personalized alerts.

The bank pioneered wireless banking and lifestyle services in North America when it introduced BMO Veev wireless banking in May 1999. Last year it was the first bank to launch wireless banking in the U.S. through its Harris Bank unit.

The announcement was made today by 724 Solutions and BMO as the bank kicks-off its Technologica 2001 conference and exposition. The conference, at the bank’s Institute for Learning, showcases for employees the outstanding achievements and technology leadership of the bank.

“We are uniquely positioned with our technology, infrastructure, critical partnerships and breadth of offering and experience,” said Lloyd Darlington, President and CEO, Emfisys and Head, E-Business. Emfisys is the technology and e-business group within the bank that provides information technology planning, strategy and development services, together with information technology transaction processing capabilities to the employees and customers of the Bank of Montreal Group of Companies.

“Our goal is to provide wireless services to other financial services providers and retail merchants across North America who are outside of 724 Solutions’ primary target market. We’re continuing to invest in the e-business market as part of an accelerated shift in our business mix to higher-growth, higher-return businesses,” added Darlington.
-IE Staff