BMO Harris Bank Headquarters

Note: Would have selected NO stars.
In 1982, my father established a Trust Fund with Amcore Financial in Rockford, Illinois. Somehow, the entire estate ended up with BMO. The trust was to be distributed to his heirs upon the death of a certain family member. She passed in May 2014 and to date not one dime has been distributed.
The process of receiving these distributions has been a nightmare for his heirs. First, the countless forms to be filled out and returned by the four heirs by snail-​mail took an inordinate amount of time. Second, the bank used every menial excuse to delay the process. For example, all heirs had to agree on the sale of an old junker motor home worth $ 1000 before the seven figure estate could be distributed which took months. Third, every transaction was met with an additional fee.
Fourteen months later, we were advised the funds could finally be wired to each heir’s individual account. To date, this has been delayed again. BMO claimed they didn’t receive all the necessary forms.
Please be advised. Think twice before setting up a trust fund with BMO. They are great at taking your money, but when you pass it WILL be a nightmare for your heirs, also.

Opening accounts here, and it’s slow going. They’re stuck at «average». I have had a mortgage here for 20+ years, and they are competitive on rates.
One thing I DID NOT like was the forced use of BMO Harris’ appraiser when refinancing. The guy devalued my condo by thousands, forcing the rate to go up (and the bank makes more money) — shady. No, not accepting that. Appraiser clearly incompetent, and I’m appealing it to get a new one. Also, I don’t have a fireplace or central air, I thought that was obvious to the appraiser.
So, we wait and see how they fix all this. Probable update coming.

They are always nice when they are taking your money, just don’t try to get it back.
I attempted to cash a check drawn on a Harris account and I was told that they can’t cash it due to fraud policies, to go to my own bank. For the record when I hold a cash equivalent instrument drawn on an account at your bank, that makes me a customer.
Attempting to find a solution I suggested they verify that the check is legitimate and that I would come back in a day or two for the cash. The CSR at the desk and a personal banker agreed to this taking a copy of the check, my id’s and my phone number promising to call me when they have verified the check. Of course the call never came. It has been a week. They were just patronizing me. UNACCEPTABLE!
See my story for the palatine branch on NWHwy which is just as bad. Fortunately years ago after a horrible experience refinancing my mortgage I switched to Chase who quickly and efficiently cashed the check. This was a great company to work with then Bank of Montréal bought them and customer service quickly went south. Now they do not even deserve to be in business with such horrid customer service but I’m sure they do not even care — which is the impression I’m left with.
The other unbelievable stories here seem consist with my experience over the years.

I had never heard of BMO HARRIS prior to financing a boat loan in September 2014. I’m in Texas BTW. After several conversations with a few too many individuals explaining things differently about how online principal payments work, I decided ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I called in and got my payoff and after processing the online payoff payment and calling in after it took perceivably way too long to receive and process the payment, I was given a totally different address where I should have electronically sent the payoff to. It was, I guess a final validation that the bank employees are inept and would prefer to keep their customers guessing kind of gesture. The payoff has since been proceeded and I assure you that if I ever finance anything ever again and am told that the servicing establishment is BMO Harris… I WILL RUN AWAY FROM THE DEAL QUICKLY.

I am the victim of credit card fraud/​theft. I just got off the phone with one of their customer service reps, and was told there is nothing that can be done to expedite the return of my money. I filed this claim on Monday morning 07÷07÷14 I still have not received my replacement Debit card (its ⁰⁷⁄₁₁). I am eating chips out of an effing vending machine because the thieves left me with $ 3.38 Please do not ask a customer service rep to contact me as they have already informed me there is nothing they can do. Instead I am appealing to your banking organization’s sense of responsibility. The fraudulent activity happened to OUR account! I am eating potato chips for lunch! give me my money back!

Opened our new account here today and the staff was amazingly nice and helpful.
What I appreciate the most is that we did not feel like we were being «sold» on products from start to finish. We sat down with Tristan to open our accounts and we felt as though we had total control of what products we did and did not want.
The amount of time we spent in the branch was really minimal considering we opened a new checking and savings account, applied for a LOC and a BMO credit card.
The option of a Blackhawk debit card and a contact sticker that ties to your Ventra card is right up our alley.
This branch earns it’s five stars from us for friendly, knowledgeable staff, no pressure selling, efficient service and convenience.

BMO Harris Bank STOLE $ 60 dollars from me. To think I was considering investing in this bank. Not when they switch the rules and steal money from customers.
I had a «mad money» account with them. No large amount, but a TRY it before you add more to the bank. An account that if I needed cash while traveling I could walk into any bank and withdraw off of my bank card. (No ATM’s involved!). I had not used it for a while. It was a «free checking account» and then they started stealing $ 10 a month for the HONOR of letting them use my money.
Do not use this bank!!!

What a difference a little renovation makes! Open and clean! I will say however, the service is still «meh.» Don’t expect your teller to be super cheerful or even act like they want to be there, but whatever. I guess that’s why I prefer transactions through the ATM.

My employer has multiple business accounts at BMO Harris. For a year or more I have been going there 1 – 2 times per week making deposits for my employer, so the staff is familiar with me. The day before I was going on vacation I tried to cash my paycheck there (written on one of my employer’s BMO Harris business accounts) because my ATM card for my own personal bank was broken and I was waiting for a replacement. BMO Harris refused to cash my paycheck (which is not even very large) because I «didn’t have an account there,» and if I would have opened an account on the spot, «it would take 2 – 3 business days for the funds to be authorized to be paid out.» WTF?! Avoid these banksters like the plague!

This branch is my favorite BMO. I have been banking with Harris for about 3 years and I am allllll over Chicago so I have used at least 20 different branches. This is by far my favorite to use. The tellers are always patient, pleasant, and friendly. They are quick to provide help and make you feel welcome and appreciated as a customer. The larger structure of Harris could use some work but this review is about this branch and they are excellent. I am happy to use this one whenever I am downtown.

Today I «volunteered» to take some packages to a client down the street. More like I was told to. Whatever I thought it seemed like a simple task. Turns out its not. First I tried to walk out of our building with the cart holding three packages… Nope! According the Carol the Door woman I have to have a pass… «Where do I get a pass?» I ask. «from your office manager.» So I have to lug the cart back upstairs and get the pass. Then I go back down to the lobby and give the pass to Carol. She fills out some forms. I fill out some forms. 5 min. later I’m out the door. I walk down the block pulling the dolly full of books. It’s lunch time. I look like a very dapper bike messenger. I walk down Wells St. I turn onto Monroe. I get to 111 W. Monroe St. to Harris Bank World Headquarters. I try to go in. I can’t get past the revolving doors. There everywhere. I need a traditional open and close door. I need hinges. The cart wont fit in the revolving doors. I get pissed. I finally find the damn hinged doors. I wait for some handicapped people to exit. I realized the correlation between my cart and their wheelchair. I laugh in my head and smile outwardly. I go into the lobby. I wait behind several other people at the front desk to ask to be let through the turn style. A 20 something black guy with dreads is before me and before him are two old women. Dread lock guy has the IPhone. I hate him. I want his IPhone. Only I want it to be my Iphone. I can’t believe I’m jealous of a guy with Dreadlocks AND he doesn’t have any freaking packages. Lucky asshole. I’m such a freaking looser. He done. He walks away. It’s my turn. «Hello. I’m here to take these boxes up to a client on the 7^th floor. She’s expecting me.» I say. «That’s great but all deliveries have to come in the service entrance through the alley.» She says. I read her name tag. Carol it says. I giggle. What are the odds I think. I decided to be slightly charming. I lean over the counter and smile. I say «Carol can you let me up just this once? I wont tell? You might be the best, nicest women in the world if you do.» I smile and sheepishly grin. I flirt. «It’s to bad this woman didn’t inform you of our procedures Sir. There is nothing I can do.» She says sternly. Her assertiveness hits me like a hurricane. I’m pissed. I raise my voice «Do I look like a fucking bike messenger Carol?» I grab at my tie so as to display my awesomeness. To prove myself. «Well all profanity aside, seeing as how you are toting packages, yes you do look like a messenger.» She says. Fuck, I think. She won, I know. «Where the hell is the fucking goddamned service entrance?» I cuss extra just to spite her. I’m pissed and I want to show my superiority. I’m going to be a sore looser if I can’t win this exchange; bitch, I think. She answers. I turn to go back out the handicapped door. I leave feeling both handicapped and like a messenger. The correlation is not lost on me. I walk around the building. The alley is wet. It seems like it rains harder in the alley. It feels colder in the alley. Darker in the alley. I’m alone in the alley. I’m overdressed for the alley. I walk up to the door. It’s rusty and old. I push the buzzer. I wait. I push the buzzer again. A man comes. His name is not Carol. I don’t know his name. He doesn’t have a name-​tag and don’t care to ask. I say «I have some boxes to take up to the seventh floor.» «Papers» he replies. «Papers?» I ask. «Yeah papers; where are your papers». I don’t have any papers. What the fuck? Why is this so damned hard? All I have is a package full of fucking papers. What makes his paper so damned important?. Fuck! I think. I say «Oh papers!» I pretend to know what he is talking about. I open one of the boxes and look for the receipt. I guess that if I give the receipt that he might just let me go. He probably hates his job and doesn’t much care if he lets me slip by without following protocol. I give him the receipt. «What’s this?» he questions «My paper» I say. «You a need delivery confirmation to bring packages into the building man.» I lean in and grin. Maybe he is more susceptible to my charm I think. «C’mon, Can’t you let me slide just this once.» I whisper. I’m smooth. It’s gonna work. He can’t resist. God I’m good. I think. «No can do buddy» he says verbally louder than before. I lost again. I’m pissed. I leave the packages in the alley. I walk out of the alley and into the light. I go to the little coffee shop and get a large black coffee. I sit at the window that over looks the alley and the packages. I call the office and get the Phone number to the delivery service. The delivery guy comes to the alley. I wait near the side walk. I drink my coffee and point to the packages. He gets the boxes, taps the buzzer and walks in without event. I smile. I’m pissed. Contradictions.