BMORE: Launching financial careers and changing lives in Indianapolis and Los Angeles
BMO’s BMORE program has successfully expanded into the Midwest and Southern California regions, marking a new chapter in our journey to increase access to careers in banking and finance.
BMORE is our external talent acquisition strategy designed to promote an inclusive workforce for everyone. Through strategic giving and collaboration with workforce development organizations in Indianapolis and Los Angeles, we work together to develop career pathways into the financial industry by removing employment barriers. We then provide intentional onboarding and ongoing post-employment support to stay connected with participants every step of the way. This program is an example of how philanthropy and business priorities can work together for greater good.
“BMORE is about connecting with our local communities to develop a pipeline of talent and increase pathways to careers within the banking and financial services industry. BMO’s Purpose is being brought to life through our collaborations with workforce development organizations, as we partner to support our communities and promote a thriving economy and a more inclusive society.”
– Carolyn Booth
Head, U.S. Personal & Business Banking at BMO
BMORE Indianapolis
In partnership with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, we have completed two hiring cohorts in 2024, resulting in nine new BMO colleagues. The first cohort of participants recently achieved an important milestone – their one-year anniversaries.
To enhance the BMORE program’s impact, BMO co-created programming for Goodwill’s Excel Center alumni that focuses on banking, customer service and sales fundamentals. The Center has helped over 8,000 graduates attain over 7,800 certificates and earn credits towards college degrees. 2021 Excel Center Alum and current Associate Banker Joselyn Manzanares is one of many who have been positively impacted by our partnership, and was honored with Goodwill’s Education Achievement Award in 2024. Watch the video below to meet three employees who have graduated from the BMORE program and are thriving in their careers at BMO.
BMORE Los Angeles
Through our ongoing partnership with JVS SoCal, we launched the BMORE program in LA, hiring four Associate Bankers into local branches. The free eight-week program prepares participants with fundamental knowledge to foster a successful financial services career. The training program has a placement rate of over 80% and over 2,300 graduates have been offered full time jobs. Joselyn Cuevas, Regional Sales Manager and Edith Garcia, California Retail Relationship Banker credit the program with changing their lives helping them to succeed.
Since the launch of BMORE in Chicago five years ago, BMO has provided over $500,000 in grants, enabling our partner organizations to increase capacity, improve long-term impact reporting and strengthen their workforce development tactics.
The program has won awards including Cara Collective’s 2025 Trailblazer award and Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s 2024 Excellence in Living Wage Careers award. Since 2020, over 200 Associate Bankers have been hired through BMORE in Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Madison and Phoenix. BMO plans to launch the program in more regions across our footprint, expanding our reach and impacting more communities.
