FAQs: Bank of the West Transition to BMO Bank

Bank of the West has officially joined BMO Bank (BMO) through a formal acquisition on February 1, 2023. A formal conversion of the bank’s systems occurred September 5, 2023. Existing Bank of the West customers are encouraged to visit their local BMO branches for banking services. 

Customers will receive important updates about the transition of services through mail and email, or by checking the BMO website for the latest news.

BMO officially completed the acquisition of Bank of the West on February 1, 2023, and the conversion to the BMO system occurred over Labor Day Weekend (starting September 1, 2023 and continuing to September 5, 2023).

The current campus banking relationship has not changed. UC Berkeley received notification of the acquisition and approved the transition of our campus partner from Bank of the West to BMO.

We look forward to having a collaborative and meaningful relationship with BMO. The campus will continue working with our partner as details of the transition are finalized and we will continue to provide updates to our campus community.

Like Bank of the West, BMO has been recognized as an industry leader in sustainability and ethics. BMO has similar shared commitments with UC Berkeley including a focus on sustainability, inclusion and community.

Some existing initiatives BMO has implemented include mobilizing funding for businesses that build green buildings and generate clean energy, launching a Community Benefits Plan to help strengthen communities and supporting economic opportunities in communities through collaborative efforts with non-profit organizations.

The relationship between UC Berkeley and Bank of the West started in 2015 and formally transitioned to BMO in September 2023. The current 10-year agreement lasts until 2025.

UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff and alumni who were customers of Bank of the West can continue to enjoy the same level of service as they would normally through BMO's branches, website and mobile application. Account numbers and login information will remain the same after the formal transition and BMO will notify users about any changes to their account.

Bank of the West branches will continue to remain open under BMO after the transition, including the UC Berkeley campus branch located in the MLK Jr. Student Union building. Existing accounts and services will be automatically transferred to comparable BMO accounts and customers can expect the same level of support and experience to support all their personal banking needs.

Bank of the West account holders are encouraged to bookmark the transition page on BMO's website, which contains up-to-date information about the transition process.

Necessary details will also be sent to customers through mail or email. In order to receive important updates, customers should confirm their contact information on file with Bank of the West to ensure their email address and phone number are correct.

During the transition phase, BMO branding will replace areas where Bank of the West currently has a presence. This includes at least 10 ATMs across campus, a full-service branch on the first floor of the ASUC Student Union and other digital or physical presence within UC Berkeley departments and organizations.

Additionally, BMO will continue to have a presence at California Memorial Stadium and Haas Pavilion through access to stadium signage at Cal Athletics events.

UC Berkeley community members can learn more about BMO by visiting their website at https://www.bmo.com/main/about-bmo/