Anthony Abril and Raj Bhargava, UC Berkeley undergraduates, played a key role in shaping the campus’s agreement with Bank of the West. The pair sat down recently with Berkeley News to talk about students’ stake in the relationship and their own role in the process.
The 10-year agreement, which establishes Bank of the West as the “Official Bank of UC Berkeley,” will provide the campus with more than $17 million in revenue to support merit-based scholarships and paid summer internships for students, as well as funding for priority programs like Bears for Financial Success and the UC Berkeley Food Pantry
BANK OF THE WEST: BIG BANK ON CAMPUS BY STEVE COCHEO
UC Berkeley's relationship with Bank of the West is the lead case study in this article about innovative financial services. The relationship represents a ten-year commitment for the bank to be the campus's official bank, and it is projected to benefit the...
A total of 11 UC Berkeley students worked this summer at Bank of the West in roles ranging from technology to finance to human resources. Once their internships ended, they shared their experiences in insightful “exit interviews” that may help future interns.
Just in time for the fall semester, students and the campus community can experience all new cardio equipment at the Recreational Sports Facility (RSF) and Memorial Stadium Fitness Center with the upgrade and replacement of approximately 150 pieces across both facilities.
When seeking out potential interns for Bank of the West, Recruiting Manager Elijah Padua emphasized the mutually beneficial relationship with UC Berkeley noting the bank “provides summer internships to UC Berkeley students who in turn provide fresh perspectives and new ideas to the bank.” Of the 29 interns hosted this past summer, it comes as no surprise that 11 of these positions were secured by UC Berkeley students.
Bank of the West, the university’s official bank, has been a longtime sponsor of registered student organization (RSO) grants awarded through the LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Advising, & Development) Center. For the past five years, the bank has provided $20,000 in funding annually to be distributed to RSOs that further one of the bank’s areas of interest: sustainability, financial literacy or...
BERKELEY, Calif. (September 9, 2025) — UC Berkeley has signed a new five-year agreement with BMO designating it the Official Bank of UC Berkeley, building on a successful relationship that began with BMO’s acquisition of Bank of the West in 2023. The new partnership, which began July 1, 2025, introduces expanded banking services with an emphasis on digital convenience, enhanced financial wellness programming and new initiatives to support students, faculty, staff, alumni and the surrounding community.
“Our partnership with BMO builds on UC Berkeley’s tradition of...
Frequently Asked Questions: Bank of the West Transition to BMO Bank
UC Berkeley’s official bank, Bank of the West, was acquired by BMO Bank (BMO) in early 2023. See our answers to frequently asked questions about the transition to BMO.
General FAQs collapse allexpand all What does this transition mean and what is included?
Bank of the West has officially joined BMO Bank (BMO) through a formal acquisition on February 1, 2023...
The 10-year agreement, which establishes Bank of the West as the “Official Bank of UC Berkeley,” will provide the campus with more than $17 million in revenue to support merit-based scholarships and paid summer internships for students, as well as funding for priority programs like Bears for Financial Success and the UC Berkeley Food Pantry
UC Berkeley's relationship with Bank of the West is the lead case study in this article about innovative financial services. The relationship represents a ten-year commitment for the bank to be the campus's official bank, and it is projected to benefit the...
Just in time for the fall semester, students and the campus community can experience all new cardio equipment at the 
Bank of the West, the university’s official bank, has been a longtime sponsor of registered student organization (RSO) grants awarded through the LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Advising, & Development) Center. For the past five years, the bank has provided $20,000 in funding annually to be distributed to RSOs that further one of the bank’s areas of interest: sustainability, financial literacy or...