How to Book a Meeting with a BMO Advisor in Montreal — My Hands-on Guide
If you’ve ever tried scheduling an appointment with a banking advisor at a big Canadian bank — say, BMO (Bank of Montreal) — in Montreal, you probably know the pain points: “Do I need to call? Can I book online? Will they really call me back?” Been there, done that, more than once, and not always without a hiccup. In this guide, I’ll walk through the real process, mistakes not to repeat, screenshots from my own trial run, and even sprinkle in some actual regulations about verifying your identity, plus how appointment processes might differ if you compare Canada, the US, and the EU. By the end, you’ll know how to make your appointment happen efficiently — and what to watch out for.
Step 1: Decide What Kind of BMO Advisor You Need
First tip — and I learned this the hard way — figure out in advance who you want to meet: a personal banking advisor (i.e., for chequing, mortgages, credit cards, student banking) or an investment advisor (for mutual funds, retirement or larger portfolio stuff).
In my case, I started by picking the closest BMO branch in Montreal. BMO’s site asks what kind of service you’re looking for — and clicking the wrong one can send your request to a team that calls you, only to tell you that “Oh, Susan does investments but she’s only at Côte-des-Neiges on Tuesdays.” Not my favorite “oops.”
Step 2: Check Branch Availability vs. Online Booking
BMO, compared to some other banks, ranks pretty well for digital appointment booking. But not all branches offer the same service times or online options. Here’s exactly what I saw:
So, direct steps:
- Go to BMO’s Branch Locator
- Find your branch (I used the one at 1190 Rue Peel — downtown, convenient, some staff speak English and French without blinking)
- Click on “Book an appointment” — if present
If, like me, you find your branch doesn’t allow online bookings (for certain advisors or after hours), BMO’s interface pushes you to a form to “request a callback.” They actually called me back same day, which impressed me, but my French is weak so I had to ask for a callback in English. A little awkward but it all worked.
Step 3: Fill Out Booking or Callback Form — Details Matter!
You’ll see this screen (screenshot edited for my privacy):
You must put in:
- Contact info (email, phone, etc.)
- The type of service needed (vague answers get you “do you want to open an account or talk investments?”)
- Preferred time and language (yes, you can pick French or English; if you’re nervous, just write “EN only please” in the details, it helps)
One time I forgot to confirm my request by email, and my appointment evaporated. Double-check your spam folder for any confirmation BMO sends!
Step 4: Wait for Confirmation — and Possible Security Callbacks
Usually, you’ll get:
- An email confirmation with date, time, branch location, and the advisor’s name
- Sometimes, an additional phone call to confirm your intentions (especially for investment consulting)
- If you book via the BMO app, you can see your appointments in your online banking dashboard (pro tip: login on a desktop, not all mobile versions display appointments the same way!)
It’s not always instant, but according to BMO’s official procedures and recent customer feedback on Reddit, same-day or 24-hour confirmation is now more or less normal in Montreal — unless it’s peak RRSP or mortgage season.
Step 5: Prepare Documents for Your Meeting (Don’t Get Burned Like Me)
True story: I once showed up with just my driver’s license for an investment account meeting. Turns out, due to FINTRAC federal rules for “verified KYC (Know Your Customer),” you often need:
- Valid government photo ID (passport or driver's license), plus a secondary ID (credit card, birth certificate)
- Proof of address (recent utility bill or government correspondence)
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) for investment accounts (to comply with Canadian tax law, see CRA TFSA: Why they need your SIN)
The advisor I met explained — and the federal Privacy Act backs this up — that your info is used only for regulatory purposes. But if you forget your SIN card? You’ll have to reschedule. Been there, too. Don’t be me!
What if You Need a “Verified Trade” Meeting?
Here’s where it gets a bit technical. Some Montrealers do banking across borders — say, you’re a recent arrival opening a newcomer account, or you need investment services verified under international “trade certification” laws. The process isn’t so different in person, but the legal standards for identity verification and cross-border appointments do vary, and banks sometimes apply extra “layers” to your meetings.
According to the OECD’s trade facilitation rules and WTO agreements, “verified trade” compliance means you might face extra paperwork or regulatory proof of address, especially if you’re using business, not personal banking. The upshot: let your advisor know in advance if you’re representing a company or dealing with international funds, or you’ll wind up on a follow-up call.
International Comparison Table — “Verified Trade” Appointment Standards
| Jurisdiction | What’s “Verified Trade” Called? | Key Law/Regulation | Enforcement Agency/Body | Requirement Level (Personal Banking) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | KYC/AML checks under “Trade Facilitation” | PCMLTFA | FINTRAC, OSFI | High |
| USA | Customer Due Diligence (CDD) under “PATRIOT Act” | Bank Secrecy Act | FinCEN, OCC | Very High (PATRIOT/AML) |
| EU (France, Germany) | Verified Customer (VC) under AMLD5/6 | 5AMLD, 6AMLD | ESMA, EBA | High |
One Montreal advisor (I’ll call him Max) told me over coffee, “We follow FINTRAC rules here, and sometimes have to call Ottawa if a dual-national’s file pops up for extra screening. It’s not about you — it’s about ticking all the right regulatory boxes.”
Real (But Simplified) Case: My Buddy Pierre Gets the Runaround
Pierre, who recently moved back from Germany, tried to open both a chequing and investment account at a downtown BMO. He books online, shows up with one German passport, and the advisor shrugs: “Need a valid Canadian address and at least one Canadian ID to meet our cross-border compliance rules.” Pierre grumbles, goes home, comes back with his Quebec driver’s license and Hydro-Québec bill. The next time, everything goes smoothly. Lesson: extra verification for “cross-border” clients is real and it’s not even a Quebec quirk, it’s all over the OECD (see OECD Q&A).
Industry Take: Montreal Advisors Break It Down
“We’d rather have you over prepared,” says Sarah L., a BMO personal banking manager in NDG. “Our compliance department is relentless — sometimes the client thinks we’re being picky, but every identifier must link up or our internal system flags it. If you’re coming in for anything more than opening a standard chequing account, we politely encourage clients to email their documents before arriving.”
If you’re tech-savvy, BMO recently piloted a “video appointment” platform. It’s good — but you still need to upload ID in advance, and sometimes authentication delays your sign-up by a day. Real talk: the in-person experience, while old-school, is still the fastest for tricky cases.
Summary and Next Steps: What Actually Works? (And What I’d Avoid)
Bottom line: getting a meeting with a BMO advisor in Montreal is honestly pretty straightforward — unless you forget ID, pick the wrong booking form, or need “verified trade” service, in which case Canadian federal rules add red tape fast. My advice: always double-check your branch’s online booking tool, bring more ID than you think you need, and don’t be afraid to call the branch directly if you’re stuck (in Montreal, staff are generally patient with walk-ins if you’re nice and clear about what you need).
- Use official BMO Montreal branch locator for the most up-to-date advisors and online booking links.
- Have all IDs handy for the “KYC” process, especially for investment or cross-border accounts — as required by FINTRAC and Canadian Privacy Act.
- Know that “verified trade” or compliance checks are tougher in North America than in some EU countries (just look at that table above!).
- If your advisor says you need to come back, don’t take it personally — almost everyone messes up at least once. Just rebook, upload what you can, and try again.
My last nugget: in a pinch, walk-ins before 3pm get decent service, but call ahead if you hate waiting. Montreal’s BMO branches usually have at least one bilingual advisor, and from recent Reddit thread reviews, they appreciate it when you come in prepared. Hope this saves you a headache or two!