
Exhibits
The Corporate Archives curates physical and digital exhibits from our collections to tell BMO’s story over the years. Our aim is to provide a better understanding of the defining moments in our history.
Laying the groundwork: A brief history of branch architecture
As we celebrate the anniversary of the opening of the Montreal Main branch building on November 1, 1847, we’d like to take a closer look at how the architecture of bank branches has changed since then. From grand stone buildings to small wooden shacks, to sleek mid-century stonework, the architecture has reflected the eras in which the branches were built and the evolution of banking practices over time. In this exhibit, we explore these changes through our collection of historic branch photographs.

Grandeur of banking
Bank of Montreal (then known as the Montreal Bank), originally opened on 3 November 1817. The building that currently houses our Montreal main branch completed construction in 1847. It was built as the bank’s operations outgrew its nearby previous premises.
The façade of this building, with its Corinthian columns and elaborate pediment, remains a key feature to this day. The neoclassical architecture of the branch illustrates the grandeur of contemporaneous banks. Buildings like this were designed to instill trust in customers, who could be assured that their funds would be safely deposited with our well constructed institution.

Brass and marble
The interiors of early stone branches often reflected the same sturdiness and grandeur of the outside. Cages around the tellers wicket were also a key feature for protecting deposited funds.
The interior of the Chicoutimi, Quebec branch was outfitted with intricate crown mouldings and a large, curved marble counter with ornate brass grills running the length of the counter.

Humble beginnings
BMO was often one of the first institutions to establish itself along the Western frontier, following the growth of the Canadian Pacific Railway. We would set up temporary branches in small shacks in order to quickly begin banking operations and encourage the growth and progress of the town.
This wooden building was a branch of the Merchant’s Bank of Canada (acquired by Bank of Montreal in 1922), located in Castor, Alberta. The building was built and opened the same day in 1909. At the time, the population was approximately 100.

Using available resources
Often, architecture was inspired by the natural resources readily available to newly established towns. With the abundance of trees in the northern territories, branches were largely made of wood rather than stone.
BMO’s first premises in Mayo, Yukon consisted of a log cabin. The branch opened in 1928 and serves as a good example of one of the more remote branches built by the bank during the expansion in the Northwest. A note on the back of the photograph describes the building as “rather crude looking, but warm and cozy inside.”

Simple and sturdy
As the West opened and further developed, banks were able to build sturdier structures.
The Trochu, Alberta branch, originally a branch of the Merchants Bank, first operated in a small, frame shack. The bank moved into these premises on the corner of Main Street and 2nd Avenue when the building finished construction in 1914, a few years after the completion of the railway station in town. The boxy, simple construction with gable roof was characteristic of Merchants Bank branch architecture.

Sleek and modern
By the mid-20th century, there was a shift in what was considered popular for bank buildings – from the large and imposing stone buildings typical of the late-19th century to more sleek and approachable mid-century architecture. There was also an evolution in services required based on changes in society, which is why in 1950 BMO was the first to introduce drive-in tellers with the Vancouver branch on West 10th Ave and Granville.
The Montreal Decarie and Plamondon branch opened in 1952, with a drive-in teller featured around the left side of the building. The exterior was constructed of Indiana limestone with black granite trim. This new, sleek look was typical for many branches constructed in the 1950s.

Photograph of the drive-in teller at the W 10th and Granville branch in Vancouver, 1950.

Mid-century beginnings
Sometimes, as BMO continued to enter developing towns along the western and northern frontiers, more temporary accommodations needed to be set up in order to bring bank business quickly to these towns. In this more modern age, trailers were often the solution. These temporary trailers were replaced by more permanent premises once conditions allowed. BMO still uses trailer branches today to support local communities in the aftermaths of natural disasters.
A trailer branch was set up in Elliot Lake, Ontario on April 12, 1955. The trailer had living quarters for a staff of two at the rear and was equipped to provide a wide range of banking services. The business end of the trailer, though compact, had a regular bank counter, a safe, a customer desk, and even a teller’s window.
Ringing in a new look
There were additional architectural changes as BMO welcomed the 1970s. With the introduction of the M-bar logo in 1967, signage on the interior and exterior of branch buildings incorporated this new unified branding across all locations. In addition to the M-bar, BMO-blue clocks outside branches were a key characteristic of branch architecture at the time. Clocks were even added to the facades of older branch buildings.
This branch in Gibsons, British Columbia with its sharp angles and emphasis on minimalism, demonstrates typical 1970s branch architecture. The photograph also shows the iconic Bank of Montreal clock at the front of the building.

Hi, nice to meet you!
As the exterior architecture adapted to reflect the changing times, so too did the interiors. Branches began to feature open counters that allowed customers to communicate more directly with bank tellers, allowing for a more personable banking experience.
Though not new technology by the 1970s, adding machines were still used regularly in the branches. This photo from Bowmanville, Ontario shows the adding machine behind the counter as well as the open, circular counter that allowed staff to engage more directly with customers.

Technological advances
As BMO ushered in the 1990s, the adding machines and typewriters were replaced by the computer and computer screen.
This branch photograph from Wetaskiwin, Alberta shows how the computers would have been set up in the branches in the 1990s. This new fixture in branch interiors allowed employees to more efficiently assist customers with their banking transactions.

Let’s get Smart!
The 21st century has brought even more changes to BMO architecture with the introduction of Smart Branches. These branches are designed with a smaller square footage and an open concept design without lineups or teller counters to create an environment where customers can have more relaxed and open conversations about their financial needs. There are also self-check-in hubs which alert branch staff when a customer arrives. These branches are paving the way to the future in banking.

Net Zero Energy branches
As part of BMO’s commitment to be our clients’ lead partner in the transition to a net zero world, we opened our first Net-Zero Energy Branch in Kitchener, Ontario in 2024.
The branch was uniquely designed to adhere to low-carbon construction, which focused on utilizing materials with high recyclable content, structural wood, and low carbon concrete – minimizing the environmental impacts of building a new structure from the ground up. It’s also equipped with solar panels to ensure any energy consumed is offset by the energy produced, and an integrated monitoring system verifies and reports on the net-zero energy status of the branch.