From history to mission: BMO’s role in supporting Canada’s Defence Community
Growth & Strategy
Updated 
2 min. read
For more than 200 years, BMO has supported clients, colleagues who are service members, and the defence community – adapting alongside Canada’s evolving defence and security needs.
In the 1800s – BMO’s early days – we delivered administrative and financial services to the Canadian military. During the First and Second World Wars, many BMO employees served, and our Waterloo branch in London, England became an unofficial headquarters for Canadian troops on leave from the front.
Today, that legacy lives on through deep institutional knowledge, trusted relationships and purpose-built financial solutions for defence sector companies and the supply chains that support them.
Partnering to scale investments in the Canadian Defence Industry
BMO is a partner bank in the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) Development Group. This multilateral initiative focuses on unlocking financing for defence, security and resilience projects across allied nations, with the potential to reshape how critical investments are funded. Canada will serve as host country for the DSRB’s future headquarters.
“As the Official Bank of the Canadian Defence Community, we’re proud to support efforts like the DSRB Development Group that will strengthen Canadian and Allied defence and security sectors, and the industries that support military personnel around the world.”
- Carrie Cook, Global Head of Investment & Corporate Banking
BMO is also well positioned to support defence and security clients operating in highly regulated, high-risk and mission‑critical environments. Our deep industry insight, paired with award-winning digital banking capabilities and advanced treasury and payment capabilities can deliver secure, reliable solutions for defence sector companies and their suppliers.
Standing alongside the Canadian Defence Community
Throughout generations and through times of conflict and peace, Canadians have answered the call to serve, and BMO has stood alongside them. Not as outsiders looking in, but as part of that community who understands what service and sovereignty costs – and what it gives.
As the Official Bank of the Canadian Defence Community since 2008, we’re proud to help defence community members and their families make real financial progress, and to support the community through initiatives such as the RCAF Run, Navy Bike Ride, Canada Army Run, Invictus Games and Military Family Appreciation Days across Canada.
This partnership is grounded in shared values, a clear understanding of what service and sovereignty costs, and guided by 200 years of history – including the lived experiences of our colleagues in the Armed Forces. Hear from our team about what this commitment means today, and how BMO continues to support the Canadian Defence Community:
