Eric Smith

Eric Smith is Vice Chair of BMO U.S., where he serves as the Chief CRA Officer and as a senior advisor to the Commercial Banking management team. 

Eric joined BMO in January 2020 from Fifth Third Bank, where he served as the Regional President responsible for the growth and strategic alignment of the commercial banking, wealth & asset management and consumer businesses across the Chicagoland market. Prior to assuming that role in 2016, Eric served as Chief Financial Officer of Middle Market Banking for JPMorgan Chase for several years following his leadership role as a Managing Director in the Investment Bank responsible for advising Fortune 500 consumer product companies on mergers and acquisitions as well as debt and equity underwritings. Eric has more than 30 years of banking experience, and he began his career with Merrill Lynch as a Financial Analyst in Public Finance. 

Eric is not only a corporate leader, but also a visionary civic leader, demonstrated by his extensive board service and volunteerism. He currently serves as a Corporate Director of Southern Company Gas, Co- Chair of the Civic Committee’s Public Safety Task Force, Immediate Past Board Chairman of the Chicago Urban League, Vice Chairman of the Board of Lyric Opera, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Navy Pier. He is also an active Board Member of the Chicago Public Education Fund, the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. 

Eric earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Howard University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.