Watch out for impersonation scams
Fraudsters are impersonating banks to target personal or financial information. BMO will never contact you via unsolicited phone call, email, text, or social media message to ask for sensitive information, passwords, pins, or verification codes. Learn more.
Security Center – how we protect you
Your security is our priority. When you bank with us, your identity and account details are protected by layers of security. Our Financial Crimes Unit works around the clock to detect, prevent and respond to security threats.
Digital Banking and Bill Pay Service Guarantees
We’ll reimburse you for any losses to your personal banking accounts from unauthorized transactions through BMO Digital Banking.
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Protecting yourself from cybercrime and scams
Get more details on how BMO keeps you safe, tips on how to protect your identity and accounts, and common scams to be aware of. Read our brochure on the most common scams (PDF 926 KB).
Security however you bank
Whichever way you bank, count on it being convenient and secure.
Online banking: Bank knowing that all personal and financial information you exchange with us over the internet is secure.
Mobile banking: Protect your mobile device and identity from cyber threats when using the BMO Digital Banking app.
ATM banking: Deposit or withdraw at any BMO ATM Automated teller machines knowing that if anything goes wrong, we're here to help.
Telephone banking: Make a transaction safely by phone with authentication measures and a unique PIN to confirm your identity.
How you can protect yourself
Learn how to avoid fraud and cyber threats with security tips, trusted software and more.
Setting the standard for bank security
Your security is important to us. That’s why we go above and beyond to protect you. Our Financial Crimes Unit combines expertise from cyber security, fraud, physical security and crisis management teams. We work to detect, prevent, respond to and recover from security threats.
Our security features include:
Leading-edge security technology, data and analytics tools.
Operating on a global scale to ensure your safety in different time zones without delay.
Managing security threats 24/7/365 whenever wherever you bank.
Strong internal controls like firewalls and email security software.
Frequent employee training on the best and latest security practices.
FAQs
We work hard to protect your confidential information and online privacy. We take various measures to prevent unauthorized users from accessing our systems so you can bank with confidence. These include:
Enhanced authentication for first-time BMO Digital Banking users and for account changes, such as updating your address or contact information.
Strong encryption technology to help ensure that data passing between your computer and our web server is secure.
Session time-outs after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Secured firewalls to protect your account information.
Also, all debit card holders gain valuable protection if your debit card is lost or stolen with the Mastercard® Worldwide Zero Liability* protection when reported promptly. To learn more, check out our account disclosures PDF (PDF, 515 KB).
Remember, BMO will never contact you by unsolicited phone call or in an email to ask for your user ID, password, PIN, social security number or other account information.
If you believe there’s unusual activity on your account or you have questions about your electronic transfers or card transactions, contact us immediately.
BMO is committed to providing you with a secure online experience. When you’re securely logged in to online banking, you’ll notice a "lock" icon and "https" in the URL.
Our online banking website uses the federal standard of physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information. We have several measures in place to prevent unauthorized users from accessing our systems, including password protection, data encryption, secured firewalls and session time-outs, among others.
Our website supports internet browsers which use encryption. This encryption scrambles information for transmission between your computer and the bank's computing systems, and then decrypts (or decodes) that information upon receipt at the other end.
To get the most out of your banking experience, we recommend you use the most current version of one of the browsers listed below:
Apple Safari®
Google Chrome™
Microsoft Edge™
Mozilla Firefox™
The BMO Digital Banking appstar, star has multiple security features designed to protect you:
All info sent and received through the BMO app is encrypted to avoid third-party security risks.
The app doesn’t store any confidential info (or cookies) on your mobile device.
Any data sent to your mobile device through the app is free from harmful software like viruses.
Be sure to download banking apps from a trustworthy app store to avoid installing fake apps onto your phone.
Step 1: Follow the recommended steps of your mobile service provider to report a lost or stolen phone.
Step 2: Know that your BMO banking information and accounts are secure.
If you're using the BMO Digital Banking appstar, star, there's no need to contact us or change your Personal ID or Password.
When you get your new phone, simply download the BMO Digital Banking app or log in to bmo.com/en-us/ to continue using mobile banking.
As always, you'll want to monitor your accounts regularly. If you believe there’s unusual activity on your account or you have questions about your electronic transfers or card transactions, contact us immediately.
To ensure reimbursement under this guarantee, there are a few steps you'll need to take to protect your account information as outlined in our BMO Digital Banking Agreement:
Review your statements and notify us within two days of your discovery of any unauthorized or late transaction.
Keep your online codes, passwords and personal information confidential. If you share this information with someone, any transaction they initiate will be considered authorized by you.
Don’t store your password with your account information.
Don’t leave your computer or mobile device unattended while logged in to digital banking or while applying for an account online.
You may not be reimbursed for the full amount of the loss if you didn’t comply with the steps listed above or if you knowingly disclosed your online password and it resulted in losses to your account.
BMO Digital Banking can be accessed by using any major browser, such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Firefox. We always recommend using the most up-to-date version of your preferred browser for the best experience.
BMO Digital Banking and Bill Pay Service Guarantees
We’ll reimburse you for any losses to your personal banking accounts from unauthorized transactions through BMO Digital Banking. As well, if we fail to process a properly scheduled bill payment in BMO Digital Banking in accordance with your instructions, we’ll reimburse any late charges assessed by the biller.
To ensure reimbursement, you'll need to take a few steps to protect your account information, as outlined in our BMO Digital Banking Agreement.
The Digital Banking Guarantees applies to transactions involving your BMO deposits and BMO loans, including any BMO credit card or line of credit. If you conduct transactions through affiliated or unaffiliated websites or involving products or services other than deposit and loans offered by BMO, such transactions, products and services are not covered by the Online Guarantee. Certain conditions and limitations apply. Digital Banking Guarantees apply to personal accounts only and do not apply to commercial or business accounts. For full details, please visit bmo.com/en-us/legal.
In addition to the Digital Banking Guarantees, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Regulation E provides certain protections for consumers when unauthorized electronic funds transfers occur on an account used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. The Digital Banking Guarantees are intended to expand upon the rights and protections provided for personal accounts under Regulation E. For more details regarding Regulation E and unauthorized electronic funds transfers for personal accounts, see Section 5 of the Deposit Account Agreement.
footnote star detailsThe Mastercard® Worldwide Zero Liability protection protects eligible cardholders from certain unauthorized transactions processed over the MasterCard network. Subject to certain restrictions and limitations that may be imposed by MasterCard from time to time. For further information, refer to MasterCard's Zero Liability protection.
footnote star star detailsMessage and data rates may apply. Contact your wireless provider for details. BMO Digital Banking apps are available for iPhone®, iPad® and Android™ mobile devices only. Download the app to your mobile device from the Apple® App Store™ or Google Play™. iPhone® and Apple® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store™ is a trademark of Apple Inc. Android™ and Google Play™ are trademarks of Google Inc.
Safari is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Chrome is trademark of Google Inc.
Microsoft Edge is registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Firefox is a registered trademark of the Mozilla Foundation.
Third party websites may have privacy and security policies different from BMO. Links to other websites do not imply the endorsement or approval of such websites. Please review the privacy and security policies of websites reached through links from BMO websites.