BMO Hires Wells Fargo’s Brent Reston as U.S. Digital Chief

Bank of Montreal, which operates as BMO in the United States, has been reshaping its U.S. franchise after completing the $16.3 billion acquisition of Bank of the West in 2023. The lender is seeking to pair a more focused branch footprint with stronger mobile, online and payments capabilities as customers migrate to digital channels. The digital leadership post is therefore central to integrating customer journeys across BMO’s physical network and fintech stack.

BMO said on Aug. 12, 2026, it hired Wells Fargo executive Brent Reston as U.S. chief digital officer to lead the next phase of its digital-banking strategy. Reston previously oversaw digital channels spanning consumer, small-business and wealth customers at Wells Fargo. Terms were not disclosed. The appointment follows BMO’s Oct. 16, 2025, agreement to sell 138 U.S. branches carrying about $5.7 billion of deposits and $1.1 billion of loans, while planning more than 130 new California locations over five years.