BMO Financial Group Earns $1.82 Billion, Expects U.S. Loan Growth to Resume in Second Half

Bank of Montreal parent BMO Financial Group has been consolidating its U.S. operations and reshaping its local balance sheet in recent years to improve capital allocation and lending efficiency. The United States is central to its cross-border growth, making a recovery in commercial lending crucial to revenue and profit momentum for the remainder of fiscal 2026.

BMO Financial Group reported a fiscal first-quarter profit of $1.82 billion and said it had completed the balance-sheet optimization of its U.S. business. Chief Executive Darryl White expressed confidence in the U.S. economy and expects commercial lending to return to positive growth in the second half of fiscal 2026, providing the main impetus for the U.S. business following its restructuring.