BMO Bank of Montreal

Incompetent employees who ended up wasting 2 hours of mine during my work. They’ve hired people who have no idea what banking is. It’s a painful ordeal.

I’d stay away from BMO.

So, I received a refund cheque from Bell Mobility and issued by Bank of Montreal. I noticed that my PC Financial mobile app didn't have mobile cheque deposit, I found that odd. I went into a Superstore and tried using one of PC Financials bank machines, they also do not allow deposits. Ok, I knew it was an online bank, but that strikes me as odd. I went to BoM in Airdrie to cash the cheque since it's a BoM cheque. Note, I DO NOT have a BoM account. Low and behold, they don't cash cheques other than Government cheques. So, a cheque written on a BoM account is useless I guess, worth the paper it was printed on. On the positive, the last I spoke with was very pleasant. I told her to shred the cheque and I hope Bell's account never balances.

If I could give this branch ZERO stars, I would.

I've dealt with this branch over the years because, for a time, they were the only branch open Saturdays. Recently, went in to open an account for my 12-yr-old daughter, her first bank account.

After making an appointment, filling out the paperwork, we forgot her birth certificate to prove her identity.

"No worries, " we were told, "just bring it in tomorrow. I'll take a copy, send it in, and you should be able to come back in a day or 2 to setup a PIN for your daughter's card. "

Took the certificate in, a copy was made, and then we waited for a call or email or some form of communication to let us know we could come back. After not hearing anything for a WEEK, sent my daughter and her mother into the branch because surely by now, everything should be complete. They're probably busy and it has slipped their mind.

Nope.

Her profile was created, but nothing else. Our representative who we met with? Gone on personal leave. They have no access to his email, no keys to open his file cabinets, no record of what was done. I call to complain, asking the bank manager to return my call, nothing but an update which repeated everything we already knew.

Fast forward 2 weeks. My daughter asks if I've heard anything. Hmmmmmm. Nope! So, I call and leave FOUR MESSAGES over the course of 3 days for ANYONE to return my call. Finally, I get a call back saying nothing has been done. Nothing. The rep who started everything? Still gone. Access to her paperwork? Nope. Their solution? Make an appointment in 2 weeks to start the process over again.

I don't know what that branch considers customer service, but this was RIDICULOUS. Waiting for a month to setup an account for one child.

My advice? Stay away from this branch entirely. I went back to my ACTUAL branch on Main Street, they had everything completed in 30 minutes, complete with setting up my daughters first bank card. (Shout out to Anna! Thank YOU very much!)

Changed to BMO 2 years ago and they just have too many issues to continue using them. You can not use their card on some websites - if you ask directly about this in the branch, they know this. Even very large pizza brands will not allow you to use their card at? Just tried to buy contacts from a major website, but no, BMO will not let it go through. Another big issue is they keep funds from online purchases "on hold" but show you still have the money. When you check your balance you have to go deeper and find the "actual available funds" Why not just use that as my balance like every other bank! Also, they lure you in to open and account with a promise of $300 in a few months if you do all the things they ask. I did double the amount they asked and did not get it! In the branch they say it is out of their hands and they can not check on it. Seemed good at first, but nope, moving on. Glad to see other banks also let you sign up online, BMO took almost an hour to get an account, after having to set up an appointment - get with the times!

No smile, no hello, not as professional as TD people. Both branches of airdrie are like this. That lady in the glasses on the east branch, does she love her job? If yes, why is her attitude so negative?