Very substandard compensation for HCOL locales - Principal BMO US Employee Review

1.0
May 31, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Large bank comes with security but also with it's own share of politics. Also, most major departments have a US vs. Canada is split within their organization hierarchy at various levels. And the US heads almost always report up to a Canadian. Other than job security, little pros for someone looking to grow their career beyond just the limited scope of US teams.

Cons

BMO is truly a Canadian bank and as such wages are significantly lower than even peer US banks in LCOL areas. BMO's salary ranges for CA are some of the lowest I have ever seen. US Banks based in IL, TX have higher salaries for the same job level than what BMO does in CA. BMO may have recently entered west coast markets but it's going to have quite a bit of learning to do if they want to use the location to their advantage to attract top talent, especially on the technology side. With the pay bands they have there is no way they can hire anyone other than remote workers living in very LCOL areas. Even an entry level engineer in the bay area probably earns more than what BMO is willing to pay their managers.

Explore other reviews about BMO US

5.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great team, growth, good bonus

Cons

Lean team, nights / weekend deployments

1.0
Apr 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pros: • Great coworkers who foster a supportive team environment. • Strong commitment to community engagement and involvement. • Attractive annual bonuses and competitive quarterly compensation.

Cons

Cons: • High levels of sales pressure, which can be overwhelming at times. • Concerns about management, particularly after the hiring of former Bank of America leadership; implementation of their sales culture. • Recent changes to branch names (now referred to as Financial Banking Centers) suggest a shift towards Bank of America's practices. • Many branch managers are on performance improvement plans and face pressure to meet 100% of their goals weekly, leading to a stressful work environment. • There are reports of unethical sales practices that may require regulatory attention. Overall: BMO offers a positive work atmosphere with great benefits, but the increasing sales pressure and management issues may raise concerns for potential employees.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All