TORONTO, Nov. 13 /CNW/ - Bank of Montreal today unveiled investore mobile, a new money management store on wheels.
investore mobile will travel to local businesses, community events, Bank of Montreal branches, fairs and other special events. It offers clients investment information along with a complete range of money management products and services. The initial tour will begin in Ontario and extend across Canada.
"This initiative is part of the bank's retail strategy to provide a higher level of service and expertise in the competitive business of money management," said Terry Jackson, Executive Vice President, Asset Management Services, Bank of Montreal.
Earlier this year the bank opened its first investore, a full-service investment store, in the shopping concourse at First Canadian Place in Toronto.
"With investore mobile, we are breaking out of Bay Street and taking an innovative investment service to Main Street," said Mr. Jackson. "In addition, this will help reach people in remote areas and provide services to elderly and disabled customers."
investore mobile is equipped with wireless communication services provided by Telesat Canada. "Telesat is delighted to work with Bank of Montreal in serving retail investors through the speed and reliability of satellite communications," said Brad Poulos, Telesat's Director of Business and Government Services. "Telesat's wireless satellite services will provide interactive stock information and transactions, Internet access and a live television feed to investore customers across Canada."
There are two dedicated crew members on the mobile unit -- one representative from First Canadian Funds, Bank of Montreal's mutual funds; and another from InvestorLine, the bank's discount brokerage service.
The crew members will link with a Bank of Montreal Financial Services Manager, Nesbitt Burns Investment Advisor and a Trust and Investment Services Manager within each community that the mobile travels. They can assist customers in identifying investment needs, answer questions and match clients with appropriate products and services.
Inside is a resource centre, with financial planning books, newspapers and brochures offering money management advice. Consumers can also use interactive kiosks featuring a touch-screen computer software program with the investore self-assessment test and information on trust and investment products. There are also two Internet stations and an electronic ticker board with real time TSE stock quotes.
Transactions involving GIC's, First Canadian Mutual Funds, InvestorLine, Nesbitt Burns, The Trust Company of Bank of Montreal and Jones Heward will be offered from the investore mobile.
investore is the latest concept from the Bank of Montreal's North American Asset Management group which combines the bank's full range of mutual fund and
institutional asset management services in Canada and the United States with total assets of $33 billion. The group includes First Canadian Funds, InvestorLine, Jones Heward Investments Inc., and The Trust Company of Bank of
Montreal, Harris Investment Management Inc. and Harris Insight Funds.
investore Mobile Facts
- investore mobile is 37' long x 12' tall x 9' wide (11.3 m x 3.6 m x 2.75 m)
- investore mobile weighs approximately 22,000 lbs (10,000 kg)
- investore mobile took approximately 1,500 hours to build with as many as 15 people working on the unit at a time
- a 40" retractable satellite dish allows Internet access on two laptop workstations
- an interactive, touch-screen kiosk is on-board
- stock prices are displayed on a ticker board; market announcements and information are displayed on a reader board
- investore mobile is wheelchair accessible
- two crew members will travel with investore mobile to provide investment advice and complete investment transactions
- tour will cover 64,000 km, travelling to communities throughout Canada.
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photograph accompanying the release will be available later today on the Canadian Press Photo Network./
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(Copyright Canada News-Wire)