BMO Harris Bank is one of the oldest banks in the U.S., dating back to 1882 when it was known as N.W. Harris & Co.
Headquartered in Chicago, this major bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has branches in 9 U.S. states.
One lesser-known fact is that BMO Harris Bank is actually owned by the Bank of Montreal, a Canadian financial institution.
North America’s eighth-largest bank by assets also offers a suite of credit card products for consumers to choose from. Let’s take a look at the offerings and discuss whether they’re a good fit for your wallet.
What Is BMO Harris Rewards?
BMO Harris Bank’s points program is referred to as BMO Harris Rewards. The points you earn and redeem are called BMO Harris Rewards points.
BMO Harris Bank uses Mastercard as its credit card payment network, and pointsdo not expire as long as you have an active account in good standing and it has not been closed for any reason.
If your account has been closed for any reason, you have 90 days to redeem your BMO Harris Rewards points, at which point your rewards will all expire.
BMO Harris Bank Rewards Credit Cards
In total, BMO Harris Bank offers 4 major rewards credit cards that accrue BMO Harris Rewards points — 2 are consumer products, 1 is a business product, and 1 is a wealth management product.
In this next section, we’ll show you the pros and cons of each option.
BMO Harris Bank Premium Rewards Mastercard®
BMO Harris Bank’s flagship credit card is the BMO Harris Bank Premium Rewards card, which offers the best rewards, benefits, and more.
To start, you’ll usually find a substantial welcome bonus as an introductory offer on the card. You’ll usually also enjoy a 0% introductory APR promotion on balance transfers (all balance transfers must be done within 90 days of account opening).
Beyond that, you’ll earn according to the following structure:
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible dining, hotels, and airfare, up to $2,500 in combined spend each calendar quarter
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Plus, you’ll get a 15% bonus on points earned every anniversary year, which will give you a welcome boost each year you renew your card.
With this card, you’ll also enjoy a Priority Pass Select membership with 2 complimentary visits to participating lounges every year, access to exclusive experiences through Priceless Cities, and no foreign transaction fees.
Other important benefits include mobile phone protection for up to $600 at no additional cost, extended warranty, and lost or damaged luggage insurance.
Security features include theft protection identity monitoring and resolution services, zero liability protection, and more.
The annual fee is $79, which is waived the first year.
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BMO Harris Bank Platinum Rewards Mastercard®
The BMO Harris Bank Platinum Rewards card is a step below the BMO Harris Bank Premium Rewards card, though it offers most of the same rewards and benefits — all without an annual fee.
First, you’ll still enjoy a solid welcome bonus, though it won’t be as high as the premium card’s bonus.
Additionally, you’ll earn according to this structure:
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas and groceries, up to $2,500 in combined spend each calendar quarter
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
You’ll get a 10% points bonus every year on purchases made in the calendar year since your anniversary date.
This card offers access to Priceless Cities, all the standard Mastercard security features, roadside assistance, MasterRental car rental coverage, and extended warranty.
The BMO Harris Bank Platinum Rewards card has no annual fee.
BMO Harris Bank Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard®
As the only business credit card earning BMO Harris Rewards points, the BMO Harris Bank Business Platinum card allows you to get rewarded for your everyday business purchases.
When you open this card, you’ll earn a solid welcome bonus, as well as an introductory APR promotion for purchases and balance transfers.
Then, you’ll earn:
- 5x points per $1 on internet and phone services(on up to $750 in spend per quarter)
- 4x points per $1 on office supplies and printing(on up to $750 in spend per quarter)
- 3x points per $1 on gas(on up to $750 in spend per quarter)
- 2x points per $1 on dining(on up to $750 in spend per quarter)
- 1x point per $1 on all other purchases
Other benefits include up to 20 additional employee cards for no added fee, discounts on QuickBooks and TurboTax, and Mastercard Easy Savings for gas, meals, office supplies, hotels, and more.
» Related: The 6 Best Business Credit Cards for Multiple Employees [2024]
You’ll also get all of the standard Mastercard protections, extended warranty, rental car coverage, roadside assistance, travel assistance, Priceless Cities access, and more.
This card has no annual fee.
BMO Wealth Management Premium Rewards Mastercard®
We included this last credit card product because it does earn BMO Harris Rewards points. However, the twist is you need at least CAD 1 million (just over $788,000) in investable assets to apply for this card.
You’ll enjoy an elevated welcome bonus, as well as a 0% introductory balance transfer offer.
Additionally, you’ll earn points according to the same rewards structure as the BMO Harris Bank Premium Rewards card, only without the quarterly earnings cap:
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible airfare, dining, and hotel purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
You’ll also earn a 20% anniversary points bonus every year at your anniversary.
This card offers a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with 4 complimentary lounge visits per year, no foreign transaction fees, roadside service, rental car coverage, lost or damaged luggage insurance, and extended warranty.
The annual fee is $175, which is waived for the first year.
How To Redeem BMO Harris Rewards
There is an abundance of ways you can use your BMO Harris Rewards points. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell in advance how much your points are worth without first having a credit card.
However, we called the issuer directly and discovered that your points are worth a flat 1 cent per point, regardless of how you redeem your points.
With your points, you can:
- Book travel
- Redeem for gift cards
- Buy merchandise
- Donate to charity
- Get a statement credit
All you need to do is visit the BMO Harris Rewards website and log into your account. From time to time, you may get a bonus of 10% to 20% on your rewards redemptions, depending on how you’re redeeming these points.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the BMO Harris Rewards program isn’t terribly exciting.
There aren’t a whole lot of products offering BMO Harris Rewards points, and these products don’t offer state-of-the-art travel perks or rewards.
Additionally, the redemption options are exceedingly simple with no opportunity to make use of travel partners or the like.
The information regarding the BMO Harris Bank Premium Rewards Mastercard®, BMO Harris Bank Platinum Rewards Mastercard®, BMO Harris Bank Business Platinum Rewards Mastercard®, and BMO Wealth Management Premium Rewards Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
