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Upon its acquisition of Bank of the West in 2023 and entering the West Coast market, BMO Bank recognized it needed to quickly forge relationships in California. BMO engaged Lighthouse to be its “eyes on the ground,” helping them better understand our inner legislative and business workings in the state and connecting them with civic and community leaders.
Our reputation within BMO’s two largest markets, Los Angeles and San Francisco, secured them crucial access to an expansive list officials and legislators. Lighthouse facilitated introductions and robust conversations with L.A. mayor Karen Bass, SF mayors London Breed and Daniel Lurie, and civic and community leaders in both cities, as well as state legislators and the Governor’s Office. Our work on BMO’s behalf resulted in L.A. Councilmember Monica Rodriquez providing keynote remarks at BMO’s 200 Index Summit in 2023, and our advocacy helped forge a partnership with the City of Los Angeles resulting in BMO co-sponsoring the 2023 Small Business Empowerment Summit, including a fireside chat between Mayor Bass and actress Tracee Ellis Ross.
In addition, Lighthouse assists BMO in identifying local investment opportunities for its $40 billion Community Development Fund, finding causes and projects that best leverage funding while doing the greatest good for relevant communities. Lighthouse facilitated numerous beneficial projects and donations, including a $1 million gift to Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles nonprofit that serves high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women, and endowing a $3 million fund to the support the Los Angeles community’s ongoing recovery and rebuilding in the wake of the devastating wildfires of 2025.
