Bank of Montreal (BMO) CEO Bill Downe was decidedly upbeat about his company’s fourth-quarter performance during a Dec. 2 financial results conference call. That performance was predicated on a “well-executed customer-focused strategy and momentum we’ve demonstrated over a number of consecutive quarters. We’ve clearly strengthened our position in the market and become more competitive.”
BMO’s fourth-quarter results concluded the year in which the bank delivered $4.5 billion in net income, with earnings....