Eric Smith

Eric S. Smith has more than 30 years of banking experience and currently serves as Vice Chair of BMO Bank. He is responsible for working with the U.S. Commercial Banking team and across other lines of business to develop the bank's strategy and product capabilities, while maintaining effective governance practices as it expands nationwide by cultivating new and existing client relationships.

Mr. Smith is an integral senior leader responsible for executing the successful integration of BMO's recent acquisition of Bank of the West. He also leads BMO Empower which is the bank's $40 billion, five-year commitment to providing increased access to capital for minority businesses and communities.

Prior to BMO, Mr. Smith has served as regional president for Fifth Third Bank, CFO of Middle Market Banking for JPMorgan Chase and Principal of Investment Banking, Consumer & Retail Group for Merrill Lynch.

Mr. Smith currently serves as Chairman of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Foundation and is on the Board for the Chicago Urban League where he served as Chairman from 2016 to 2022. He is an Executive Committee Board Member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and an active Board Member of the Chicago Public Education Fund and Ravinia Board of Trustees.

Mr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree from Howard University and obtained his M.B.A from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

Mr. Smith has been a Director of Southern Company Gas since October 2023.