<div id="readability-page-1"><div>         <div>                        <p>,  /PRNewswire/ -- World City Press expanded California consumer banking coverage with two new story spotlights published on CaliforniaConsumerBanking.com.</p><p>The first spotlight tracks BMO branch optimization.<br/>BMO said it will sell 138 U.S. branches to First Citizens Bank &amp; Trust Company under a definitive agreement.<br/>BMO said the branch set spans several states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas.<br/>BMO also said it plans to open 150 new branches over the next five years.<br/>It described the plan as California-centric.</p>             <p><span>                 Continue Reading                   <br/>                   <i></i>                                </span>             </p>             <div>               <div>                 <div>                                       <div>                                                               <figure>                        <p><img id="imageid_2" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/null?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/null"/>                    </p>                       <figcaption>         World City Press Expands California Consumer Banking Coverage With Two New Story Spotlights, Delivering news and followups beyond the headlines.       </figcaption>     </figure>                                                                                  </div>                 </div>               </div>             </div>                            <p>The story also summarizes BMO's customer guidance during the transition.<br/>BMO told customers to keep using existing checks, cards, branches, and online access until closing.<br/>BMO said First Citizens will assume about $5.7 billion in deposits and buy about $1.1 billion in loans.<br/>BMO cited a net deposit premium of about 5 percent at closing.<br/>BMO expects a mid-2026 close, subject to approvals and conditions.</p>               <p>The second spotlight covers the Sierra Grant milestone at Bank of the Sierra.<br/>The bank said its Sierra Grant Program passed $5 million in donations since 2004.<br/>It said the program delivered more than 1,900 grants since inception.<br/>The bank reported $315,000 in donations during the second and third quarters of 2025.<br/>It broke the April-to-September window into regional totals, including $219,500 for Central Valley organizations, $55,000 for Coastal and Southern California organizations, and $40,500 for groups serving both regions.</p><p>&#34;California consumer banking coverage tracks the changes consumers feel first, from branch access to community funding,&#34; said Alan Gray, Editor &amp; Publisher.</p><p>World City Press said it will continue California consumer banking coverage with follow-ups focused on branch access, customer transitions, bank footprints, <span>fraud</span> awareness, merger activity, and community programs.</p><p>Read the story spotlights</p><div><p>BMO branch optimization: https://californiaconsumerbanking.com/bank-news/bmo-branch-optimization-california-centric-expansion/</p></div><p>Sierra Grant milestone: https://californiaconsumerbanking.com/bank-news/sierra-grant-milestone-5-million-bank-of-the-sierra-2025/</p><p>CaliforniaConsumerBanking.com: https://californiaconsumerbanking.com/</p><p>About World City Press</p><p>World City Press publishes on NewsBlaze and topic-focused news sites, including CaliforniaConsumerBanking.com.</p><p>Media Contact<br/>Alan Gray | Editor &amp; Publisher<br/><span>[email protected]</span>| +61 400 879 889<br/>Delivering news and followups beyond the headlines</p><p>SOURCE World City Press</p><p><img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://rt.prnewswire.com/rt.gif/query-RGF0ZUlkPTIwMjUxMjMwJk5ld3NJdGVtSWQ9U0Y1NDc0NyZUcmFuc21pc3Npb25fSWQ9MjAyNTEyMzAwOTMyUFJfTkVXU19VU1BSX19fX19TRjU0NzQ3?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://rt.prnewswire.com/rt.gif/query-RGF0ZUlkPTIwMjUxMjMwJk5ld3NJdGVtSWQ9U0Y1NDc0NyZUcmFuc21pc3Npb25fSWQ9MjAyNTEyMzAwOTMyUFJfTkVXU19VU1BSX19fX19TRjU0NzQ3"/></p></div>       </div></div>

<p>World City Press has expanded its California consumer banking coverage with two new story spotlights. The first highlights BMO's plan to sell 138 U.S. branches to First Citizens Bank & Trust Company while opening 150 new branches in California. BMO expects the transaction to close by mid-2026. The second spotlight discusses the Bank of the Sierra's Sierra Grant Program, which has donated over $5 million since 2004. World City Press aims to continue covering consumer banking changes in California.</p>

09:32 ET World City Press Expands California Consumer Banking Coverage With Two New Story Spotlights