Melissa Garcia
Age: 33
Title: Head, U.S Business Relationship Management
Name of Organization: BMO Harris Bank
Melissa Garcia serves as the Head of U.S. Business Banking Sales for BMO Harris Bank.
Melissa Garcia is responsible for leading the Business Relationship Managers across the country. The Business Relationship Sales team directly impacts the growth initiatives with a $10B business portfolio. Garcia is accountable for segment growth in deposits, lending, treasury services, and revenue growth while ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
She began at BMO Harris Bank in 2011 and supervised 85 branches as the Retail Regional Sales Manager for the Wisconsin region. She was then promoted to VP-Market President in Wisconsin and Illinois where she focused on working in a $2B market. Named the Head of U.S Mortgage Sales, she helped increase banker productivity by 26% in 2019.
As the daughter of an immigrant father, Garcia’s parents made sure she knew the importance of hard work and continuing her education. She graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in finance, as well as earning two minors from Universidad de Granada in Spanish and International Business. As a first-generation college graduate, her hard work and determination led to tremendous resilience as her path unfolded.
Garcia’s passion for mentorship along with diversity and inclusion keeps her engaged and results in successful advancement of initiatives. She serves as a committee member on the U.S. Personal and Commercial Steering Committee for Diversity & Inclusion and is a mentor in the Linkages Mentor Program, where she works with emerging diverse leaders and is an active member in the Latino Alliance Employee Resource Group. She also serves on the committee for the March of Dimes Organization.
When you stop learning, you stop growing. Be curious, vulnerable, and intentional in stepping outside of your comfort zone- the journey and experience will be worth it!
