REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Bank of Montreal (BMO) (BMO.TO) is winding down its indirect retail auto finance business and shifting focus to other areas in a move that will result in an unspecified number of job losses, Canada's third-largest bank said.
The bank, which announced the move on Saturday, has conducted this business in Canada and the United States.
Under the indirect retail auto finance business, the bank works with car dealerships to arrange financing for buyers, who make monthly payments to the lender.
"By winding down the indirect retail auto finance business, we have the ability to focus our resources on areas where we believe our competitive positioning is strongest," BMO said in a statement to Reuters.
The remaining loans in this portfolio are primarily auto loans, but also include other loans, including loans for boats, recreational vehicles and motorcycles, Edward Jones analyst James Shanahan said.
Persons:
Chris Wattie, Paul Hunsley, Edward Jones, James Shanahan, Nivedita Balu, Denny Thomas, Jane Merriman, Susan Fenton, Will Dunham, Diane Craft
Organizations:
of Montreal, BMO, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Montreal, Reuters, The, Bank, Thomson
Locations:
Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, United States, California, Toronto