Filed by Bank of Montreal Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933 Commission File No. 1-13354 Subject Company: First National Bancorp Inc./IL/ On March 2, 2001, Harris Bank, a subsidiary of Bank of Montreal, made the following announcement to employees of First National Bank of Joliet: March 2, 2001 Dear Employees of First National Bank of Joliet: Welcome to Harris! Working together, we have the opportunity to build the best community bank network across Chicagoland -- and can look forward to a great future of opportunity and growth. Your proud history, your understanding of Will County and the communities you serve, your long-standing relationships with customers, and your reputation as the premier community bank in Will County provide the ideal platform for growth in southwest Chicagoland. At the same time, Harris brings the resources and infrastructure of our community bank network, a broad array of products and services, operating scale and reach that stretches across Chicagoland -- and the resources of the Bank of Montreal Group of Companies (NYSE: BMO), one of the largest banks in North America. We believe you'll feel right at home with us. Our community banking network is built on local decision-making and outstanding customer service. We provide financial services across Chicagoland, while remaining deeply rooted in our local communities. Like you, we believe in the important role bankers play in the vitality and well-being of local businesses and community life. The attached press release issued this morning provides additional information on our merger. We look forward to working with you as we begin this exciting new journey together. Sincerely, /c/AL McNALLY Al McNally FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Harris Bank to Acquire First National Bank of Joliet Acquisition Extends Harris Community Banking Network Into Fastest Growing County in Illinois Chicago, March 2, 2001 ( Harris Bank, Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO) and First National Bank of Joliet (OTCBB: FNBJ) announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement for Harris to acquire First National Bank of Joliet. Established in 1857, First National Bank of Joliet is a publicly traded, full-service community bank with $1.1 billion in assets and $844 million in deposits. Headquartered in Joliet, Illinois, it operates from 18 branch locations, primarily in southwest suburban Will County, the fastest growing county in Illinois and the 16th fastest growing county in the United States. FNBJ shareholders will receive $72.50 in BMO stock or cash, or a combination at their option, for each FNBJ common share outstanding with the share exchange ratio determined at closing. The purchase price of approximately $220 million is 19.1 times year 2000 earnings and equates to 2.3 times FNBJ's book value. The transaction is subject to regulatory and First National Bank of Joliet shareholder approvals. In connection with this transaction, which is expected to close in August, FNBJ has granted BMO an option to acquire 19.9% of the common stock of FNBJ exercisable under certain circumstances. "First National Bank of Joliet is a premier community bank ( their people, their network and their customers are a perfect fit for Harris," said Al McNally, Chairman and CEO of Harris Bank. "We have great respect for their long and successful history as 'the hometown bank' in Will County and are delighted that First National Bank of Joliet's management team will continue in leadership roles. "This merger gives us the opportunity to provide the full array of Harris services to thousands of new individual and business customers - -- in what has become the fastest growing market in Chicagoland," McNally said. "It moves us very close to the number two position in the Chicagoland marketplace, and closer to our goal of becoming the dominant full-service bank." The merger increases the Harris community bank network to 149 locations and 245 ATMs across Chicagoland. Upon closing, First National Bank of Joliet will become Harris Bank Joliet, and will operate as the ninth Harris Chicagoland Banking region. "We look forward to being part of the Harris organization," said Kevin Reardon, Chairman and CEO of First National Bank of Joliet. "After 144 years as a community bank, we believe Harris is the ideal partner to carry on First National Bank of Joliet's values and commitment to our customers and communities in the rapidly growing Will County region. "Our partnership brings together a shared commitment to local community banking, under the Harris name," Reardon said. "Our customers will continue to receive the same quality service from our employees, enhanced by the broader capabilities of the Harris. And our employees can look forward to expanding career opportunities as we continue to grow and invest in the communities we serve." This merger is another major milestone in the growth and expansion of Harris Bank. Since 1994, Harris has more than tripled its number of locations and the number of customers served in Chicagoland - to one million. Harris Bank earnings have more than doubled from $110 million in 1994 to $243 million in 2000 (excluding net gains on divestitures), an average growth rate of 16% per annum. With $29 billion in assets and $19 billion in deposits, Harris is one of the largest community bank networks in Illinois, a nationally recognized provider of private client and personal trust services, and a premier Midwest mid-market corporate bank. Harris also has 14 branches and private banking offices in Arizona and Florida. Harris Bank is wholly owned by Bank of Montreal, Canada's first bank, a highly diversified financial services institution with average assets of (US) $162 billion and 33,000 employees. ### THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES. BANK OF MONTREAL AND FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF JOLIET WILL BE FILING A PROXY STATEMENT/PROPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION TRANSACTION REFERENCED HEREIN WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING SUCH TRANSACTION, WHEN IT IS FILED BY BANK OF MONTREAL AND FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF JOLIET AND BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY BANK OF MONTREAL AND FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF JOLIET WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AT THE COMMISSION'S WEB SITE AT www.SEC.GOV. THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE FROM BANK OF MONTREAL AND FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF JOLIET BY DIRECTING YOUR REQUEST TO BANK OF MONTREAL AT CORPORATE SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT, 21st FLOOR, 1 FIRST CANADIAN PLACE, TORONTO, ONTARIO, M5X1A1 OR FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF JOLIET AT 78 N. CHICAGO STREET, JOLIET, IL 60432. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes forward-looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to comments with respect to the objectives and strategies, financial condition, results of operations and businesses of both Bank of Montreal and First National Bank of Joliet. However, by their nature these forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and the risk that predictions and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Bank of Montreal and First National Bank of Joliet caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include the satisfaction of merger closing conditions; regulatory approval and First National Bank of Joliet shareholder approval of the merger; the actual closing of the merger; the actual effects of the merger on the combined companies and their customers; the combined companies' ability to successfully integrate and achieve desired and achieve desired operating synergies and results; and others discussed in Bank of Montreal's and First National Bank of Joliet's respective filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Media Contacts: Paul Gammal, Harris Bank (312) 461-6625 Albert D'Ottavio, First National Bank of Joliet (815) 726-8507 FACT SHEET HARRIS EXPANSION IN CHICAGOLAND HARRIS EXPANSION HISTORY * 1994 Suburban Bancorp acquisition added 30 locations to Harris' original 42: Total 72 * 1994-1996 New branches opened in 14 locations: Total 86 * 1996 Household Bank acquisition adds 54 new branches: 140 * 1999-2000 New branches opened in 3 locations: Total 131 (includes branch consolidation since 1994) * 2001 First National Bank of Joliet acquisition adds 18 new branches: Total 149 ABOUT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF JOLIET ASSETS: $1.1 billion DEPOSITS: $844 million NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 360 (FTE) MANAGEMENT: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer: Kevin T. Reardon President and Chief Operating Officer: Albert G. D'Ottavio First National Bank of Joliet, founded in 1857 by a group of local businessmen, is a leading financial institution in Joliet and Will County. First National Bank of Joliet provides financial services to individuals and businesses, including consumer and commercial loans, a variety of deposit accounts, and trust services, and is dedicated to providing civic leadership and volunteer support in the communities it serves. First National Bank of Joliet Home Page - www.FNBJ.com COMMUNITIES WHERE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF JOLIET IS LOCATED (TOTAL NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 18) * Bolingbrook (1) * Channahon (2) * Homer Township (1) * Joliet (6) * Lockport (1) * Manhattan (1) * Minooka (1) * Plainfield (1) * Plano (1) * Romeoville (2) * Shorewood (1) About HARRIS BANK ASSETS: $29 billion DEPOSITS: $19 billion NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 5,565 (FTE) MANAGEMENT: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer: Alan G. McNally Vice Chair of the Board: Edward W. Lyman Harris Bank, with $29 billion in assets, is one of the largest community bank networks in Illinois, a nationally recognized provider of private client and personal trust services, and a premier Midwest mid-market corporate bank. Harris has 131 locations throughout Chicagoland with 14 additional offices in Arizona and Florida. Harris' businesses include Harris InvestorLine, for self-directed investors, and Harris AdvantEdge Investing, for investors seeking full-service, non-discretionary portfolio management. As a member of the Bank of Montreal Group of Companies, Harris offers its clients the range of services and depth of expertise of one of the largest financial institutions in North America. Harris Bank Home Page - www.harrisbank.com The 26 Chicago-area Harris Banks are: Harris Bank Downtown Chicago Harris Bank Huntley Harris Bank Argo Harris Bank Libertyville Harris Bank Arlington-Meadows Harris Bank Marengo Harris Bank Aurora, N.A. Harris Bank Naperville Harris Bank Barrington, N.A. Harris Bank Oakbrook Terrace Harris Bank Bartlett Harris Bank Palatine, N.A. Harris Bank Batavia, N.A. Harris Bank Roselle Harris Bank Cary-Grove Harris Bank St. Charles Harris Bank Elk Grove, N.A. Harris Bank Westchester Harris Bank Frankfort Harris Bank Wilmette, N.A. Harris Bank Glencoe-Northbrook, N.A. Harris Bank Winnetka, N.A. Harris Bank Hinsdale, N.A. Harris Bank Woodstock Harris Bank Hoffman-Schaumburg Suburban Bank of Barrington ABOUT BANK OF MONTREAL ASSETS: US$162 billion NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 33,000 (FTE) MANAGEMENT: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer: F. Anthony Comper Bank of Montreal, Canada's first bank, is a highly diversified financial services institution. The bank operates more than 30 lines of business within its group of companies, including BMO Nesbitt Burns, one of Canada's largest full-service investment firms, and Chicago-based Harris Bank, a major U.S. mid-west financial services provider. Bank of Montreal Home Page - www.bmo.com ~0693640.doc 1535509 -3- ~0693640.doc 1535509