The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Aug. 12, edition that Bank of Montreal has made a routine credit-card task more complicated. The Globe's Mariya Postelnyak writes that a BMO customer did what he always does when setting up a new card. He immediately contacted a representative to set up preauthorized debit transfers from a TD Bank account to BMO that would cover a credit balance in full each month. This time, BMO's answer surprised him. He was told that this was against the bank's new policy. The bank said in an e-mail to the customer, "As part of a business decision implemented in June, 2025, BMO revised its preauthorized debit payment process and now only permits preauthorized debit arrangements from BMO personal bank accounts." BMO spokesman Anke Suwanda said the policy change was part of "ongoing enhancements" to protect clients. Industry watchers say that limiting auto-pay options to internal accounts only reduces consumer choice in financial services, and makes it easier for customers to miss payments. Multiple studies have shown that automating credit card repayment helps ensure bills are covered on time, avoiding high-rate interest charges.