蒙特利尔银行美股招股说明书(2026-03-02版)

The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement and the accompanying productsupplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy thesesecurities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)Registration Statement No. 333-285508 Subject To Completion, dated March 2, 2026PRICING SUPPLEMENT dated March , 2026(To Product Supplement No. WF1 dated March 25, 2025,Underlying Supplement No. ELN-1 dated March 25, 2025,Prospectus Supplement dated March 25, 2025and Prospectus dated March 25, 2025)Bank of Montreal Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series KEquity Index Linked SecuritiesMarket Linked Securities—Leveraged Upside Participation to a Cap and Fixed PercentageBuffered DownsidePrincipal at Risk Securities Linked to the Russell 2000® Index due April 4, 2028Linked to the Russell 2000® Index (the “Underlier”)Unlike ordinary debt securities, the securities do not pay interest or repay a fixed amount of principal at maturity.Instead, the securities provide for a maturity payment amount that may be greater than, equal to or less than the face amount of the securities, depending on the performance of theUnderlier from the starting value to the ending value.The maturity payment amount will reflect the following terms:If the value of the Underlier increases, you will receive the face amount plus a positive return equal to 200% of the percentage increase in the value of the Underlier from the starting value, subject to a maximum return at maturity of at least 24.50% (to be determined on the pricing date) ofthe face amount. As a result of the maximum return, the maximum maturity payment amount will be at least $1,245.00If the value of the Underlier decreases but the decrease is not more than the buffer amount of 10%, you will receive the face amountIf the value of the Underlier decreases by more than the buffer amount, you will receive less than the face amount and have 1-to-1 downsideexposure to the decrease in the value of the Underlier in excess of the buffer amountInvestors may lose up to 90% of the face amount All payments on the securities are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal, and you will have no ability to pursue any securities included in theUnderlier for payment; if Bank of Montreal defaults on its obligations, you could lose some or all of your investmentNo periodic interest payments or dividendsNo exchange listing; designed to be held to maturity On the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, the estimated initial value of the securities is $967.00 per security. The estimated initial value of the securities at pricing may differ from this value but will not be less than $917.00 per security. However, as discussed in more detail in this pricing supplement, the actual value ofthe securities at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy. See “Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.The securities have complex features and investing in the securities involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. See “SelectedRisk Considerations” beginning on page PRS-8 herein and “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-5 of the accompanying product supplement, page S-2 of theprospectus supplement and page 9 of the prospectus.The securities are the unsecured obligations of Bank of Montreal, and, accordingly, all payments on the securities are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. If Bank of Montreal defaults on its obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. The securities are not insured by the Federal Deposit InsuranceCorporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.The securities are not bail-inable notes and are not subject to conversion into our common shares or the common shares of any of our affiliates under subsection 39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act.Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement andprospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. (1)Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is the agent for the distribution of the securities and is acting as principal. See “Terms of the Securities—Agent” and “EstimatedValue of the Securities” in this pricing supplement for further information.(2)In respect of certain securities sold in this offering, our affiliate, BMO Capital Markets Corp., may pay a fee of up to $1.00 per security to selected securitiesdealers in consideration for marketing and other s