Bank of America: Life's Better When We're Connected Strategic Audit & Analysis

Current Situation

Bank of America, as of 2010 was the 5th largest company in the United States by total revenue and the second largest non-oil company in the United States following Wal-Mart. Bank of America was listed by Forbes as the third largest company in the world. In 2008, Bank of American acquired Merrill Lynch making Bank of America the world's largest wealth manager as well as being a major player in the investment banking industry. Reports state that Bank of America "received U.S. $20 billion in the federal bailout from the U.S. government through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) on 16 January 2009 and also got guarantee of U.S. $118 billion in potential losses at the company. This was in addition to the $25 billion given to them in the Fall of 2008 through TARP." (Business Insider, 2012) The additional payment reported was part of a deal made with the United States government to preserve the merger of Bank of America with the investment firm Merrill Lynch. It is reported that since that time "... members of the U.S. Congress have expressed considerable concern about how this money has been spent, especially since some of the recipients have been accused of misusing the bailout money. Then CEO, Ken Lewis, was quoted as claiming "We are still lending, and we are lending far more because of the TARP program." Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, however, were skeptical and quoted many anecdotes about loan applicants (particularly small business owners) being denied loans and credit card holders facing stiffer terms on the debt in their card accounts." (Business Insider, 2012) In addition, the New York Times reported in a March 15, 2009 article that Bank of America "...received an additional $5.2 billion in government bailout money, channeled through American International Group. As a result of its federal bailout and management problems, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Bank of America was operating under a secret "memorandum of understanding" (MOU) from the U.S. government that requires it to "overhaul its board and address perceived problems with risk and liquidity management." With the federal action, the institution has taken several steps, including arranging for six of its directors to resign and forming a Regulatory Impact Office. Bank of America faces several deadlines in July and August and if not met, could face harsher penalties by federal regulators. Bank of America did not respond to The Wall Street Journal story." (Business Insider, 2012) Reports state that Bank of America announced on December 2, 2009, "...it would repay the entire U.S. $45 billion they received in TARP and exit the program, using $26.2 billion of excess liquidity along with $18.6 billion to be gained in "common equivalent securities" (Tier 1 capital). The bank announced it had completed the repayment on December 9. Bank of America Ken Lewis said during the announcement, "We appreciate the critical role that the U.S. government played last fall in helping to stabilize financial markets, and we are pleased to be able to fully repay the investment, with interest... As America's largest bank, we have a responsibility to make good on the taxpayers' investment, and our record shows that we have been able to fulfill that commitment while continuing to lend." (Business Insider, 2012) Bank of America's mission statement is reported to be as follows:

Our mission is to offer lending and investment products that

• Serve low- and moderate-income individuals and families

• Improve underserved low- and moderate-income communities

• Create sustainable practices for the long haul. (Business Insider, 2012)

It is reported that Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) informed investors on November 28, 2012 that "it has strategies and initiatives in place to pursue its goal of achieving long-term earnings per share growth of more than 10%." (Business Insider, 2012) Bryan T. Moynihan is Bank of America's Chief Executive Officer.

II. Corporate Governance

Bryan T. Moynihan is Bank of America's Chief Executive Officer. Bank of America reports that the Corporate Governance Committee holds responsibility for exercising over sight with respect to the governance of the Board of Directors of the Company in identification of individuals qualified as Board members and making recommendation of director nominees to the board and in conducting a review and making a report to the Board relating to corporate governance matters and making recommendations to the Board for corporate government principles. As well responsibilities include "leading the Board and its committees in their annual assessments of their performance including supervisory oversight functions." ( ) The Board of Directors for Bank of America include the following:

Charles O. Holliday, Jr. -- Chairman of the Board

Linda P. Hudson -- President...

Allen
Mukesh D. Ambani

Susan S. Bies

Monica C. Lozano

Thomas J. MayBrian T. Moynihan

Jack O. Bovender, Jr.

Lionel L. Nowell, III

Frank B. Branmble, Sr.

Donald E. Powell

Virgis W. Colbert

Rossoti, Charles O.

Arnold W. Donald.

Robert w. Scully

Charles K. Gifford

R. David Yost

III. External Environment

Presently, the economic situation in the United States and worldwide will serve to impact Bank of America in terms of its bottom line. General environmental forces affecting Bank of America including technological advances with customers demanding more from their banking experience. The political and socio-cultural environments are charged with tension due to the administration in Washington and their decision-making process. Industry competition is driven by the level of trusts that consumers experience with their bank and this combined with lack of consumer trust in the banking environment due to banking practices make this a high level threat for the banking industry. The threat of new entrants in the banking industry are low and the bargaining power of buyers high due to the recent housing crisis and the flood of properties into the housing market. It is presently a buyer's market with housing prices still low. The bargaining power of suppliers is limited due to the fall in housing values and the flood of housing into the market. While Bank of America does have key rivals, the company is strong and will likely remain highly competitive in the banking industry. Special interest groups, and most recently the suit filed against the larger banks for failing to work with their mortgage customers on loan modifications has presented a threat meaning that Bank of America will be modifying loans that are bad performers keeping these in their accounts rather than foreclosing on these accounts as would normally be the case.

Corporate Structure

The corporate structure of Bank of America is diversified and under two primary divisions of Merrill Lynch and Co., Inc. And NB Holdings Corporation. Bank of America's Corporate Stcutreus is illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 1 -- Bank of America Corporate Structure

Bank of America (2013)

Appendix 'A' at the end of this study lists the hierarchy in the banking organization of Bank of America and describes each position of authority in the structure.

Current Strategies and Goals

Bank of America has a global presence and partners locally and across the globe with other businesses and investors. The Bank of America has developed a strong organizational culture and has a strong focus on services provision. Bank of America states that it is "committed to being the finest financial services company in the world." (2013) Bank of America reports that it is "all about providing people, companies, ad institutional investors the financial products and services they need to help achieve their goals at every stage of their financial lives." (Bank of America, 2013) In addition, Bank of America states that the way that the company works is as important as what they do" and that the company is working to "find diverse, responsible suppliers and conduct business responsibly" to better serve its customers. (Bank of America, 2013)

Service Provisions

Bank of America is reported as a U.S. based financial institution that engages in the provision of a "full range of banking, investment, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services to individual consumers, small and middle market businesses as well as large corporations around the world. The company operates in the U.S. And in 40 other countries. It has classified its operations under six reportable business segments namely, Deposits, Global Card Services, Home Loans & Insurance, Global Banking, Global Markets and Global Wealth & Investment Management. BOA is headquartered at Charlotte, the U.S." (Market Research Report, 2013) It was reported by Reuters April 18, 2013, that Bank of America has launched a "bank-wide initiative to boost revenue."

According to CEO, Brian Moynihan, the challenge faced by Bank of America reported a fall in earnings of 8.4 in the first quarter of 2013. Moynihan met with 100 of the Bank's regional banking executives to discuss strategies for wining more business including "selling more products to existing customers, increasing referrals among various units and rebuilding the mortgage origination business." ( )

Strategy One

Bank of America states plans to create referrals among business units by approximately 50% each year. This idea is one reported as "notoriously hard to implement" since required are "system to easily send on a track referrals, compensation structures to give employees an incentive to…