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The article discusses doubts in the credit market about banking company Bank of America Corp. The cost of swaps used to insure against default on the bank's bonds has risen substantially. A ten-year bond issued by the company in 2011 has seen its yield rise to 6.5%. Credit strategist Edward Marrinan says markets seem to be concerned over the bank's capital levels.

The article reports that a top priority of incoming Bank of America Corp. (BOA) chief executive Brian Moynihan will be to restructure the firm's credit-card operations. Between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009 the charge-off rate for BOA's credit cards roughly doubled. Moynihan concedes the bank has issued too many cards, and says profits from credit cards will not be as large as they once were.

The article discusses significant volumes of debt held by U.S. banks that matures over the next few years. Before a global financial crisis emerged in 2007 many banks including Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. took advantage of low borrowing costs to increase their debt levels. Moody's Investors Service estimates $10 trillion in bank debt will come due before the start of 2016. Some of the debt may have to be refinanced at much higher rates of interest.

The article discusses events that culminated in Bank of America chief executive Ken Lewis' decision to announce his resignation from that post. Lewis annoyed federal regulators when he threatened to back away from his firm's commitment to buy Merrill Lynch & Co. Large losses subsequently announced by Merrill prompted New York State attorney general Andrew Cuomo to question whether Lewis had adequately informed shareholders about the Merrill acquisition.

The article reports that Merrill Lynch & Co. has agreed to be acquired by Bank of America Corp. for around $44 billion. The deal was negotiated over a 48-hour period with the encouragement of U.S. federal regulators who feared an independent Merrill Lynch might not be able to survive on its own. The failure of U.S regulators and financial industry executives to arrange a sale of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. motivated Merrill chief executive John Thain to deal with Bank of America.

The article discusses financial developments in the U.S. Merrill Lynch & Co. has agreed to sell itself to Bank of America Corp. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy after efforts to arrange a sale of the firm apparently failed. The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to take steps to ease turmoil in financial markets.

The article reports that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. is trying to sell itself. Potential buyers include Bank of America Corp. and Barclays PLC. It is believed that any purchaser would want guarantees concerning loss protection from the U.S. government similar to those received by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. when it bought out Bear Stearns Cos. No deal for Lehman appears imminent.

The article focuses on pressure that a rescue plan for investment funds called structured investment vehicles, which was initiated by Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., is under in November of 2007. The plan is under pressure because Moody's Investors said the funds were liquidating assets to meet their financial commitments

The article focuses on accounting concerns which have been raised for Citigroup Inc. as a result of its involvement in an $80 billion rescue fund for the U.S. credit market. Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp have created the fund which will use structured investment vehicles (SIVs), and several accounting firms have questioned whether Citigroup and the other banks need to account for the SIVs on their own balance sheets.

The article reports on a decision from Wachovia Corp. to become involved in an $80 billion investment fund being developed by Citigroup Inc., J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp., The pool has been developed to acquire mortgage assets and help financially struggling credit markets in the U.S.

Reports on a class action lawsuit brought against eight of America's biggest credit card issuers for violations of the federal anti-trust law when the companies met secretly to plan arbitration agreements for its credit cards. How Bank of America Corp., Capital One Financial Corp., and others had more than 20 meetings; Involvement of prominent law firms such as Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr in the meetings; Description of the advertisement of one arbitrator, National Arbitration Forum; Details of the consumer complaint filed in a federal court in New York City.

Focuses on a lawsuit by Italian Banca Popolare di Intra against the Bank of America Corporation. Claim that the bank improperly sold and managed Intra's investment; Intra's alleged losses; How Intra's resolve to get its money back casts a new light on credit derivatives; Rise of the credit-derivatives market, including collateralized debt obligations; Highlights of the case; Why disputes between issuers and financial institutions that invest in the credit derivatives rarely become public; How credit derivatives have provided an important cushion to the global economy, and to the world's biggest banks that provide much of the corporate lending; Issue of public disclosure.

Focuses on the integration of FleetBoston Financial Corp. into Bank of America Corp.'s organizational structure. Role of Liam McGee, Bank of America's consumer-banking chief, in the integration process; Duties of McGee at Bank of America; Importance of consumer-banking and small-business banking to the total revenue of Bank of America and FleetBoston when they are combined; Comments from Robert Maneri, an analyst at Victory Capital Management Inc., regarding Bank of America's retail services; Percentage of future U.S. growth Bank of America expects to generate from the Hispanic, African-American, and Asian populations; Role of Barbara Desoer, Bank of America's president of consumer products, in the integration.

Focuses on the continued devaluation of Bank of America Corp.'s stock. Percentage decline in Bank of America's share price since its acquisition of FleetBoston Financial Corp. was announced; View of analysts that the swoon in stock price could linger; Speculation that the price paid by Bank of America for FleetBoston; Comment from Frank Barkocy, director of research at Keefe Managers Inc., regarding the bank's plan to cut costs while not cutting many jobs; Reaction of Bank of America to the criticism they are receiving for the price paid to acquire Fleet.

Assesses Bank of America Corp.'s all-stock acquisition of FleetBoston Financial Corp. Size of the combined company, indicating that it will be the second largest U.S. bank overall and a market share in every region of the country except for the upper Midwest; View of author that Bank of America feels the consumer will continue to drive the U.S. economy; Number of branches and automatic teller machines Bank of America will be acquiring in the New England market, which is considered a wealthy region; Plans of several U.S. banks to add more branches, indicating an industry focus on the consumer.

Reports that New York (State) Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has charged a former Bank of America broker, Theodore Sihpol III, with grand larceny and securities fraud; Accompanying charges filed by the SEC against Sihpol for his role in arranging after hours trading for Canary Capital Partners LLC; Speculation as to whether there will be more charges stemming from the arrangement between mutual-fund companies and the hedge fund operating by Canary and its managing principal Edward J. Stern.

Reports that an internal investigation at Bank of America Corp. has led to a shake-up of their New York (N.Y.) office that caters to wealthy clients. Total number of employees who have left the bank as a result of the inquiry; Job responsibilities of Mike Tierney and Kathy Tubiolo, who are no longer employed at Bank of America's New York office; Speculation about the future of Richard DeMartini, the head of Bank of America's money-management unit.

Focuses on the troubles incurred by Bank of America Corp. in light of recent allegations that the company gave special privileges to a hedge fund, Canary Capital Partners LLC. Strained relations between the banking and asset-management arms of the company; Percentage decline in the bank's shares since the allegations of New York (State) Attorney General Eliot Spitzer became public, suggesting that bank chairman Kenneth Lewis will take swift action against individuals responsible for tarnishing the bank's image; View of former and current Bank of America employees that the company's push into asset-management was too aggressive; Percentage of the bank's annual income attributed to asset-management, indicating that it has fallen short of the goals set by Lewis.

The article focuses on the challenges posed by the scope of the job as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bank of America to possible successors. According to the authors, the search for a successor is likely to highlight the shortage of suitable banking CEOs since the financial crisis occurred in 2007. It notes that Brian Moynihan, an internal candidate who joined the bank in 2004, is the top contender for the position as of October 1, 2009. One of the outside candidates is Robert K. Steel, former CEO of Wachovia Corp.

The article looks at the decision of Bank of America (BofA) Corp. chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Kenneth D. Lewis to consider the acquisition of the investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. It states that Lehman Brothers has a history of attempting to turn difficulties to its advantage. It presumes the move has been influenced by the declining stock price of BofA and the possibility of federal government support for the deal. It cites that the acquisition would expand the coverage of BofA outside the country.

The article reports that Wachovia's collateralized debt obligations fell by $1.1 billion in October, 2007. Total losses and write-downs at big banks have reached $41 billion as Bank of America warned that it may take some time for markets to return to normal. Many banks are still trying to assess the extent of their exposure to risky mortgages while analysts and investors are at a loss in predicting when things will get better.

The article reports on the determination of bankers to accelerate the creation of a rescue plan for struggling investment funds. Bankers from Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. are cooperating to create a superfund. Officials of the U.S. Department of Treasury remain optimistic in the completion of a superfund. The creation of the superfund faces several challenges.

The article reports on the planned creation of a super-size investment fund in the U.S. Bankers and other financial institutions have expressed interest in committing more than $60 billion in credit lines to create a planned superfund that will be used to support the ailing mortgage-securities market. The three U.S. banks organizing the fund, Bank of America Corp., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and Citigroup Inc., would come close to their goal of raising a fund of $80 billion to $100 billion if the expressions of interest turn into firm commitments.

The article deals with the effect of the ruling of the Dutch Supreme Court on the selling of ABN Amro Holdings NV to Barclays PLC on other banks bidding for ABN. The companies signed a merger contract in April. However, in the same time, ABN decided to sell La Salle, which has business operations in Michigan and Illinois, to Bank of America for $21 billion.

The article reports on the lawsuit filed by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC and its two partners governing the sale of ABN Amro Holding's LaSalle Bank of Chicago to Bank of America Corp. Levinus Timmerman, a Dutch advocate general, opined that shareholder vote is not required for the U.S. sale. The U.S. sale is part of a merger agreement between ABN Amro Holding and Barclays PLC.

The article asserts that the negotiations between the Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS) and Bank of America Corp. over bidding of LaSalle Bank may be prolonged. It is reported that the decision of RBS to buy ABN Amro Holding NV, owner of LaSalle Bank, may be complicated. RBS, Fortis NV and Banco Santander Central Hispano SA will be confirming if they will make an offer for ABN Amro. The three banks have a proposed bid price of €72.27 billion.

The article reports on the efforts of Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC to reach a pact with Bank of America Corp. over the ownership of LaSalle Bank of Chicago, a unit of ABN Amro Holding NV. Several scenarios are possible concerning the bid of Royal Bank of Scotland Group for ABN Amro Holding. Initial attempts by Royal Bank of Scotland Group to reach a settlement with Bank of America was rebuffed.

This article reports that the British Financial Services Authority has begun a review of hedge-fund trading in ABN Amro Holding NV shares before a takeover bid by a consortium of European banks. People familiar with the matter said one trade under review involves the purchase of about €100 million in ABN shares by Toscafund Asset Management LLP in April 2007. Separately, Bank of America Corp. filed suit against ABN seeking to enforce its $21-billion deal involving LaSalle Bank in the U.S.

The article reports on the speculation that Bank of America Corp. would make a bid for Barclays PLC of Great Britain.

Reports on a lawsuit filed by Banca Popolare di Intra against Bank of America Corp. for improperly selling tranches or groups of assets to the Italian bank in 2000 and 2001.

Reports on the efforts of American and European banks to invest in Asian countries. Attempts to purchase stakes in local banks as a means of reducing risks; Interest shown by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in purchasing a 13% stake in Standard Chartered PLC; Banks which are pursuing partnerships in Asia, including Bank of America Corp., Deutsche Bank AG and ING Groep NV.

Reports on the auditing of the 1998 and 1999 tax returns of the pension plan and 401(k) plan of the Bank of America Corp. by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Reports on the plan of Bank of America Corp. to reduce its work force and absorb severance costs after its acquisition of FleetBoston Financial Corp. in 2004.

Reports on the investment plans of Bank of America Corp. in its corporate-and-investment-banking units in the U.S., in Europe and in Asia in October 2004.

Reports on the corporate profit increase posted by of Bank of America in the second quarter of 2004.

Reports on the decision of Bank of America, a merchant processor of bank cards in the U.S., to acquire National Processing Inc.

Reports on the settlement of a class-action lawsuit by Bank of America Corp. alleging its participation in a scheme with Enron Corp. to deceive it shareholders in 2004.

Reports on the plans of Bank of America Corp. to change the concept of their financial reporting as of June 24, 2004.

Reports on the compensation given by Bank of America Corp. to its chairman and CEO Kenneth Lewis in 2003 according to the bank's shareholder proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Reports on the sex discrimination lawsuit filed by Kimberly Houston, a senior foreign-exchange executive at Bank of America Corp.

Reports on the financial performance of the Bank of America Corp. in the first quarter of 2004.

Presents an update on the plan of Bank of America Corp. to acquire FleetBoston Financial Corp. as of March 2004.

Reports on the employee downsizing plan of Bank of America Corp., after it completes its acquisition of FleetBoston Financial Corp. in March 2004.

Focuses on Bank of America Corp. (BofA) and its involvement in several recent financial scandals. Amount BofA will pay in fee reductions, disgorgements, restitutions and fines for its role in the mutual-fund scandal; Amount BofA paid to securities regulators who charged the bank with stalling techniques as part of a trading investigation; Focus of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation into BofA's role in the mutual-fund scandal, related to the bank's broker-dealer and clearing operations; Details of e-mail evidence implicating the bank in allowing Edward Stern and his hedge fund, Canary Capital Partners, to participate in improper market timing and illegal late trading after the market had closed.

Reports on the announcement of Bank of America Corp. that its employees in Milan, Italy are under investigation by Italian authorities over a kick back scheme involving the bank's client Parmalat SpA.

Anticipates a ruling by a California judge on whether Bank of America Corp. should have to pay to customers who allege that the bank mishandled their social security deposits.

Deals with the offer of Bank of America Corp. to lend and invest in communities for programs such as affordable housing, as it faces community-activist opposition to its acquisition of FleetBoston Financial Corp.

Discusses the crisis that Bank of America's chief executive officer, Kenneth Lewis, is facing in late summer 2003. Fact that up until September Bank of America was having a good financial year; Findings by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer that Bank of America was involved in allowing hedge fund Canary Investment Management LLC special trading privileges; Total revenue for Bank of America's asset-management unit.

Reports on the increase in the net income of Bank of America for the second quarter in 2003. Increase in the prices of the bank's shares; Reasons for the income increase.

Reports the advertising campaign launched by Bank of America in an effort to strengthen its brand identity.