Back to GetFilings.com




UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

 

  x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2004

 

or

 

  ¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

 

Commission file number: 1-6523

 

Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter:

 


 

Bank of America Corporation

 


 

State of incorporation:

 

Delaware

 

IRS Employer Identification Number: 56-0906609

 

Address of principal executive offices:

 

Bank of America Corporate Center

100 N. Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 386-8486

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

On April 30, 2004, there were 2,038,797,417 shares of Bank of America Corporation Common Stock outstanding.

 



Bank of America Corporation

 

March 31, 2004 Form 10-Q

 

INDEX

 

               Page

Part I

Financial

Information

   Item 1.   

Financial Statements:

    
       

Consolidated Statement of Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

   2
         

Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003

   3
         

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

   4
         

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

   5
         

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   6
     Item 2.   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

   21
     Item 3.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   59
     Item 4.   

Controls and Procedures

   59
Part II Other Information    Item 1.   

Legal Proceedings

   59
     Item 2.   

Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

   59
     Item 4.   

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   59
     Item 6.   

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   60
     Signature    62
     Index to Exhibits    63

 


Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Bank of America Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statement of Income

 

     Three Months Ended March 31

 

(Dollars in millions, except per share information)


   2004

   2003

 

Interest income

               

Interest and fees on loans and leases

   $ 5,549    $ 5,348  

Interest on debt securities

     1,212      754  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

     434      194  

Trading account assets

     1,009      1,042  

Other interest income

     368      387  
    

  


Total interest income

     8,572      7,725  
    

  


Interest expense

               

Deposits

     1,206      1,183  

Short-term borrowings

     740      453  

Trading account liabilities

     334      308  

Long-term debt

     491      572  
    

  


Total interest expense

     2,771      2,516  
    

  


Net interest income

     5,801      5,209  

Noninterest income

               

Consumer service charges

     821      777  

Corporate service charges

     595      577  
    

  


Total service charges

     1,416      1,354  
    

  


Consumer investment and brokerage services

     417      383  

Corporate investment and brokerage services

     205      165  
    

  


Total investment and brokerage services

     622      548  
    

  


Mortgage banking income

     209      405  

Investment banking income

     404      378  

Equity investment gains (losses)

     133      (68 )

Card income

     795      681  

Trading account profits

     3      114  

Other income

     135      281  
    

  


Total noninterest income

     3,717      3,693  
    

  


Total revenue

     9,518      8,902  

Provision for credit losses

     624      833  

Gains on sales of debt securities

     495      273  

Noninterest expense

               

Personnel

     2,762      2,459  

Occupancy

     488      472  

Equipment

     261      284  

Marketing

     281      230  

Professional fees

     147      125  

Amortization of intangibles

     54      54  

Data processing

     284      266  

Telecommunications

     151      124  

Other general operating

     989      711  
    

  


Total noninterest expense

     5,417      4,725  
    

  


Income before income taxes

     3,972      3,617  

Income tax expense

     1,291      1,193  
    

  


Net income

   $ 2,681    $ 2,424  
    

  


Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 2,680    $ 2,423  
    

  


Per common share information

               

Earnings

   $ 1.86    $ 1.62  
    

  


Diluted earnings

   $ 1.83    $ 1.59  
    

  


Dividends paid

   $ 0.80    $ 0.64  
    

  


Average common shares issued and outstanding (in thousands)

     1,440,153      1,499,405  
    

  


Average diluted common shares issued and outstanding (in thousands)

     1,466,701      1,526,288  
    

  


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

2


Bank of America Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

(Dollars in millions)


  

March 31,

2004


    December 31,
2003


 

Assets

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 22,296     $ 27,084  

Time deposits placed and other short-term investments

     8,561       8,051  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell (includes $73,018 and $76,446 pledged as collateral)

     73,057       76,492  

Trading account assets (includes $39,522 and $18,722 pledged as collateral)

     75,004       68,547  

Derivative assets

     36,488       36,507  

Debt securities:

                

Available-for-sale (includes $34,965 and $20,858 pledged as collateral)

     139,546       66,382  

Held-to-maturity, at cost (market value- $251 and $254)

     242       247  
    


 


Total debt securities

     139,788       66,629  
    


 


Loans and leases

     375,968       371,463  

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     (6,080 )     (6,163 )
    


 


Loans and leases, net of allowance

     369,888       365,300  
    


 


Premises and equipment, net

     6,076       6,036  

Mortgage banking assets

     2,184       2,762  

Goodwill

     11,468       11,455  

Core deposit intangibles and other intangibles

     854       908  

Other assets

     70,348       66,674  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 816,012     $ 736,445  
    


 


Liabilities

                

Deposits in domestic offices:

                

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 121,629     $ 118,495  

Interest-bearing

     267,850       262,032  

Deposits in foreign offices:

                

Noninterest-bearing

     2,805       3,035  

Interest-bearing

     43,308       30,551  
    


 


Total deposits

     435,592       414,113  
    


 


Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     115,434       78,046  

Trading account liabilities

     27,402       26,844  

Derivative liabilities

     24,321       24,526  

Commercial paper and other short-term borrowings

     64,621       42,478  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities (includes $401 and $416 of Reserve for unfunded lending commitments)

     18,635       27,115  

Long-term debt

     81,231       75,343  
    


 


Total liabilities

     767,236       688,465  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

                

Shareholders’ equity

                

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized - 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 1,239,563 and 1,269,600 shares

     53       54  

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized - 7,500,000,000 and 5,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 1,445,487,313 and 1,441,143,786 shares

     14       14  

Retained earnings

     51,823       50,213  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (2,743 )     (2,148 )

Other

     (371 )     (153 )
    


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     48,776       47,980  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 816,012     $ 736,445  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Bank of America Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

 

   

Preferred

Stock


                     

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss) (1)


    Other

   

Total

Share-

holders’

Equity


   

Comprehensive

Income


 
                             
      Common Stock

   

Retained

Earnings


         

(Dollars in millions, shares in thousands)


    Shares

    Amount

           

Balance, December 31, 2002

  $ 58     1,500,691     $ 496     $ 48,517     $ 1,232     $ 16     $ 50,319          

Net income

                          2,424                       2,424     $ 2,424  

Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt and marketable equity securities

                                  (9 )             (9 )     (9 )

Net unrealized gains on foreign currency translation adjustments

                                  33               33       33  

Net unrealized losses on derivatives

                                  (1,182 )             (1,182 )     (1,182 )

Cash dividends paid:

                                                             

Common

                          (961 )                     (961 )        

Preferred

                          (1 )                     (1 )        

Common stock issued under employee plans and related tax benefits

          15,206       818                       (173 )     645          

Common stock repurchased

          (18,400 )     (1,260 )                             (1,260 )        

Conversion of preferred stock

    (1 )   34       1                               —            

Other

          —         72       (1 )             (27 )     44          
   


 

 


 


 


 


 


 


Balance, March 31, 2003

  $ 57     1,497,531     $ 127     $ 49,978     $ 74     $ (184 )   $ 50,052     $ 1,266  
   


 

 


 


 


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2003

  $ 54     1,441,144     $ 14     $ 50,213     $ (2,148 )   $ (153 )   $ 47,980          

Net income

                          2,681                       2,681     $ 2,681  

Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale debt and marketable equity securities

                                  661               661       661  

Net unrealized gains on foreign currency translation adjustments

                                  3               3       3  

Net unrealized losses on derivatives

                                  (1,259 )             (1,259 )     (1,259 )

Cash dividends paid:

                                                             

Common

                          (1,158 )                     (1,158 )        

Preferred

                          (1 )                     (1 )        

Common stock issued under employee plans and related tax benefits

          16,446       1,060                       (218 )     842          

Common stock repurchased

          (12,153 )     (1,061 )     88                       (973 )        

Conversion of preferred stock

    (1 )   50       1                               —            
   


 

 


 


 


 


 


 


Balance, March 31, 2004

  $ 53     1,445,487     $ 14     $ 51,823     $ (2,743 )   $ (371 )   $ 48,776     $ 2,086  
   


 

 


 


 


 


 


 



(1) At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) included net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt and marketable equity securities of $591 and $(70), respectively; net unrealized losses on foreign currency translation adjustments of $163 and $166, respectively; and net unrealized losses on derivatives of $3,067 and $1,808, respectively.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Bank of America Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

    

Three Months

Ended March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Operating activities

                

Net income

   $ 2,681     $ 2,424  

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

                

Provision for credit losses

     624       833  

Gains on sales of debt securities

     (495 )     (273 )

Depreciation and premises improvements amortization

     209       224  

Amortization of intangibles

     54       54  

Deferred income tax benefit

     (66 )     (94 )

Net increase in trading and hedging instruments

     (10,471 )     (6,854 )

Net increase in other assets

     (3,614 )     (7,042 )

Net decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (8,252 )     (711 )

Other operating activities, net

     3,275       590  
    


 


Net cash used in operating activities

     (16,055 )     (10,849 )
    


 


Investing activities

                

Net (increase) decrease in time deposits placed and other short-term investments

     (510 )     1,290  

Net (increase) decrease in federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

     3,435       (4,931 )

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale debt securities

     11,460       27,258  

Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale debt securities

     1,889       6,847  

Purchases of available-for-sale debt securities

     (84,978 )     (41,280 )

Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity debt securities

     5       99  

Proceeds from sales of loans and leases

     876       9,182  

Other changes in loans and leases, net

     (6,133 )     (7,110 )

Purchases and originations of mortgage banking assets

     (236 )     (359 )

Net purchases of premises and equipment

     (249 )     (150 )

Proceeds from sales of foreclosed properties

     49       12  

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary

     —         (1,600 )

Acquisition of business activities, net

     (15 )     (71 )

Other investing activities, net

     787       586  
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (73,620 )     (10,227 )
    


 


Financing activities

                

Net increase in deposits

     21,479       8,718  

Net increase in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     37,388       7,897  

Net increase in commercial paper and other short-term borrowings

     22,143       4,495  

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt and trust preferred securities

     7,558       4,578  

Retirement of long-term debt and trust preferred securities

     (2,507 )     (3,051 )

Proceeds from issuance of trust preferred securities

                

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     985       752  

Common stock repurchased

     (973 )     (1,260 )

Cash dividends paid

     (1,159 )     (962 )

Other financing activities, net

     (23 )     (32 )
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     84,891       21,135  
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (4 )     37  
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (4,788 )     96  

Cash and cash equivalents at January 1

     27,084       24,973  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at March 31

   $ 22,296     $ 25,069  
    


 


 

There were no net transfers of loans and leases from loans held for sale (included in Other assets) to the loan portfolio for Asset and Liability Management (ALM) purposes for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Net transfers of loans and leases from loans held for sale (included in Other assets) to the loan portfolio for ALM purposes amounted $3,621 for the three months ended March 31, 2003.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Bank of America Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Bank of America Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Corporation) through its banking and nonbanking subsidiaries, provide a diverse range of financial services and products throughout the United States and in selected international markets. At March 31, 2004, the Corporation operated its banking activities primarily under two charters: Bank of America, National Association (Bank of America, N.A.) and Bank of America, N.A. (USA).

 

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Principles

 

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Corporation and its majority-owned subsidiaries, and those variable interest entities (VIEs) where the Corporation is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

The information contained in the consolidated financial statements is unaudited. In the opinion of management, all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim period results have been made. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December 2003) “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN 46R). FIN 46R is an update of FASB Interpretation No. 46 “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN 46) and contains different implementation dates based on the types of entities subject to the standard and based on whether a company has adopted FIN 46. The Corporation adopted FIN 46R as of March 31, 2004. Adoption of this rule did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s results of operations or financial condition. For additional information on VIEs, see Note 6 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Stock-based Compensation

 

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123,” (SFAS 148), the Corporation provides disclosures as if the Corporation had adopted the fair value-based method of measuring all outstanding employee stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 as indicated in the following table. The prospective method of accounting for stock options that the Corporation has elected to follow, as allowed by SFAS 148, recognizes the impact of only newly issued employee stock options. The following table presents the effect on net income and earnings per common share had the fair value-based method been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)


   2004

    2003

 

Net income (as reported)

   $ 2,681     $ 2,424  

Stock-based employee compensation expense recognized during period, net of related tax effects

     35       17  

Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value-based method, net of related tax effects(1)

     (54 )     (76 )
    


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 2,662     $ 2,365  
    


 


As reported

                

Earnings per common share

   $ 1.86     $ 1.62  

Diluted earnings per common share

     1.83       1.59  

Pro forma

                

Earnings per common share

     1.85       1.58  

Diluted earnings per common share

     1.82       1.55  
    


 



(1) Includes all awards granted, modified or settled for which the fair value was required to be measured under SFAS 123, except restricted stock. Restricted stock expense, included in Net income, for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $64 and $87, respectively.

 

For additional information on recently issued accounting pronouncements and other significant accounting principles, see Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

Note 2 - Merger-related Activity

 

Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 27, 2003, by and between the Corporation and FleetBoston Financial Corporation (FleetBoston) (the Merger Agreement), the Corporation acquired 100 percent of the outstanding stock of FleetBoston on April 1, 2004 (the Merger). FleetBoston’s results of operations will be included in the Corporation’s results beginning April 1, 2004.

 

As provided by the Merger Agreement, approximately 1.068 billion shares of FleetBoston common stock were exchanged for approximately 593 million shares of the Corporation’s common stock. This represents approximately 29 percent of the Corporation’s outstanding common stock. FleetBoston shareholders also received cash of $4 million instead of any fractional shares of the Corporation’s common stock that would have otherwise been issued on April 1, 2004. Holders of FleetBoston preferred stock received 1.1 million shares of the Corporation’s preferred stock. The Corporation’s preferred stock that was exchanged was valued using the book value of FleetBoston preferred stock. The depositary shares underlying the FleetBoston preferred stock, each representing a one-fifth interest in the FleetBoston preferred stock prior to the Merger, now represent a one-fifth interest in a share of the Corporation’s preferred stock. FleetBoston shares in the amount of 15.7 million that were previously held by the Corporation were cancelled.

 

7


The Merger is being accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 141 “Business Combinations” (SFAS 141). Accordingly, the purchase price was preliminarily allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the Merger date as summarized below. The final allocation of the purchase price will be determined after completion of a final analysis to determine the fair values of FleetBoston’s tangible, and identifiable intangible assets and liabilities and final decisions regarding integration activities.

 

(Dollars in millions)


         

Purchase price

             

FleetBoston common stock exchanged (in thousands)

     1,068,335       

Exchange ratio

     0.5553       
    

      

Total shares of the Corporation’s common stock exchanged (in thousands)

     593,246       

Purchase price per share of the Corporation’s common stock(1)

   $ 76.88       
    

      

Total value of the Corporation’s common stock exchanged

          $ 45,609

FleetBoston preferred stock converted to the Corporation’s preferred stock

            271

Fair value of outstanding stock options, direct acquisition costs and the effect of FleetBoston shares already owned by the Corporation

            1,354
           

Total purchase price

          $ 47,234

Estimated fair value of net assets acquired

            14,161
           

Estimated goodwill resulting from the Merger

          $ 33,073
           


(1) The value of the shares of common stock exchanged with FleetBoston shareholders was based upon the average of the closing prices of the Corporation’s common stock for the period commencing two trading days before, and ending two trading days after, October 27, 2003, the date of the Merger Agreement.

 

Note 3—Trading Account Assets and Liabilities

 

The Corporation engages in a variety of trading–related activities that are either for clients or its own account.

 

The fair values of the components of trading account assets and liabilities at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were:

 

(Dollars in millions)


  

March 31

2004


  

December 31

2003


Trading account assets

             

U.S. government and agency securities

   $ 20,272    $ 16,073

Corporate securities, trading loans, and other

     26,534      25,647

Equity securities

     11,310      11,445

Mortgage trading loans and asset-backed securities

     10,102      8,221

Foreign sovereign debt

     6,786      7,161
    

  

Total

   $ 75,004    $ 68,547
    

  

Trading account liabilities

             

U.S. government and agency securities

   $ 9,506    $ 7,304

Equity securities

     8,687      8,863

Corporate securities, trading loans, and other

     6,126      5,379

Foreign sovereign debt

     2,986      5,276

Mortgage trading loans and asset-backed securities

     97      22
    

  

Total

   $ 27,402    $ 26,844
    

  

 

8


Note 4—Derivatives

 

Credit risk associated with derivatives is measured as the fair value should the counterparties with contracts in a gain position to the Corporation completely fail to perform under the terms of those contracts assuming no recoveries of underlying collateral. A detailed discussion of derivative trading activities and the ALM process is presented in Note 6 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

The following table presents the contract/notional and credit risk amounts at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 of the Corporation’s derivative positions held for trading and hedging purposes. These derivative positions are primarily executed in the over-the-counter market. The credit risk amounts presented in the following table do not consider the value of any collateral held but take into consideration the effects of legally enforceable master netting agreements. The Corporation held $21.3 billion of collateral on derivative positions, of which $15.8 billion could be applied against credit risk at March 31, 2004.

 

Derivatives (1)

 

     March 31, 2004

   December 31, 2003

(Dollars in millions)


   Contract/
Notional


   Credit
Risk


   Contract/
Notional


   Credit
Risk


Interest rate contracts

                           

Swaps

   $ 9,285,606    $ 16,184    $ 8,873,600    $ 14,893

Futures and forwards

     2,415,153      182      2,437,907      633

Written options

     845,388      —        1,174,014      —  

Purchased options

     996,542      3,556      1,132,486      3,471

Foreign exchange contracts

                           

Swaps

     262,394      4,428      260,210      4,473

Spot, futures and forwards

     926,894      2,926      775,105      4,202

Written options

     154,124      —        138,474      —  

Purchased options

     146,445      455      133,512      669

Equity contracts

                           

Swaps

     25,280      438      30,850      364

Futures and forwards

     4,162      —        3,234      —  

Written options

     26,695      —        25,794      —  

Purchased options

     25,409      5,552      24,119      5,370

Commodity contracts

                           

Swaps

     12,776      1,964      15,491      1,554

Futures and forwards

     6,016      —        5,726      —  

Written options

     9,228      —        11,695      —  

Purchased options

     5,323      386      7,223      294

Credit derivatives

     167,109      417      136,788      584
    

  

  

  

Total derivative assets

          $ 36,488           $ 36,507
    

  

  

  


(1) Includes both long and short derivative positions.

 

The average fair value of derivative assets for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $37.0 billion and $35.2 billion, respectively. The average fair value of derivative liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $25.1 billion and $23.6 billion, respectively.

 

Fair Value and Cash Flow Hedges

 

The Corporation uses various types of interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate derivative contracts to protect against changes in the fair value of its fixed-rate assets and liabilities due to fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates. The Corporation also uses these contracts to protect against changes in the cash flows of its variable-rate assets and liabilities, and anticipated transactions. During the next 12 months, net gains on derivative instruments included in accumulated OCI, of approximately $295 million (pre-tax) are expected to be reclassified into earnings. These net gains reclassified into earnings are expected to increase income or decrease expense on the respective hedged items.

 

9


The following table summarizes certain information related to the Corporation’s hedging activities for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Fair value hedges(1)

                

Hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings

   $       2     $ —    

Net gain (loss) excluded from assessment of effectiveness

     (4 )     (79 )

Cash flow hedges

                

Hedge ineffectiveness recognized in earnings(2)

     49       15  

Net gain excluded from assessment of effectiveness

     —         —    

Net investment hedges

                

Losses included in foreign currency translation adjustments within Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (2 )     (41 )

(1) Included in interest income in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
(2) Included in Mortgage banking income in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

 

 

Note 5—Outstanding Loans and Leases, and Allowance for Credit Losses

 

Outstanding loans and leases at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were:

 

(Dollars in millions)


  

March 31

2004


  

December 31

2003


Commercial - domestic

   $ 96,148    $ 96,644

Commercial - foreign

     14,513      15,293

Commercial real estate - domestic

     19,545      19,043

Commercial real estate - foreign

     317      324
    

  

Total commercial(1)

     130,523      131,304
    

  

Residential mortgage

     142,755      140,513

Home equity lines

     24,946      23,859

Direct/Indirect consumer

     34,451      33,415

Consumer finance

     5,202      5,589

Credit card

     36,087      34,814

Foreign consumer

     2,004      1,969
    

  

Total consumer(2)

     245,445      240,159
    

  

Total

   $ 375,968    $ 371,463
    

  


(1) Includes lease financing of $9,291 and $9,692 at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.
(2) Includes lease financing of $1,274 and $1,684 at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

10


The following table presents the recorded investment in specific loans, without consideration to the specific component of the allowance for loan and lease losses, that were considered individually impaired in accordance with SFAS No. 114 “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan,” (SFAS 114) at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003. SFAS 114 impairment includes performing troubled debt restructurings, and excludes all commercial leases.

 

(Dollars in millions)


  

March 31

2004


  

December 31

2003


Commercial - domestic

   $ 1,239    $ 1,404

Commercial - foreign

     333      581

Commercial real estate - domestic

     113      151

Commercial real estate - foreign

     2      2
    

  

Total impaired loans

   $ 1,687    $ 2,138
    

  

 

At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, nonperforming loans and leases, including impaired loans, totaled $2.4 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively. In addition, included in Other assets was $82 million and $202 million of nonperforming assets at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. Foreclosed properties amounted to $131 million and $148 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the allowance for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Allowance for loan and lease losses, January 1

   $ 6,163     $ 6,358  
    


 


Loans and leases charged off

     (893 )     (984 )

Recoveries of loans and leases previously charged off

     173       151  
    


 


Net charge-offs

     (720 )     (833 )
    


 


Provision for loan and lease losses

     639       894  

Other, net

     (2 )     2  
    


 


Allowance for loan and lease losses, March 31

   $ 6,080     $ 6,421  
    


 


Reserve for unfunded lending commitments, January 1

   $ 416     $ 493  

Provision for unfunded lending commitments

     (15 )     (61 )
    


 


Reserve for unfunded lending commitments, March 31

   $ 401     $ 432  
    


 


Total

   $ 6,481     $ 6,853  
    


 


 

Note 6—Special Purpose Financing Entities

 

Securitizations

 

The Corporation securitizes assets and may retain a portion or all of the securities, subordinated tranches, interest-only strips and, in some cases, a cash reserve account, all of which are considered retained interests in the securitized assets. Those assets may be serviced by the Corporation or by third parties to whom the servicing has been sold.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46R that addresses VIEs. FIN 46R is an update of FIN 46 and contains different implementation dates based on the types of entities subject to the standard and based on whether a

 

11


company has adopted FIN 46. The Corporation adopted FIN 46 early in July 2003 and adopted FIN 46R as of March 31, 2004. As a result of the adoption of FIN 46R, there was no material impact on the Corporation’s results of operations or financial condition. At March 31, 2004, the consolidated assets and liabilities of one multi-seller asset-backed commercial paper conduit were reflected in Available-for-sale debt securities, Other assets, and Commercial paper and other short-term borrowings in the Global Corporate and Investment Banking business segment. At March 31, 2004, the Corporation held $5.1 billion of assets of this entity while the Corporation’s maximum loss exposure associated with this entity including unfunded lending commitments was approximately $5.6 billion.

 

Additionally, the Corporation had significant involvement with other VIEs that it did not consolidate because it was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary. In such cases, the Corporation does not absorb the majority of the entities’ expected losses nor does it receive a majority of the entities’ expected residual returns, or both. These entities facilitate client transactions, and the Corporation typically functions as administrator for these entities and provides either liquidity and letters of credit or derivatives to the VIE. The Corporation typically obtains variable interests in these types of entities at the inception of the transaction. Total assets of these entities at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were approximately $33.7 billion and $36.9 billion, respectively; revenues associated with administration, liquidity, letters of credit and other services were approximately $49 million and $50 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Corporation’s maximum loss exposure associated with these VIEs was approximately $29.4 billion and $28.7 billion, respectively, which is net of amounts syndicated.

 

Additionally, the Corporation had contractual relationships with other VIEs that engaged in leasing or lending activities and were consolidated by the Corporation prior to FIN 46. The amount of assets of these entities at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was $2.0 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, and the Corporation’s maximum loss exposure was $1.7 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively.

 

Management does not believe losses resulting from its involvement with the entities discussed above will be material. See Notes 1 and 9 of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report for additional discussion of special purpose financing entities.

 

Note 7—Commitments and Contingencies

 

In the normal course of business, the Corporation enters into a number of off-balance sheet commitments. These commitments expose the Corporation to varying degrees of credit and market risk and are subject to the same credit and market risk limitation reviews as those recorded on the Corporation’s balance sheet. For additional information on commitments and contingencies, see Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

Credit Extension Commitments

 

The Corporation enters into commitments to extend credit such as loan commitments, standby letters of credit (SBLCs) and commercial letters of credit to meet the financing needs of its customers. The outstanding unfunded lending commitments shown in the following table have been reduced by amounts participated to other financial institutions of $11.0 billion and $10.4 billion at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

(Dollars in millions)


  

March 31

2004


  

December 31

2003


Loan commitments(1)

   $ 218,080    $ 211,781

Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees

     29,968      31,150

Commercial letters of credit

     3,050      3,260
    

  

Legally binding commitments

     251,098      246,191

Credit card lines

     97,013      93,771
    

  

Total

   $ 348,111    $ 339,962
    

  


(1) Equity commitments of $1,575 and $1,678 related to obligations to fund existing equity investments were included in loan commitments at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

12


Other Commitments

 

When-issued securities are commitments to purchase or sell securities during the time period between the announcement of a securities offering and the issuance of those securities. Changes in market price between commitment date and issuance are reflected in trading account profits. At March 31, 2004, the Corporation had commitments to purchase and sell when-issued securities of $206.2 billion and $217.3 billion, respectively. At December 31, 2003, the Corporation had commitments to purchase and sell when-issued securities of $155.5 billion and $145.8 billion, respectively.

 

Interest rate lock commitments associated with mortgages are commitments to extend credit at a specified interest rate and are recorded as derivatives at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

 

At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, charge cards (nonrevolving card lines) to individuals and government entities guaranteed by the U.S. government in the amount of $13.4 billion and $13.7 billion, respectively, were not included in credit card line commitments in the previous table. The outstandings related to these charge cards were $251 million and $233 million, respectively.

 

At March 31, 2004, the Corporation had forward whole mortgage loan purchase commitments of $3.7 billion, of which $1.7 billion settled in April 2004, and $1.5 billion and $500 million will be settled in May and June 2004, respectively. At December 31, 2003, the Corporation had forward whole mortgage loan purchase commitments of $4.6 billion, all of which were settled in January and February 2004. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Corporation had no forward whole mortgage loan sale commitments. For further discussion on the ALM process, see Interest Rate Risk Management beginning on page 55.

 

Other Guarantees

 

The Corporation sells products that offer book value protection primarily to plan sponsors of ERISA-governed pension plans such as 401(k) plans, 457 plans, etc. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the notional amount of these guarantees totaled $24.0 billion and $24.9 billion, respectively, with estimated maturity dates between 2005 and 2033. As of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Corporation has not made a payment under these products, and management believes that the probability of payments under these guarantees is remote.

 

The Corporation also sells products that guarantee the return of principal to investors at a preset future date. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the notional amount of these guarantees totaled $9.2 billion and $7.4 billion, respectively; however, at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Corporation had not made a payment under these products, and management believes that the probability of payments under these guarantees is remote. These guarantees have various maturities ranging from 2005 to 2010.

 

The Corporation has entered into additional guarantee agreements, including lease end obligation agreements, partial credit guarantees on certain leases, sold risk participation swaps and sold put options that require gross settlement. The maximum potential future payment under these agreements was approximately $1.4 billion and $1.3 billion at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. The estimated maturity dates of these obligations are between 2004 and 2025. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Corporation had made no material payments under these products.

 

13


For additional information on recourse obligations related to mortgage loans sold and other guarantees related to securitizations, see Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

Litigation and Regulatory Matters

 

The following disclosure supplements the disclosure in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed since December 31, 2003.

 

Parmalat Finanziera SpA and its related entities (Parmalat)

 

On March 24, 2004, the Court of Milan, Italy rejected the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of Milan, Italy’s request for an accelerated trial with respect to the Corporation for administrative liability arising out of the actions of several of the Bank’s former employees who allegedly committed illegal acts relating to Parmalat.

 

On March 25, 2004, the Public Prosecutor’s office filed notice of its intention to proceed with criminal charges against three former employees, Antonio Luzi, Luis Moncada, and Luca Sala, and with related charges for administrative liability against the Corporation in accordance with the normal rules of criminal procedure.

 

Mutual Fund Operations

 

The Corporation is continuing to respond to inquiries from federal and state banking, regulatory and law enforcement agencies concerning the mutual fund-related matters.

 

The lawsuits filed to date include putative class actions purportedly brought on behalf of shareholders in Nations Funds mutual funds, derivative actions brought on behalf of one or more Nations Funds mutual funds by Nations Funds shareholders, putative ERISA class actions brought on behalf of participants in the Corporation’s 401(k) plan, derivative actions brought against the Corporation’s directors on behalf of the Corporation by shareholders in the Corporation, derivative actions brought on behalf of third-party mutual funds by shareholders in those funds alleging the Corporation facilitated improper trading in those funds, and a private attorney general action brought under California law.

 

On February 20, 2004, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that all actions pending in federal court with respect to alleged late trading or market timing in mutual funds be transferred to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

 

On April 5, 2004, the New York Attorney General (the NYAG) unsealed an indictment against Theodore C. Siphol, III, a former employee of Banc of America Securities, LLC (BAS), a subsidiary of the Corporation. The indictment accuses Mr. Siphol of two counts of schemes to defraud, two counts of securities fraud, multiple counts of grand larceny, and multiple counts of falsifying business records in connection with alleged “late trading” by Canary Capital Partners, LLC, et al. of shares of Nations Funds and other mutual funds.

 

Paul J. Miller v. Bank of America, N.A.

 

Plaintiff filed a motion to preliminarily enjoin the Bank from continuing to engage in the practices at issue. The motion in the trial court remains pending.

 

D.E. Shaw Litigation

 

The D.E. Shaw class action settlement was consummated on April 16, 2004 and is now final in accordance with its terms.

 

FleetBoston Matters

 

The following matters have been previously reported by FleetBoston, which merged with and into the Corporation on April 1, 2004. The following disclosure supplements the disclosure in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. See Note 2 for more information on the Merger.

 

14


In view of the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of such matters, the Corporation cannot state what the eventual outcome, timing or impact of pending matters will be; however, based on current knowledge, management does not believe that liabilities, if any, arising from pending litigation or regulatory matters, including the litigation and regulatory matters described below, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or liquidity of the Corporation, but may be material to the Corporation’s operating results for any particular quarter.

 

Mutual Fund Operations

 

On February 24, 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil action in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against two FleetBoston subsidiaries, Columbia Management Advisors, Inc. and Columbia Funds Distributor, Inc. (the Columbia Subsidiaries), alleging that the Columbia Subsidiaries allowed certain customers to engage in short-term or excessive trading without disclosing this fact in the relevant fund prospectuses. The complaint alleged violations of federal securities laws and requested injunctive and monetary relief. A similar action was filed the same day in New York state court by the NYAG, claiming relief under New York state statutes.

 

On March 15, 2004, FleetBoston and its subsidiaries reached a settlement in principle with the NYAG and the SEC, agreeing, without admitting or denying wrongdoing, to (1) pay $70 million in disgorgement and $70 million in civil penalties; (2) the issuance of an order requiring the Columbia Subsidiaries to cease and desist from violations of the antifraud and other provisions of the federal securities laws, as well as the implementation of enhanced governance and compliance procedures; and (3) retain an independent consultant to review the Columbia Subsidiaries’ compliance, control and other policies and procedures. In addition, the agreement with the NYAG provides for reduction of mutual fund management fees of the Columbia funds by $80 million over five years.

 

FleetBoston is continuing to respond to inquiries from federal and state banking, regulatory and law enforcement agencies concerning the mutual fund-related matters.

 

Separately, putative class actions on behalf of persons who purchased or sold securities in Columbia funds during specified periods of time, derivative actions on behalf of various Columbia funds and trusts, and an individual Columbia fund shareholder action have been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging, among other things, violations of federal securities laws, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 and breaches of fiduciary duty in relation to alleged market timing in mutual funds. These actions have been noticed to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation as related to those actions that have been transferred to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

 

In Re Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation

 

Beginning in 2001, Robertson Stephens, Inc. (Robertson Stephens), an investment banking subsidiary of FleetBoston that ceased operations during 2002, and many other underwriters, as well as various issuers and their officers and directors, were named as defendants in purported class action lawsuits alleging violations of federal securities laws in connection with the underwriting of initial public offerings (IPOs). Robertson Stephens was named in many of the 309 purported class actions that have been consolidated in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. (BAS is also named as a defendant in some of the purported class actions.) The plaintiffs contend that the defendants violated the federal securities laws by failing to make certain required disclosures in prospectuses, by manipulating the prices of IPO securities in the aftermarkets through, among other things, alleged agreements with institutional investors receiving allocations to purchase additional shares in the aftermarket, and by disseminating false and misleading analyst reports. Robertson Stephens and other lead underwriters also have been named as defendants in class action lawsuits under the antitrust laws alleging that the underwriters conspired to manipulate the aftermarkets for the IPO securities and to extract anticompetitive fees in connection with the IPOs. Those antitrust lawsuits have been dismissed by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Plaintiffs have appealed that decision.

 

15


Argentina Corralito Litigation and Related Matters

 

In December 2001, the Argentine government issued an order imposing limitations on the ability of FleetBoston bank customers in Argentina to withdraw funds from their deposit accounts in Argentine banks (the corralito). Since the corralito was issued, a large number of customers of FleetBoston Argentine operations (BankBoston Argentina) have filed complaints in a number of Argentine federal and provincial courts against BankBoston Argentina seeking to invalidate the corralito on constitutional grounds and withdraw their funds. The Argentine federal and provincial courts have ordered many of these deposits to be paid out at original dollar value during 2002, 2003, and the first quarter of 2004, resulting in losses for FleetBoston of approximately $363 million.

 

Fleet Specialist, Inc.

 

On March 30, 2004, Fleet Specialist and certain other specialist firms entered into agreements with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) to settle charges that the firms violated certain federal securities laws and NYSE rules in the course of their specialist trading activity. The settlement, which involves no admission or denial of wrongdoing, includes disgorgement and civil penalties for Fleet Specialist totaling approximately $59.1 million, a censure, cease and desist order, and certain undertakings, including the retention of an independent consultant to review compliance systems, policies, and procedures. The settlement does not resolve any potential regulatory charges against individuals. Separately, putative class action complaints have been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Fleet Specialist, FleetBoston, and other specialist firms (and their parent companies) on behalf of investors who traded stock on the NYSE between 1998 and 2003 and were allegedly disadvantaged by the improper practices of the specialist firms. Also, a putative class action complaint has been filed in California state court against certain specialist firms and individuals, including Fleet Specialist and certain of its officers, alleging violation of California state law in connection with the same alleged practices. The settlement with the SEC and NYSE, described above, does not resolve the putative class actions, although a portion of the payment is expected to be allocated to restitution for allegedly disadvantaged customers.

 

Note 8 - Shareholders’ Equity and Earnings Per Common Share

 

The change in Accumulated OCI includes pre-tax net unrealized losses related to available-for-sale debt and marketable equity securities, foreign currency translation adjustments, derivatives and other of $317 million and $1.4 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The change in Accumulated OCI also includes adjustments for gains (losses) in the Consolidated Statement of Income during the current period that had been included in Accumulated OCI in previous period ends. Pre-tax adjustments for gains included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 were $584 million and $130 million, respectively. The adjusted pre-tax net unrealized losses in Accumulated OCI was $901 million with a related income tax benefit of $306 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $1.5 billion and $379 million, respectively, for the same period in 2003.

 

The Corporation has, from time to time, sold put options on its common stock to independent third parties. The put option program was designed to partially offset the cost of share repurchases. For additional information on the put option program, see Note 14 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

16


The calculation of earnings per common share and diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 is presented below.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions, except per share information; shares in thousands)


   2004

    2003

 

Earnings per common share

                

Net income

   $ 2,681     $ 2,424  

Preferred stock dividends

     (1 )     (1 )
    


 


Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 2,680     $ 2,423  
    


 


Average common shares issued and outstanding

     1,440,153       1,499,405  
    


 


Earnings per common share

   $ 1.86     $ 1.62  
    


 


Diluted earnings per common share

                

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 2,680     $ 2,423  

Preferred stock dividends

     1       1  
    


 


Net income available to common shareholders and assumed conversions

   $ 2,681     $ 2,424  
    


 


Average common shares issued and outstanding

     1,440,153       1,499,405  

Dilutive potential common shares (1, 2)

     26,548       26,883  
    


 


Total diluted average common shares issued and outstanding

     1,466,701       1,526,288  
    


 


Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 1.83     $ 1.59  
    


 



(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, average options to purchase 20 million and 35 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of earnings per common share because they were antidilutive.
(2) Includes incremental shares from assumed conversions of convertible preferred stock, restricted stock units and stock options.

 

Note 9 – Pension and Postretirement Plans

 

The Corporation sponsors noncontributory trusteed qualified pension plans that cover substantially all officers and employees, a number of noncontributory, nonqualified pension plans and postretirement health and life plans. A detailed discussion of these plans is provided in Note 16 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

Net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, included the following components:

 

     Qualified
Pension Plan


    Nonqualified
Pension Plans


   Postretirement
Health and
Life Plans


 
     Three Months
Ended
March 31


   

Three Months
Ended

March 31


  

Three Months
Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

    2004

   2003

   2004

    2003

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost

                                              

Service cost

   $ 54     $ 49     $ 7    $ 6    $ 3     $ 3  

Interest cost

     130       129       11      9      17       17  

Expected return on plan assets

     (190 )     (184 )     —        —        (3 )     (4 )

Amortization of transition obligation

     —         —         —        —        8       8  

Amortization of prior service cost

     14       14       1      1      —         1  

Recognized net actuarial loss

     20       12       5      1      22       22  
    


 


 

  

  


 


Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 28     $ 20     $ 24    $ 17    $ 47     $ 47  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 

Contributions

 

The Corporation previously disclosed that it expected to contribute at least a combined $87 million to its Qualified Pension Plan, Nonqualified Pension Plans and Postretirement Health and Life Plans in 2004. At March 31, 2004, this estimate has not changed. At March 31, 2004, the Corporation had contributed $22 million to these plans.

 

 

17


Note 10 – Business Segment Information

 

The Corporation reports the results of its operations through four business segments: Consumer and Commercial Banking, Asset Management, Global Corporate and Investment Banking and Equity Investments. Certain operating segments have been aggregated into a single business segment. The Corporation may periodically reclassify business segment results based on modifications to its management reporting and profitability measurement methodologies and changes in organizational alignment.

 

Consumer and Commercial Banking provides a diversified range of products and services to individuals and small businesses through multiple delivery channels. The segment also includes commercial lending and treasury management services primarily to middle market companies with annual revenue between $10 million and $500 million. Asset Management offers investment, fiduciary and comprehensive banking and credit expertise; asset management services to institutional clients, high-net-worth individuals and retail customers; and investment, securities and financial planning services to affluent and high-net-worth individuals. Global Corporate and Investment Banking provides capital-raising solutions, advisory services, derivatives capabilities, equity and debt sales and trading for our corporate, commercial and institutional clients as well as traditional bank deposit and loan products, cash management and payment services to large corporations and institutional clients. Equity Investments includes Principal Investing, which is comprised of a diversified portfolio of investments in privately-held and publicly-traded companies at all stages, from start-up to buyout.

 

Corporate Other consists primarily of noninterest income (primarily from the sale of debt securities and whole loan mortgages) and noninterest expense associated with the ALM process and the results of certain consumer finance and commercial lending businesses that are being liquidated.

 

Total revenue includes net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and noninterest income. The net interest income of the business segments includes the results of a funds transfer pricing process that matches assets and liabilities with similar interest rate sensitivity and maturity characteristics. Net interest income also reflects an allocation of net interest income generated by assets and liabilities used in the Corporation’s ALM process. The business segments’ Provision for credit losses is based on the corporate method.

 

Certain expenses not directly attributable to a specific business segment are allocated to the segments based on pre-determined means. The most significant of these expenses include data processing and item processing costs. Data processing costs are allocated to the segments based on equipment usage. Additionally, item processing costs are allocated to the segments based on the volume of items processed for each segment.

 

18


The following table presents results of operations, selected performance ratios and selected average balance sheet categories for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 for each business segment.

 

Business Segment Summary

 

For the three months ended March 31

 

     Total Corporation

    Consumer and
Commercial Banking (1)


    Asset Management (1)

 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net interest income (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

   $ 5,970     $ 5,361     $ 4,534     $ 3,761     $ 214     $ 179  

Noninterest income

     3,717       3,693       2,095       2,300       455       407  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total revenue

     9,687       9,054       6,629       6,061       669       586  

Provision for credit losses

     624       833       429       488       7       (4 )

Gains on sales of debt securities

     495       273       1       9       —         —    

Amortization of intangibles

     54       54       44       44       1       1  

Other noninterest expense

     5,363       4,671       3,225       2,981       581       375  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     4,141       3,769       2,932       2,557       80       214  

Income tax expense

     1,460       1,345       1,078       953       27       75  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 2,681     $ 2,424     $ 1,854     $ 1,604     $ 53     $ 139  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Shareholder value added

   $ 1,405     $ 1,140     $ 1,269     $ 1,111     $ (27 )   $ 67  

Net interest yield (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

     3.22 %     3.52 %     4.88 %     4.74 %     3.37 %     3.09 %

Return on average equity

     22.16       19.92       32.38       32.87       7.18       20.93  

Efficiency ratio (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

     55.92       52.18       49.31       49.91       87.02       64.13  

Average:

                                                

Total loans and leases

   $ 374,077     $ 345,662     $ 197,681     $ 186,706     $ 24,430     $ 22,706  

Total assets

     849,625       713,780       396,683       344,438       27,439       25,186  

Total deposits

     425,075       385,760       326,485       295,504       14,925       13,030  

Common equity/Allocated equity

     48,632       49,343       23,028       19,785       2,966       2,688  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

For the three months ended March 31

 

     Global Corporate and
Investment Banking (1)


    Equity Investments (1)

    Corporate Other

 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net interest income (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

   $ 1,127     $ 1,254     $ (35 )   $ (37 )   $ 130     $ 204  

Noninterest income

     1,143       1,065       17       (70 )     7       (9 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total revenue

     2,270       2,319       (18 )     (107 )     137       195  

Provision for credit losses

     (23 )     272       —         1       211       76  

Gains (losses) on sales of debt securities

     (7 )     (14 )     —         —         501       278  

Amortization of intangibles

     7       7       1       1       1       1  

Other noninterest expense

     1,564       1,325       28       24       (35 )     (34 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income before income taxes

     715       701       (47 )     (133 )     461       430  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     252       241       (17 )     (48 )     120       124  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 463     $ 460     $ (30 )   $ (85 )   $ 341     $ 306  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Shareholder value added

   $ 225     $ 173     $ (86 )   $ (142 )   $ 24     $ (69 )

Net interest yield (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

     1.64 %     2.23 %     n/m       n/m       n/m       n/m  

Return on average equity

     20.87       17.20       (5.68 )%     (16.48 )%     n/m       n/m  

Efficiency ratio (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

     69.22       57.43       n/m       n/m       n/m       n/m  

Average:

                                                

Total loans and leases

   $ 40,785     $ 56,543     $ 87     $ 434     $ 111,094     $ 79,273  

Total assets

     323,673       273,477       6,182       6,115       95,648       64,564  

Total deposits

     69,186       67,315       —         —         14,479       9,911  

Common equity/Allocated equity (2)

     8,917       10,855       2,093       2,103       11,628       13,912  
    


 


 


 


 


 



n/m = not meaningful

(1) There were no material intersegment revenues among the segments.
(2) Equity in Corporate Other represents equity of the Corporation not allocated to the business segments.

 

19


Reconciliations of the four business segments’ revenue and net income to consolidated totals follow:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Segments’ revenue

   $ 9,550     $ 8,859  

Adjustments:

                

Revenue associated with unassigned capital

     105       164  

ALM activities (1)

     (18 )     163  

Liquidating businesses

     84       110  

Fully taxable-equivalent basis adjustment

     (169 )     (152 )

Other

     (34 )     (242 )
    


 


Consolidated revenue

   $ 9,518     $ 8,902  
    


 


Segments’ net income

   $ 2,340     $ 2,118  

Adjustments, net of taxes:

                

Earnings associated with unassigned capital

     71       110  

ALM activities (1, 2)

     313       294  

Liquidating businesses

     (31 )     5  

Other

     (12 )     (103 )
    


 


Consolidated net income

   $ 2,681     $ 2,424  
    


 



(1) Includes whole mortgage loan sale gains for the three months ended March 31, 2003.
(2) Includes Gains on sales of debt securities of $338 and $186 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

The adjustments presented in the table above include consolidated income and expense amounts not specifically allocated to individual business segments.

 

20


Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

This report on Form 10-Q contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would” and “could” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers of the Bank of America Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Corporation) Form 10-Q should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements and should consider all uncertainties and risks throughout this report as well as those discussed in the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report. The statements are representative only as of the date they are made, and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

 

Possible events or factors that could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the following: changes in general economic conditions and economic conditions in the geographic regions and industries in which the Corporation operates which may affect, among other things, the level of nonperforming assets, charge-offs and provision expense; changes in the interest rate environment which may reduce interest margins and impact funding sources; changes in foreign exchange rates; adverse movements and volatility in debt and equity capital markets; changes in market rates and prices which may adversely impact the value of financial products including securities, loans, deposits, debt and derivative financial instruments and other similar financial instruments; political conditions and related actions by the United States military abroad which may adversely affect the Corporation’s businesses and economic conditions as a whole; liabilities resulting from litigation and regulatory investigations, including costs, expenses, settlements and judgments; changes in domestic or foreign tax laws, rules and regulations as well as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or other governmental agencies’ interpretations thereof; various monetary and fiscal policies and regulations, including those determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), the Office of the Comptroller of Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and state regulators; competition with other local, regional and international banks, thrifts, credit unions and other nonbank financial institutions; ability to grow core businesses; ability to develop and introduce new banking-related products, services and enhancements and gain market acceptance of such products; mergers and acquisitions and their integration into the Corporation; decisions to downsize, sell or close units or otherwise change the business mix of the Corporation; and management’s ability to manage these and other risks.

 

21


The Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates in 21 states and the District of Columbia and has offices located in 30 countries. The Corporation provides a diversified range of banking and certain nonbanking financial services and products both domestically and internationally through four business segments: Consumer and Commercial Banking, Asset Management, Global Corporate and Investment Banking and Equity Investments. At March 31, 2004, the Corporation had $816.0 billion in assets and approximately 134,400 full-time equivalent employees. Notes to the consolidated financial statements referred to in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition are incorporated by reference into Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

Performance overview for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003:

 

Net income totaled $2.7 billion, or $1.83 per diluted common share, 11 percent and 15 percent increases, respectively, from $2.4 billion, or $1.59 per diluted common share. The return on average common shareholders’ equity was 22 percent compared to 20 percent.

 

Within Consumer and Commercial Banking, customer satisfaction continued to increase, resulting in better retention and increased opportunities to deepen relationships with our customers. Highly satisfied customers, those who rate us a 9 or 10 on a 10- point scale, increased 11 percent. This equates to an increase of 1.4 million customers being highly satisfied with their banking experience.

 

Our active online banking customers reached 8.1 million, a 55 percent increase. Forty-seven percent of consumer households that hold checking accounts use online banking. Active bill pay customers increased 79 percent to 3.7 million. Active bill pay users paid $16.3 billion of bills compared to $9.6 billion.

 

Debit card purchase volumes grew 26 percent while consumer credit card purchases increased 24 percent. Total managed card revenue, including interest income, increased 23 percent. Average managed consumer credit card receivables grew 26 percent due to new account growth from direct marketing programs and the branch network.

 

Within Asset Management, total assets under management increased 14 percent to $337.2 billion at March 31, 2004 led by Marsico Capital Management, LLC’s (Marsico) assets under management, which increased to $33.2 billion at March 31, 2004 compared to $16.5 billion at March 31, 2003.

 

Global Corporate and Investment Banking gained market share in areas such as high-yield debt and leveraged loans during the quarter. Continued improvements in credit quality in our large corporate portfolio drove the $295 million, or 108 percent, decrease in provision for credit losses in Global Corporate and Investment Banking. Net charge-offs in the large corporate portfolio continued at their recent low levels, decreasing 65 percent from a year ago. In addition, large corporate nonperforming assets dropped $309 million, or 24 percent from year-end levels.

 

Financial highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003:

 

Net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis increased $609 million to $6.0 billion. This increase was driven by higher asset and liability management (ALM) portfolio levels (consisting of securities and whole loan mortgages), higher consumer and middle market commercial loan levels, one more day of activity and higher core deposit funding levels. Partially offsetting these increases were reductions in the large corporate and foreign loan balances, and the continued runoff of previously exited consumer businesses, lower mortgage warehouse levels and a decrease in the contribution of trading-related instruments. The net interest yield on a fully taxable-equivalent basis declined 30 basis points (bps) to 3.22 percent due to the negative impact of increases in lower-yielding trading-related assets and our ALM portfolio repositioning partially offset by higher levels of higher-yielding consumer loans.

 

Noninterest income increased $24 million to $3.7 billion, due to increases in (i) Equity investment gains of $201 million due to higher cash gains on both Principal Investing and Parent Company investments, (ii) Card income of $114 million due to increased fees and interchange income, (iii) Investment and brokerage services of $74 million due to higher volumes related to increased market activity and (iv) Service charges of $62 million caused by account growth and seasonality; offset by decreases in (i) Mortgage banking income of $196 million caused by a decrease in the sales of loans to the secondary market, (ii) Other income of $146 million related to the reduction of

 

22


whole loan sale gains during the quarter and (iii) trading account profits of $111 million driven by the increase in the writedown of our mortgage banking assets as compared to a year ago.

 

Gains on sales of debt securities were $495 million and $273 million, respectively, as we continued to reposition the ALM portfolio in response to interest rate fluctuations.

 

The provision for credit losses declined $209 million to $624 million driven by a reduction in the provision for the large corporate portfolio of $295 million partially offset by an increase in the provision for credit losses in the held consumer credit card loan portfolio of $87 million, primarily a function of growth and continued seasoning in the portfolio. Nonperforming assets decreased $2.5 billion to $2.5 billion, or 0.66 percent of loans, leases and foreclosed properties at March 31, 2004 compared to 1.46 percent at March 31, 2003. This decline was driven by reduced levels of inflows to nonperforming assets, loan sales, increased returns to performing status and charge-offs. The decrease in nonperforming assets was concentrated in the commercial portfolio.

 

Noninterest expense increased $692 million, driven by higher Personnel costs of $303 million and increased Other general operating expenses of $278 million. Higher Personnel costs resulted from increased revenue-related incentives of $108 million and higher costs of employee benefits of $93 million. The increase in Other general operating expenses was related to the $375 million mutual fund settlement entered into during the quarter. This settlement amount was offset by a $90 million reserve to produce a net settlement expense of $285 million. This net settlement expense was divided equally between Asset Management and Global Corporate and Investment Banking for management reporting purposes. The financial impact was approximately $0.16 per diluted common share in the first quarter. As part of the mutual fund settlement, we agreed to reduce future fees by $16 million per year for five years for a total of $80 million. For more information on the mutual fund settlement see Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

Income tax expense was $1.3 billion reflecting an estimated effective tax rate of 32.5 percent compared to $1.2 billion and 33.0 percent, respectively.

 

On April 1, 2004, we completed our merger with FleetBoston Financial Corporation (FleetBoston) (the Merger) after obtaining final shareholder and regulatory approvals. FleetBoston is a diversified financial services company providing a comprehensive array of financial solutions to customers both domestically and internationally. We expect the Merger to create a banking institution with a truly national scope, with an increased presence in America’s growth and wealth markets and leading market shares throughout the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest and West regions of the United States. For more information on the Merger see Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

23


Table 1

 

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (1)

 

     2004 Quarter

    2003 Quarters

 

(Dollars in millions, except per share information)


   First

    Fourth

    Third

    Second

    First

 

Income statement

                                        

Net interest income

   $ 5,801     $ 5,586     $ 5,304     $ 5,365     $ 5,209  

Noninterest income

     3,717       4,049       4,446       4,262       3,693  

Total revenue

     9,518       9,635       9,750       9,627       8,902  

Provision for credit losses

     624       583       651       772       833  

Gains on sales of debt securities

     495       139       233       296       273  

Noninterest expense

     5,417       5,288       5,077       5,065       4,725  

Income before income taxes

     3,972       3,903       4,255       4,086       3,617  

Income tax expense

     1,291       1,177       1,333       1,348       1,193  

Net income

     2,681       2,726       2,922       2,738       2,424  

Average common shares issued and outstanding (in thousands)

     1,440,153       1,463,247       1,490,103       1,494,094       1,499,405  

Average diluted common shares issued and outstanding (in thousands)

     1,466,701       1,489,481       1,519,641       1,523,306       1,526,288  
    


 


 


 


 


Performance ratios

                                        

Return on average assets

     1.27 %     1.39 %     1.48 %     1.42 %     1.38 %

Return on average common shareholders’ equity

     22.16       22.42       23.74       21.86       19.92  

Total equity to total assets (period end)

     5.98       6.52       6.84       6.63       7.36  

Total average equity to total average assets

     5.73       6.19       6.22       6.49       6.92  

Dividend payout

     43.21       42.70       40.85       35.06       39.64  
    


 


 


 


 


Per common share data

                                        

Earnings

   $ 1.86     $ 1.86     $ 1.96     $ 1.83     $ 1.62  

Diluted earnings

     1.83       1.83       1.92       1.80       1.59  

Dividends paid

     0.80       0.80       0.80       0.64       0.64  

Book value

     33.71       33.26       33.83       34.06       33.38  
    


 


 


 


 


Average balance sheet

                                        

Total loans and leases

   $ 374,077     $ 371,071     $ 357,288     $ 350,279     $ 345,662  

Total assets

     849,625       780,534       786,153       775,084       713,780  

Total deposits

     425,075       418,840       414,569       405,307       385,760  

Long-term debt (2)

     78,852       70,596       66,788       68,927       67,399  

Common shareholders’ equity

     48,632       48,238       48,816       50,212       49,343  

Total shareholders’ equity

     48,686       48,293       48,871       50,269       49,400  
    


 


 


 


 


Capital ratios (period end)

                                        

Risk-based capital:

                                        

Tier 1

     7.73 %     7.85 %     8.25 %     8.08 %     8.20 %

Total

     11.46       11.87       12.17       11.95       12.29  

Leverage

     5.43       5.73       5.95       5.92       6.24  
    


 


 


 


 


Market price per share of common stock

                                        

Closing

   $ 80.98     $ 80.43     $ 78.04     $ 79.03     $ 66.84  

High closing

     82.76       82.50       83.53       79.89       72.48  

Low closing

     78.30       72.85       74.87       68.00       65.63  
    


 


 


 


 



(1) Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.
(2) Includes long-term debt related to trust preferred securities (Trust Securities).

 

Supplemental Financial Data

 

        In managing our business, we use certain performance measures and ratios not defined in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), including shareholder value added (SVA). We also calculate certain measures, such as net interest income, core net interest income, net interest yield and the efficiency ratio, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis. Other companies may define or calculate supplemental financial data differently. See Tables 2 and 3 for supplemental financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

SVA is a key measure of performance not defined by GAAP that is used in managing our growth strategy orientation and strengthening our focus on generating long-term growth and shareholder value. SVA is used in measuring the performance of our different business units and is an integral component for allocating resources. Each business segment has a goal for growth in SVA reflecting the individual segment’s business and customer strategy. Investment resources and initiatives are aligned with these SVA growth goals during the planning and forecasting process. Investment, relationship and profitability models all have SVA as a key measure to support the implementation of SVA growth goals. SVA is defined as cash basis earnings on an operating basis less a charge for the use of capital. Cash basis earnings is defined as net income adjusted to exclude amortization of intangibles. The

 

24


charge for the use of capital is calculated by multiplying 11 percent (management’s estimate of the shareholders’ minimum required rate of return on capital invested) by average total common shareholders’ equity at the corporate level and by average allocated equity at the business segment level. Equity is allocated to the business segments using a risk-adjusted methodology for each segment’s credit, market and operational risks. The nature of these risks is discussed further beginning on page 41. SVA increased 23 percent to $1.4 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the comparable 2003 period, due to both the $257 million increase in cash basis earnings and the $8 million effect of lower levels of allocated equity. For additional discussion of SVA, see Business Segment Operations beginning on page 30.

 

We review net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, which is a performance measure used by management in operating the business that we believe provides investors with a more accurate picture of the interest margin for comparative purposes. In this presentation, net interest income is adjusted to reflect tax-exempt interest income on an equivalent before-tax basis. For purposes of this calculation, we use the federal statutory tax rate of 35 percent. This measure ensures comparability of net interest income arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources. Net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis is also used in the calculation of the efficiency ratio and the net interest yield. The efficiency ratio, which is calculated by dividing noninterest expense by total revenue, measures how much it costs to produce one dollar of revenue. Net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis is also used in our business segment reporting.

 

Table 2

 

Supplemental Financial Data

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Shareholder value added

                

Net income

   $ 2,681     $ 2,424  

Amortization of intangibles

     54       54  
    


 


Cash basis earnings

     2,735       2,478  

Capital charge

     (1,330 )     (1,338 )
    


 


Shareholder value added

   $ 1,405     $ 1,140  
    


 


Fully taxable-equivalent basis data

                

Net interest income

   $ 5,970     $ 5,361  

Total revenue

     9,687       9,054  

Net interest yield

     3.22 %     3.52 %

Efficiency ratio

     55.92       52.18  
    


 


 

Additionally, we review core net interest income, which adjusts reported net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis for the impact of Global Corporate and Investment Banking trading-related activities and loans that we originated and sold into revolving credit card and commercial securitizations. Noninterest income, rather than net interest income and provision for credit losses, is recorded for assets that have been securitized as we are compensated for servicing the securitized assets and record servicing income and gains or losses on securitizations, where appropriate. We evaluate our trading results by combining trading-related net interest income with trading account profits, as discussed in Trading-related Revenue on page 29 and in the Global Corporate and Investment Banking business segment section beginning on page 33, as trading strategies are evaluated based on total revenue.

 

25


Table 3 below provides a reconciliation of net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis presented in Table 4 to core net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

Table 3

 

Core Net Interest Income

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Net interest income

                

As reported (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

   $ 5,970     $ 5,361  

Trading-related net interest income

     (577 )     (612 )

Impact of revolving securitizations

     38       98  
    


 


Core net interest income

   $ 5,431     $ 4,847  
    


 


Average earning assets

                

As reported

   $ 743,711     $ 613,092  

Trading-related earning assets

     (218,789 )     (158,392 )

Impact of revolving securitizations

     1,553       4,477  
    


 


Core average earning assets

   $ 526,475     $ 459,177  
    


 


Net interest yield on earning assets

                

As reported (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

     3.22 %     3.52 %

Impact of trading-related activities

     0.90       0.68  

Impact of revolving securitizations

     0.01       0.04  
    


 


Core net interest yield on earning assets

     4.13 %     4.24 %
    


 


 

Core net interest income increased $584 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from the comparable 2003 period as higher ALM portfolio levels, higher consumer and middle market commercial loan levels, one more day of activity and higher core deposit funding levels were partially offset by reductions in the large corporate and foreign loan balances and the continued runoff of previously exited consumer businesses, and lower mortgage warehouse levels.

 

Core average earning assets increased $67.3 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from the comparable 2003 period primarily due to higher levels of residential mortgages, credit card loans, and debt securities, partially offset by reductions in the levels of commercial loans.

 

The core net interest yield decreased 11 bps for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from the comparable 2003 period mainly due to the negative impact of declining rates net of ALM repositioning.

 

 

26


Table 4

 

Quarterly Average Balances and Interest Rates - Fully Taxable-equivalent Basis

 

     First Quarter 2004

    Fourth Quarter 2003

 

(Dollars in millions)


  

Average

Balance


  

Interest

Income/
Expense


   Yield/
Rate


   

Average

Balance


  

Interest

Income/
Expense


   Yield/
Rate


 

Earning assets

                                        

Time deposits placed and other short-term investments

   $ 12,268    $ 48    1.57 %   $ 11,231    $ 49    1.71 %

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

     113,761      434    1.53       96,713      506    2.08  

Trading account assets

     105,033      1,023    3.90       94,630      927    3.91  

Debt securities

     99,755      1,223    4.91       59,197      742    5.01  

Loans and leases (1):

                                        

Commercial - domestic

     95,931      1,562    6.55       95,648      1,670    6.93  

Commercial - foreign

     15,227      139    3.67       16,226      136    3.31  

Commercial real estate - domestic

     19,491      207    4.27       19,293      207    4.28  

Commercial real estate - foreign

     324      3    3.63       323      3    3.97  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total commercial

     130,973      1,911    5.87       131,490      2,016    6.09  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Residential mortgage

     141,898      1,960    5.53       142,482      1,931    5.41  

Home equity lines

     24,379      262    4.31       23,206      255    4.36  

Direct/Indirect consumer

     34,045      464    5.49       33,422      478    5.67  

Consumer finance

     5,490      104    7.56       5,798      108    7.38  

Credit card

     35,303      870    9.92       32,734      810    9.83  

Foreign consumer

     1,989      16    3.27       1,939      17    3.37  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total consumer

     243,104      3,676    6.07       239,581      3,599    5.98  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total loans and leases

     374,077      5,587    6.00       371,071      5,615    6.02  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Other earning assets

     38,817      426    4.41       42,370      388    3.66  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total earning assets (2)

     743,711      8,741    4.72       675,212      8,227    4.85  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Cash and cash equivalents

     23,185                   22,974              

Other assets, less allowance for loan and lease losses

     82,729                   82,348              
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total assets

   $ 849,625                 $ 780,534              
    

  

  

 

  

  

Interest-bearing liabilities

                                        

Domestic interest-bearing deposits:

                                        

Savings

   $ 26,159    $ 17    0.27 %   $ 25,494    $ 19    0.30 %

NOW and money market deposit accounts

     155,835      321    0.83       155,369      401    1.02  

Consumer CDs and IRAs

     75,341      567    3.03       73,246      475    2.58  

Negotiable CDs, public funds and other time deposits

     5,939      74    5.01       6,195      44    2.81  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total domestic interest-bearing deposits

     263,274      979    1.50       260,304      939    1.43  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Foreign interest-bearing deposits (3):

                                        

Banks located in foreign countries

     18,954      171    3.62       13,225      177    5.34  

Governments and official institutions

     4,701      19    1.63       2,654      11    1.58  

Time, savings and other

     21,054      37    0.71       20,019      51    1.02  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total foreign interest-bearing deposits

     44,709      227    2.04       35,898      239    2.65  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing deposits

     307,983      1,206    1.57       296,202      1,178    1.58  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings

     203,398      739    1.46       151,999      537    1.40  

Trading account liabilities

     34,543      335    3.90       38,298      317    3.28  

Long-term debt (4)

     78,852      491    2.49       70,596      450    2.55  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)

     624,776      2,771    1.78       557,095      2,482    1.77  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Noninterest-bearing sources:

                                        

Noninterest-bearing deposits

     117,092                   122,638              

Other liabilities

     59,071                   52,508              

Shareholders’ equity

     48,686                   48,293              
    

  

  

 

  

  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 849,625                 $ 780,534              
    

  

  

 

  

  

Net interest spread

                 2.94                   3.08  

Impact of noninterest-bearing sources

                 0.28                   0.31  
    

  

  

 

  

  

Net interest income/yield on earning assets

          $ 5,970    3.22 %          $ 5,745    3.39 %
    

  

  

 

  

  


(1) Nonperforming loans are included in the respective average loan balances. Income on such nonperforming loans is recognized on a cash basis.
(2) Interest income includes the impact of interest rate risk management contracts, which increased interest income on the underlying assets $715 in the first quarter of 2004 and $884, $925, $587 and $576 in the fourth, third, second and first quarters of 2003, respectively. These amounts were substantially offset by corresponding decreases in the income earned on the underlying assets. Interest expense includes the impact of interest rate risk management contracts, which increased interest expense on the underlying liabilities $183 in the first quarter of 2004 and $90, $141, $28 and $46 in the fourth, third, second and first quarters of 2003, respectively. These amounts were substantially offset by corresponding decreases in the interest paid on the underlying liabilities. For further information on interest rate contracts, see “Interest Rate Risk Management” beginning on page 55.
(3) Primarily consists of time deposits in denominations of $100,000 or more.
(4) Includes long-term debt related to Trust Securities.

 

27


 

 

    Third Quarter 2003

    Second Quarter 2003

    First Quarter 2003

 

(Dollars in millions)


 

Average

Balance


  

Interest

Income/
Expense


   Yield/
Rate


   

Average

Balance


  

Interest

Income/
Expense


   Yield/
Rate


   

Average

Balance


  

Interest

Income/
Expense


   Yield/
Rate


 

Earning assets

                                                           

Time deposits placed and other short-term investments

  $ 10,062    $ 41    1.63 %   $ 7,888    $ 39    1.99 %   $ 6,987    $ 43    2.49 %

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

    90,236      479    2.11       70,054      194    1.11       57,873      194    1.35  

Trading account assets

    96,105      991    4.11       99,129      1,022    4.13       99,085      1,053    4.27  

Debt securities

    63,423      616    3.89       94,017      1,005    4.28       66,186      769    4.65  

Loans and leases (1):

                                                           

Commercial - domestic

    96,086      1,719    7.10       100,721      1,746    6.95       103,663      1,836    7.18  

Commercial - foreign

    16,885      151    3.55       18,004      170    3.79       18,876      156    3.35  

Commercial real estate - domestic

    19,681      210    4.23       20,039      218    4.36       19,955      215    4.37  

Commercial real estate - foreign

    280      3    4.16       305      3    3.95       301      3    3.88  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total commercial

    132,932      2,083    6.22       139,069      2,137    6.16       142,795      2,210    6.27  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Residential mortgage

    130,948      1,656    5.05       120,754      1,703    5.64       113,695      1,582    5.59  

Home equity lines

    22,539      255    4.48       22,763      263    4.64       23,054      267    4.70  

Direct/Indirect consumer

    33,278      488    5.82       32,248      495    6.17       31,393      503    6.49  

Consumer finance

    6,528      121    7.39       7,244      137    7.58       8,012      154    7.76  

Credit card

    29,113      742    10.11       26,211      690    10.56       24,684      644    10.57  

Foreign consumer

    1,950      17    3.43       1,990      17    3.47       2,029      17    3.45  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total consumer

    224,356      3,279    5.82       211,210      3,305    6.27       202,867      3,167    6.30  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total loans and leases

    357,288      5,362    5.97       350,279      5,442    6.23       345,662      5,377    6.29  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Other earning assets

    60,194      539    3.56       42,133      452    4.30       37,299      441    4.77  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total earning assets (2)

    677,308      8,028    4.72       663,500      8,154    4.92       613,092      7,877    5.18  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Cash and cash equivalents

    22,660                   23,203                   21,699              

Other assets, less allowance for loan and lease losses

    86,185                   88,381                   78,989              
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total assets

  $ 786,153                 $ 775,084                 $ 713,780              
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Interest-bearing liabilities

                                                           

Domestic interest-bearing deposits:

                                                           

Savings

  $ 25,285    $ 20    0.31 %   $ 24,420    $ 35    0.58 %   $ 22,916    $ 34    0.59 %

NOW and money market deposit accounts

    151,424      249    0.65       146,284      295    0.81       142,338      291    0.83  

Consumer CDs and IRAs

    71,216      872    4.85       69,506      742    4.28       66,937      695    4.21  

Negotiable CDs, public funds and other time deposits

    7,771      25    1.27       12,912      45    1.41       3,598      16    1.78  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total domestic interest-bearing deposits

    255,696      1,166    1.81       253,122      1,117    1.77       235,789      1,036    1.78  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Foreign interest-bearing deposits (3):

                                                           

Banks located in foreign countries

    12,273      59    1.90       16,150      87    2.16       14,218      80    2.27  

Governments and official institutions

    2,032      6    1.21       2,392      8    1.42       1,785      6    1.31  

Time, savings and other

    18,792      47    1.00       19,209      57    1.18       18,071      61    1.38  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total foreign interest-bearing deposits

    33,097      112    1.35       37,751      152    1.61       34,074      147    1.75  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing deposits

    288,793      1,278    1.76       290,873      1,269    1.75       269,863      1,183    1.78  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings

    162,080      447    1.09       152,722      514    1.35       123,041      453    1.49  

Trading account liabilities

    36,903      345    3.71       38,610      316    3.28       34,858      308    3.58  

Long-term debt (4)

    66,788      481    2.88       68,927      531    3.08       67,399      572    3.40  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total interest-bearing liabilities (2)

    554,564      2,551    1.83       551,132      2,630    1.91       495,161      2,516    2.05  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Noninterest-bearing sources:

                                                           

Noninterest-bearing deposits

    125,776                   114,434                   115,897              

Other liabilities

    56,942                   59,249                   53,322              

Shareholders’ equity

    48,871                   50,269                   49,400              
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 786,153                 $ 775,084                 $ 713,780              
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Net interest spread

                2.89                   3.01                   3.13  

Impact of noninterest-bearing sources

                0.33                   0.32                   0.39  
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

Net interest income/yield on earning assets

         $ 5,477    3.22 %          $ 5,524    3.33 %          $ 5,361    3.52 %
   

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

  

 

28


Trading-related Revenue

 

Trading account profits represent the net amount earned from our trading positions, which include trading account assets and liabilities as well as derivative positions and mortgage banking certificates. Trading account profits, as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Income, do not include the net interest income recognized on trading positions or the related funding charge or benefit.

 

Trading-related revenue, which includes net interest income from trading-related positions and trading account profits in Noninterest income is presented in the following table. Not included are commissions from equity transactions which are recorded in Noninterest income as Investment and brokerage service income, however, we consider these to be an integral component to the overall business trading revenues. Trading-related revenue is derived from foreign exchange spot, forward and cross-currency contracts, fixed income and equity securities, and derivative contracts in interest rates, equities, credit, commodities and mortgage banking certificates.

 

Table 5

Trading-related Revenue(1)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Net interest income (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

   $ 577     $ 612  

Trading account profits

     3       114  
    


 


Total trading-related revenue

   $ 580     $ 726  
    


 


Trading-related revenue by product

                

Fixed income

   $ 212     $ 308  

Interest rate (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

     193       158  

Foreign exchange

     189       136  

Equities(2)

     3       121  

Commodities

     (2 )     51  
    


 


Market-based trading-related revenue

     595       774  

Credit portfolio hedges(3)

     (15 )     (48 )
    


 


Total trading-related revenue

   $ 580     $ 726  
    


 



(1) Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
(2) Equity revenues do not include commissions from equity transactions which were $172 and $140 for the three months ending March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
(3) Includes credit default swaps used for credit risk management.

 

Trading-related revenue decreased 20 percent to $580 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to a year ago, driven by decreases in both net interest income and trading account profits. The overall decrease was led by a decline in Equities revenue of $118 million, or 98 percent, but after including commissions on equity transactions, the decline was $86 million or 33 percent. The reduction in Equities revenue was driven by net losses on a single retained stock position. Also contributing to the drop was a decrease in revenue from fixed income products of $96 million. This decrease was due to the increase in losses related to the writedown of our Mortgage banking assets from $95 million in the first quarter of 2003 to $275 million in the first quarter of 2004 due to faster prepayment speeds and changes in other assumptions relative to our portfolio and a decrease of $44 million in mortgage-backed securities sales and trading activities partially offset by increased structured finance trading activities of $101 million. Also decreasing during the current quarter were commodities revenues by $53 million from a year ago due to a reduced risk profile and lower customer activity. The decreases were partially offset by a $53 million or 39 percent increase in foreign exchange revenue, which was the result of the market volatility of the dollar and increased customer activity and a $35 million increase in interest rate revenue.

 

29


Complex Accounting Estimates and Principles

 

Our significant accounting principles are described in Note 1 of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report and are essential in understanding Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition. Some of our accounting principles require significant judgment to estimate values of either assets or liabilities. In addition, certain accounting principles require significant judgment in applying the complex accounting principles to complicated transactions to determine the most appropriate treatment. We have established procedures and processes to facilitate making the judgments necessary to estimate the values of our assets and liabilities and to analyze complex transactions to prepare financial statements. For a complete discussion of our more judgmental and complex accounting estimates and principles, see Complex Accounting Estimates and Principles on pages 30 through 32 of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

See Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements for Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.

 

Business Segment Operations

 

We provide our customers and clients both traditional banking and nonbanking financial products and services through four business segments: Consumer and Commercial Banking, Asset Management, Global Corporate and Investment Banking and Equity Investments. Descriptions of each business segment and subsegments are disclosed in the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report on pages 32 through 38.

 

See Note 10 of the consolidated financial statements for additional business segment information including the allocation of certain expenses, selected financial information for the business segments and reconciliations to consolidated Total revenue and Net income amounts.

 

Consumer and Commercial Banking

 

Our Consumer and Commercial Banking strategy is to attract, retain and deepen customer relationships. A critical component of that strategy includes continuously improving customer satisfaction. We believe this focus will help us achieve our goal of being recognized as the best retail bank in America. Customers expressing the highest levels of satisfaction increased 11 percent at March 31, 2004 compared to March 31, 2003. Since first quarter 2003 we have added 1,435,000 net new checking accounts and 1,046,000 net new savings accounts. This growth resulted from the introduction of new products, advancement of our multicultural strategy and strong customer retention. Access to our services through online banking, which saw a 55 percent increase in active online subscribers, our network of domestic banking centers, card products, ATMs, telephone and Internet channels, and our product innovations, such as an expedited mortgage application process and new deposit products, all contributed to success with our customers.

 

Consumer and Commercial Banking drove our financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as total revenue increased $568 million, or nine percent. Net income rose $250 million, or 16 percent. The increase in net income partially offset by an increase in capital drove a $158 million, or 14 percent, increase in SVA.

 

Net interest income increased $773 million due to the net results of ALM activities, and overall consumer loan portfolio and deposit growth. Net interest income was positively impacted by the $11.0 billion, or six percent, increase in average loans and leases for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to the same period in 2003, driven by a $10.6 billion, or 43 percent, increase in average held credit card outstandings. Average commercial loans increased 4 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to a year ago.

 

Deposit growth also positively impacted net interest income. Higher consumer deposit balances as a result of government tax cuts, higher customer retention and our efforts to add new customers, as evidenced by the increase in net new checking and savings accounts, drove the $31.0 billion, or 10 percent, increase in average deposits for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

30


Significant Noninterest Income Components

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Service charges

   $ 1,114     $ 1,053  

Mortgage banking income

     209       405  

Card income

     795       681  

Trading account profits (losses)

     (290 )     (121 )

 

Increases in both consumer and corporate service charges led to the $61 million, or six percent, increase in service charge income. Consumer service charges increased $45 million, or six percent, to $813 million due primarily to a $43 million increase in deposit fees and ATM fees associated with growth in new accounts. Corporate service charges increased $16 million, or six percent, to $301 million mainly due to higher levels of letter of credit and bankers’ acceptance fees, and deposit account growth.

 

First mortgage loan originations decreased $9.0 billion to $23.8 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004, resulting from lower refinancing levels driven by relatively higher interest rates. First mortgage loan origination volume was composed of approximately $14.1 billion of retail loans and $9.7 billion of wholesale loans for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $22.0 billion and $10.8 billion, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2003. Increased mortgage prepayments, resulting from the refinancing boom, led to a $12.0 billion net decrease in the average portfolio of first mortgage loans serviced to $247.0 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to a year ago. Increased loan additions drove the increase in loans serviced for investors to $184.1 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $178.2 billion a year ago. A 30 percent decrease in the sales of loans to the secondary market and spread compression drove the $196 million decrease in Mortgage banking income. For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, loan sales to the secondary market were $16.3 billion and $23.3 billion, respectively.

 

Trading account profits (losses) primarily represent the net mark-to-market adjustments on mortgage banking assets and related derivative instruments used as an economic hedge on the assets. Impacting trading account profits (losses) for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was a $275 million negative impact on the value of Mortgage banking assets due to changes in servicing prepayment speeds and other servicing model assumptions. The value of Mortgage banking assets decreased to $2.2 billion at March 31, 2004 compared to $2.8 billion at December 31, 2003 due to negative mark-to-market adjustments, and normal paydowns and amortization offset by additions due to loan sales.

 

Strong debit and credit card performance resulted in a 17 percent increase in card income overall. The increase in debit card income of $24 million, or 11 percent, was due to a 26 percent increase in purchase volumes, as well as growth in active accounts, partially offset by a lower signature interchange rate. Credit card income increased $90 million, or 19 percent, resulting from higher interchange fees of $39 million (driven mainly by a 24 percent increase in credit card purchase volumes), overlimit fees of $18 million, merchant discount fees of $17 million, late fees of $17 million and cash advance fees of $10 million offset by lower excess servicing income of $27 million. Card income included activity from the securitized credit card portfolio of $14 million and $41 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Noninterest income, rather than net interest income and provision for credit losses, is recorded for assets that have been securitized as we are compensated for servicing the securitized assets and record servicing income and gains or losses on securitizations, where appropriate. New advances on previously securitized accounts will be recorded on our balance sheet after the revolving period of the securitization, which has the effect of increasing loans on our balance sheet and increasing net interest income and charge-offs, with a corresponding reduction in noninterest income. Average on-balance sheet credit card outstandings increased 43 percent, due to over 4 million new accounts and an increase of $2.9 billion in new advances on previously securitized balances that are recorded on our balance sheet after the revolving period of the securitization. Average managed credit card outstandings, which include securitized credit card loans, increased 26 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2004 due to new account growth from direct marketing programs and the branch network.

 

31


On January 23, 2004, the Federal District Court in the Eastern District of New York approved Visa U.S.A.’s previously entered into agreement in principle to settle the class action anti-trust lawsuit filed against it by Wal-Mart and other retailers (the settlement). The after-tax impact of the resulting reduction in interchange fees on net income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $22 million. While it is difficult to predict volume and interchange fees, we believe that, on an after-tax basis, the impact of the reduction in interchange fees will likely reduce net income in 2004 by approximately $21 million in both the second and third quarters and $22 million in the fourth quarter.

 

The decrease in the provision for credit losses of $59 million, or 12 percent relates to a decline in the provision related to commercial loans of $69 million and banking region products of $63 million partially offset by an increase in provision related to the held consumer credit card loan portfolio of $87 million.

 

Noninterest expense increased $244 million, or eight percent, due to increases in personnel expense of $95 million, data processing costs of $86 million and occupancy expense of $22 million. Personnel expense increased as a result of higher salaries and benefit cost related to fulfillment and sales groups, as well as new store openings.

 

Asset Management

 

Asset Management provides wealth and investment management services through three businesses: The Private Bank, which focuses on high-net-worth individuals and families; Banc of America Investments (BAI), providing investment and financial planning services to individuals; and Banc of America Capital Management (BACAP), the asset management group serving the needs of institutional clients, high-net-worth individuals and retail customers. Together, these businesses are focusing on attracting and deepening client relationships, with the ultimate goal of becoming America’s advisor of choice. Our Asset Management strategy is threefold: (i) to continue to expand distribution capabilities to reach key constituencies and markets; (ii) to complete the expansion and rollout of integrated wealth management models to better serve our clients’ financial needs; and (iii) to continue to strengthen and develop our full array of investment management products and services for individuals and institutions. BAI continued to increase the number of financial advisors and ended the current quarter with 1,215 financial advisors, an increase of 25 percent from a year ago. In addition, the Premier Banking and Investments partnership has developed an integrated financial services model and to date has opened 13 wealth centers. The Private Bank successfully completed the rollout of its high-net-worth model to all markets. BACAP has experienced growth in assets under management led by higher market valuations, sales in assets advised by Marsico and sales in the fee-based assets of BACAP’s consulting services group, which provides investment products to the Private Bank and BAI.

 

Total revenue increased $83 million, or 14 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004 although net income decreased 62 percent, due to the impact of the mutual fund settlement, which had a pre-tax effect of approximately $143 million, partially offset by an increase of $45 million in investment and brokerage services. For more information on the mutual fund settlement see Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements. SVA decreased by $94 million, or 140 percent, as the decrease in net income was combined with a marginal increase in capital levels.

 

Client Assets

 

     March 31

(Dollars in billions)


   2004

   2003

Assets under management

   $ 337.2    $ 297.0

Client brokerage assets

     91.0      90.8

Assets in custody

     50.6      45.1
    

  

Total client assets

   $ 478.8    $ 432.9
    

  

 

Assets under management, which consist largely of mutual funds, equities and bonds, generate fees based on a percentage of their market value. Compared to a year ago, assets under management increased $40.2 billion, or 14 percent, primarily due to a $40.7 billion, or 51 percent, increase in equities, led by improved market valuations and sales in assets advised by Marsico, and a $7.6 billion, 14 percent increase in fixed income assets partially offset by a

 

32


decline of $5.9 billion, or four percent, in money market assets. Client brokerage assets, a source of commission revenue, were flat versus the prior year. Client brokerage assets consist largely of investments in bonds, annuities, money market mutual funds and equities. Assets in custody increased $5.5 billion, or 12 percent, and represent trust assets administered for customers. Trust assets encompass a broad range of asset types including real estate, private company ownership interest, personal property and investments.

 

Net interest income increased 20 percent to $214 million as growth in deposits and loan balances combined with the net results of ALM activities drove the increase. Average deposits increased $1.9 billion, or 15 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Average loans and leases increased $1.7 billion, or eight percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

Significant Noninterest Income Components

 

    

Three Months
Ended

March 31


(Dollars in millions)


   2004

   2003

Asset management fees (1)

   $ 318    $ 282

Brokerage income

     105      96
    

  

Total investment and brokerage services

   $ 423    $ 378
    

  


(1) Includes personal and institutional asset management fees, mutual fund fees and fees earned on assets in custody.

 

Noninterest income increased $48 million, or 12 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004 due to an increase in Investment and brokerage services of $45 million driven by the $20 million impact of higher Marsico balances reflecting sales and market appreciation and an increase in brokerage sales revenue of $9 million.

 

Provision for credit losses remained low at $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

Noninterest expense increased $206 million, or 55 percent, due to Asset Management’s share of the mutual fund settlement, which amounted to approximately $143 million, and increased expenses associated with the addition of financial advisors.

 

Global Corporate and Investment Banking

 

Our Global Corporate and Investment Banking strategy is to align our resources with sectors where we can deliver value added financial advisory solutions to our issuer and investor clients. As we broaden and deepen our relationships with our clients, we expect to build leading market shares that should provide our shareholders sustainable revenue and SVA growth.

 

Our financial performance continues to be strong as total revenue was $2.3 billion, reflecting a $49 million, or two percent decrease from first quarter 2003, as market-based trading revenues, including commissions on equity transactions, declined $71 million with investment banking income and credit related revenues from loans and leases partially offsetting the decline as they increased $16 million and $13 million, respectively. Net income increased $3 million, or one percent and includes the impact of the charge taken for the mutual fund matter. Reduced credit costs, resulting from continued improvement in credit quality, more than offset the mutual fund charge. SVA increased by $52 million, or 30 percent, principally as a result of lower capital attributable to an improvement in credit quality.

 

Net interest income decreased $127 million, or 10 percent, to $1.1 billion. Driving this decline was the $15.8 billion, 28 percent decrease in average loans and leases for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Also, trading-related earning assets grew by $60.4 billion but the narrower margins from these assets only partially offset the overall decline. Average deposits increased $1.9 billion, or three percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004, despite decreases in compensating balances by the U.S. Treasury. Noninterest income increased $78 million, or seven percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004, as increases in investment and brokerage services, investment banking income, and equity investment gains were partially offset by a decline in trading account profits.

 

33


Investment banking income increased $16 million, or four percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as we continued to gain market share in leveraged loans and high-yield debt. The continued strong market share in high-yield debt more than offset the overall market decline for securities underwriting of equity offerings to drive a nine percent increase in securities underwriting fees.

 

Investment Banking Income

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31


(Dollars in millions)


   2004

   2003

Securities underwriting

   $ 218    $ 200

Syndications

     85      102

Advisory services

     77      59

Other

     9      12
    

  

Total

   $ 389    $ 373
    

  

 

Trading-related revenue, which includes net interest income from trading-related positions and trading account profits in noninterest income is presented in the following table. Not included are commissions from equity transactions which are recorded in Noninterest income as Investment and brokerage service income, however, we consider these to be an integral component to the overall business trading revenues.

 

Trading-related Revenue(1)

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Net interest income (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

   $ 577     $ 612  

Trading account profits

     268       303  
    


 


Total trading-related revenue

   $ 845     $ 915  
    


 


Trading-related revenue by product

                

Fixed income

   $ 508     $ 425  

Interest rate (fully taxable-equivalent basis)

     168       235  

Foreign exchange

     189       136  

Equities (2)

     (3 )     116  

Commodities

     (2 )     51  
    


 


Market-based trading-related revenue

     860       963  

Credit portfolio hedges (3)

     (15 )     (48 )
    


 


Total trading-related revenue

   $ 845     $ 915  
    


 



(1) Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified among products to conform to the current period presentation.
(2) Equity revenues do not include commissions from equity transactions which were $172 and $140 for the three months ending March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
(3) Includes credit default swaps used for credit risk management.

 

        Market-based trading-related revenue decreased by $103 million, or 11 percent. Fixed income continued to show strong results increasing $83 million, or 20 percent, driven by high yield debt and structured finance trading activity. Foreign exchange increased $53 million, or 39 percent, which was a result of the market volatility of the dollar and increased customer activity. More than offsetting these increases were declines in equities, interest rate and commodities revenues. Equities revenues declined by $119 million or 103 percent and after including commissions on equity transactions declined $87 million or 34 percent. The overall decline in equity trading-related revenues was driven by net losses on a single retained stock position. Interest rate revenues declined by $67 million or 29 percent largely due to reduced corporate customer activity and lower trading-related profits in the face of market uncertainty over the interest rate environment. Commodities revenue declined $53 million due to a reduced risk profile and lower customer activity.

 

34


Continued improvements in credit quality in our large corporate portfolio drove the $295 million, or 108 percent, decrease in provision for credit losses. Driving this decrease was the low level of net charge-offs during the first quarter 2004 of $96 million in the large corporate portfolio, a decline of 65 percent from a year ago. Additionally, the large corporate nonperforming assets and criticized exposure decreases were greater in the first quarter of 2004 as compared to the first quarter of 2003.

 

Noninterest expense increased $239 million, or 18 percent, due to Global Corporate and Investment Banking’s share of the mutual fund settlement, which amounted to approximately $143 million, higher incentive compensation for market-based activities of $59 million and increased expenses for legal fees of $25 million related to regulatory and compliance matters.

 

Equity Investments

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2004, revenue increased $89 million, or 83 percent. Equity Investments had a net loss of $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to a net loss of $85 million for the same period in 2003. The improvements were primarily due to higher cash gains driven by increasing liquidity in the private equity markets. SVA increased by $56 million, or 39 percent, due to the improvement in the net loss.

 

The following table presents the equity investment portfolio in Principal Investing by major industry at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

Equity Investments in the Principal Investing Portfolio

 

(Dollars in millions)


   March 31,
2004


   December 31,
2003


Consumer discretionary

   $ 1,406    $ 1,435

Industrials

     792      876

Information technology

     746      741

Telecommunications services

     587      639

Health care

     349      385

Financials

     306      332

Materials

     262      266

Real estate

     228      229

Consumer staples

     198      245

Individual trusts, nonprofits, government

     48      48

Energy

     30      29

Utilities

     29      35
    

  

Total

   $ 4,981    $ 5,260
    

  

 

The following table presents the equity investment gains (losses) in Principal Investing.

 

Equity Investment Gains (Losses) in Principal Investing

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Cash gains

   $ 101     $ 45  

Impairments

         (99 )         (77 )

Fair value adjustments

     (13 )     (41 )
    


 


Total

   $ (11 )   $ (73 )
    


 


 

Net interest income consists primarily of the internal funding cost associated with the carrying value of investments.

 

35


Noninterest income primarily consists of equity investment gains (losses). While we experienced higher impairment charges of $99 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $77 million for the same period in 2003, improvements in the private equity markets resulted in a 124 percent increase in cash gains for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to the same period in 2003.

 

Corporate Other

 

Corporate Other consists primarily of noninterest income (primarily from the sale of debt securities and whole loan mortgages) and noninterest expense associated with the ALM process and the results of certain consumer finance and commercial lending businesses that are being liquidated.

 

Total revenue decreased $58 million, or 30 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Net income increased $35 million, or 11 percent.

 

Net interest income decreased $74 million, or 36 percent, primarily due to the continued run-off of certain consumer finance and commercial lending businesses that are being liquidated. Average loans and leases increased $31.8 billion, or 40 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004, due to the ALM process. Average deposits increased $4.6 billion, or 46 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

Noninterest income increased $16 million to $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, resulting from increases in trading account profits of $94 million related to a loss in the first quarter of 2003, an increase in equity investment gains of $74 million driven by gains on Parent Company investments and the increase in the equity in the earnings of our investment in Grupo Financiero Santander Serfin (GFSS) of $28 million. These increases were offset by a decrease in gains on whole loan mortgage sales of $242 million to zero during the quarter.

 

Provision for credit losses in Corporate Other increased from first quarter 2003 levels associated with the previously exited consumer businesses, changes to components of the formula and other factors.

 

Gains on sales of debt securities for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, were $501 million and $278 million, respectively, as we continued to reposition the ALM portfolio in response to changes in interest rates.

 

Noninterest expense remained relatively flat at negative $34 million.

 

Managing Risk

 

Our management governance structure enables us to manage all major aspects of our business through an integrated planning and review process that includes strategic, financial, associate and risk planning. We derive much of our revenue from managing risk from customer transactions for profit. Through our management governance structure, risk and return are evaluated with a goal of producing sustainable revenue, reducing earnings volatility and increasing shareholder value. Our business exposes us to four major risks: liquidity, credit, market and operational. For a more detailed discussion of our risk management activities, see pages 38 through 39 of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

Liquidity Risk Management

 

Liquidity Risk

 

Liquidity is the ongoing ability to accommodate liability maturities and deposit withdrawals, fund asset growth and meet contractual obligations through unconstrained access to funding at reasonable market rates. Liquidity management involves maintaining ample and diverse funding capacity, liquid assets and other sources of cash to accommodate fluctuations in asset and liability levels due to changes in our business operations or unanticipated events. A more detailed discussion on our liquidity risk is included in the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report on pages 40 through 44.

 

36


One ratio used to monitor trends is the “loan to domestic deposit” (LTD) ratio. The LTD ratio reflects the percent of loans that could be funded by domestic deposits. A ratio below 100 percent would indicate that market-based funding would not be needed to fund new loans; conversely, a ratio above 100 percent would indicate that market-based funds would be needed to fund new loans. The ratio was 97 percent at March 31, 2004 compared to 98 percent at December 31, 2003. For further discussion see Deposits and Other Funding Sources below.

 

We originate loans both for retention on our balance sheet and for distribution. As part of our “originate to distribute” strategy, commercial loan originations are distributed through syndication structures, and residential mortgages originated by the mortgage group are frequently distributed in the secondary market. In connection with our balance sheet management activities, we may retain mortgage loans originated as well as purchase and sell loans based on our assessment of market conditions.

 

Deposits and Other Funding Sources

 

Deposits are a key source of funding. Table 4 provides information on the average amounts of deposits and the rates paid by deposit category. Average deposits increased $39.3 billion to $425.1 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2003 due to a $27.5 billion increase in average domestic interest-bearing deposits, a $10.6 billion increase in average foreign interest-bearing deposits and a $1.2 billion increase in average noninterest-bearing deposits. We categorize our deposits into either core or market-based deposits. Core deposits, which are generally customer-based, are an important stable, low-cost funding source and typically react more slowly to interest rate changes than market-based deposits. Core deposits exclude negotiable CDs, public funds, other domestic time deposits and foreign interest-bearing deposits. Average core deposits increased $26.3 billion to $374.4 billion, an 8 percent increase from a year ago. The increase was due to the growth in NOW and money market deposits of $13.5 billion, consumer CDs and IRAs of $8.4 billion, savings of $3.2 billion and noninterest-bearing deposits of $1.2 billion reflecting new account growth and efforts to deepen the relationship of existing customers. Average market-based deposit funding increased $13.0 billion to $50.6 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003. The increase was due to a $10.6 billion increase in foreign interest-bearing deposits and a $2.4 billion increase in negotiable CDs, public funds and other domestic time deposits. Deposits, on average, represented 50 percent and 54 percent of total sources of funds for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Additional sources of funds include short-term borrowings, long-term debt and shareholders’ equity. Average short-term borrowings, a relatively low-cost source of funds, were up $80.4 billion to $203.4 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003 due to increases in securities sold under agreements to repurchase of $49.3 billion, commercial paper of $15.6 billion, other short-term borrowings of $10.4 billion and notes payable of $7.2 billion that were used to fund asset growth or facilitate trading activities offset by a decrease of $2.3 billion in federal funds purchased. Issuances and repayments of long-term debt were $7.6 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

Obligations and Commitments

 

We have contractual obligations to make future payments on debt and lease agreements. Additionally, in the normal course of business, we enter into contractual arrangements whereby we commit to future purchases of products or services from unaffiliated parties. These obligations are more fully discussed in Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements and Notes 12 and 13 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

Many of our lending relationships contain both funded and unfunded elements. The funded portion is reflected on our balance sheet. The unfunded component of these commitments is not recorded on our balance sheet until a draw is made under the loan facility. These commitments, as well as guarantees, are more fully discussed in Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

37


The following table summarizes the total unfunded, or off-balance sheet, credit extension commitment amounts by expiration date. At March 31, 2004, charge cards (nonrevolving card lines) to individuals and government entities guaranteed by the U.S. government in the amount of $13.4 billion (related outstandings of $251 million) were not included in credit card line commitments in the table below.

 

Table 6

 

Credit Extension Commitments

 

     March 31, 2004

(Dollars in millions)


   Expires in
1 year
or less


   Thereafter

   Total

Loan commitments(1)

   $ 86,109    $ 131,971    $ 218,080

Standby letters of credit and financial guarantees

     17,985      11,983      29,968

Commercial letters of credit

     2,755      295      3,050
    

  

  

Legally binding commitments

     106,849      144,249      251,098

Credit card lines

     88,231      8,782      97,013
    

  

  

Total

   $ 195,080    $ 153,031    $ 348,111
    

  

  


(1) Equity commitments of $1,575 related to obligations to fund existing equity investments were included in loan commitments at March 31, 2004.

 

On- and Off-balance Sheet Financing Entities

 

In addition to traditional lending, we also support our customers’ financing needs by facilitating their access to the commercial paper markets. These markets provide an attractive, lower-cost financing alternative for our customers. Our customers sell assets, such as high-grade trade or other receivables or leases, to a commercial paper financing entity, which in turn issues high-grade short-term commercial paper that is collateralized by the assets sold. The purpose and use of these types of entities are more fully discussed in the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report beginning on page 42.

 

We receive fees for providing combinations of liquidity, standby letters of credit (SBLCs) or similar loss protection commitments, and derivatives to the commercial paper financing entities. We manage our credit risk on these commitments by subjecting them to our normal underwriting and risk management processes. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Corporation had off-balance sheet liquidity commitments and SBLCs to these financing entities of $25.8 billion and $23.5 billion, respectively. Substantially all of these liquidity commitments and SBLCs mature within one year. These amounts are included in Table 6. Net revenues earned from fees associated with these off-balance sheet financing entities were approximately $48 million and $88 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December 2003) “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN 46R) which addresses variable interest entities (VIEs). FIN 46R is an update of FASB Interpretation No. 46 “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN 46) and contains different implementation dates based on the types of entities subject to the standard and based on whether a company has adopted FIN 46. We adopted FIN 46 early in July 2003 and adopted FIN 46R as of March 31, 2004. As a result of the adoption of FIN 46R, there was no material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. At March 31, 2004, the consolidated assets and liabilities of one multi-seller asset-backed commercial paper conduits were reflected in Available-for-sale debt securities, Other assets, and Commercial paper and other short-term borrowings in the Global Corporate and Investment Banking business segment. At March 31, 2004, we held $5.1 billion of assets of this entity while our maximum loss exposure associated with this entity including unfunded lending commitments was approximately $5.6 billion.

 

In addition, to control our capital position, diversify funding sources and provide customers with commercial paper investments, from time to time we will sell assets to off-balance sheet commercial paper entities. The commercial paper entities are Qualified Special Purpose Entities that have been isolated beyond our reach or that of our creditors, even in the event of bankruptcy or other receivership. Assets sold to the entities consist of high-grade corporate or municipal bonds, collateralized debt obligations and asset-backed securities. The purpose and use of these types of entities are more fully discussed in the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report beginning on page 42.

 

38


We also receive fees for the services we provide to the entities, and we manage any credit or market risk on commitments or derivatives through normal underwriting and risk management processes. Derivative activity related to these entities is included in Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Corporation had off-balance sheet liquidity commitments, SBLCs and other financial guarantees to the financing entities of $5.5 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. Substantially all of these liquidity commitments, SBLCs and other financial guarantees mature within one year. These amounts are included in Table 6. Net revenues earned from fees associated with these entities were $8 million and $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Because we provide liquidity and credit support to these financing entities, our credit ratings and changes thereto will affect the borrowing cost and liquidity of these entities. In addition, significant changes in counterparty asset valuation and credit standing may also affect the liquidity of the commercial paper issuance. Disruption in the commercial paper markets may result in our having to fund under these commitments and SBLCs discussed above. We seek to manage these risks, along with all other credit and liquidity risks, within our policies and practices. See Notes 1 and 6 of the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of off-balance sheet financing entities.

 

39


Capital Management

 

The final component of liquidity risk is capital management, which focuses on the level of shareholders’ equity. Shareholders’ equity was $48.8 billion at March 31, 2004 compared to $48.0 billion at December 31, 2003, an increase of $796 million. This increase was driven by Net income of $2.7 billion, Common stock issued under employee plans and related tax benefits of $842 million, and Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale debt and marketable equity securities of $661 million offset by Net unrealized losses on derivatives of $1.3 billion, dividends paid of $1.2 billion and common share repurchases of $973 million. Table 7 presents the monthly share repurchase activity for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, including total common shares repurchased under announced programs, weighted average per share price and the remaining buyback authority under announced programs.

 

Table 7

 

Monthly Common Share Repurchases

 

(Dollars in millions, except per share

information; shares in thousands)


   Total Common
Shares Repurchased
under Announced
Programs (1)


  

Weighted
Average

Per Share
Price (1)


   Remaining Buyback Authority
under Announced Programs (2)


         Dollars

   Shares

January 1-31, 2004

   6,273    $ 79.94    $ 12,823    107,969

February 1-29, 2004

   2,380      81.60      12,629    105,589

March 1-31, 2004

   3,500      79.42      12,351    102,089
    
                  

Three months ended March 31, 2004

   12,153    $ 80.11            
    
  

  

  

(Dollars in millions, except per share

information; shares in thousands)


   Total Common
Shares Repurchased
under Announced
Programs (3)


   Weighted
Average
Per Share
Price (3)


   Remaining Buyback
Authority under
Announced Programs (4)


         Dollars

   Shares

January 1-31, 2003

   3,200    $ 70.54    $ 14,854    150,385

February 1-28, 2003

   10,000      68.79      14,166    140,385

March 1-31, 2003

   5,200      69.17      13,807    135,185
    
                  

Three months ended March 31, 2003

   18,400    $ 69.20            
    
  

  

  

(1) Reduced Shareholders’ equity by $973 and increased diluted earnings per common share by $0.01. These repurchases were partially offset by the issuance of 16 million shares of common stock under employee plans, which increased Shareholders’ equity by $842, net of $218 of deferred compensation related to restricted stock awards, and decreased diluted earnings per common share by $0.01 for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
(2) On January 22, 2003, our Board of Directors (the Board) authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 130 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $12.5 billion. On January 28, 2004, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 90 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost not to exceed $9.0 billion and to be completed within a period of 18 months.
(3) Reduced Shareholders’ equity by $1.3 billion and increased diluted earnings per common share by $0.01. These repurchases were partially offset by the issuance of 15 million shares of common stock under employee plans, which increased Shareholders’ equity by $645, net of $173 of deferred compensation related to restricted stock awards, and decreased diluted earnings per common share by $0.01 for the three months ended March 31, 2003.
(4) On December 11, 2001, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 130 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of up to $10.0 billion. This repurchase plan was completed during the second quarter of 2003. On January 22, 2003, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 130 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $12.5 billion.

 

We will continue to repurchase shares, from time to time, in the open market or private transactions through our previously approved repurchase plans.

 

        As part of the SVA calculation, equity is allocated to business units based on an assessment of risk. The allocated amount of capital varies according to the risk characteristics of the individual business segments and the products they offer. Capital is allocated separately based on the following types of risk: credit, market and operational. Average common equity allocated to business units was $37.0 billion and $35.4 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Average unallocated common equity (not allocated to business units) was $11.6 billion and $13.9 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

40


As a regulated financial services company, we are governed by certain regulatory capital requirements. Presented in Table 8 are the regulatory capital ratios, actual capital amounts and minimum required capital amounts for the Corporation, Bank of America N.A. and Bank of America N.A. (USA) at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003. As of March 31, 2004, we were classified as “well-capitalized” for regulatory purposes, the highest classification. For additional information on the regulatory capital ratios along with a description of the components of risk-based capital, capital adequacy requirements and prompt corrective action provisions, see Note 15 of the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

The capital treatment of Trust Securities is currently under review by the FRB due to the issuing trust companies being deconsolidated under FIN 46. For additional information on the capital treatment of Trust Securities see the Capital Management section beginning on page 43 of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report. At March 31, 2004, the consolidated assets and liabilities of one multi-seller asset-backed commercial paper conduit was approximately $5.1 billion. See Note 6 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information on FIN 46.

 

Table 8

 

Regulatory Capital

 

(Dollars in millions)


   March 31, 2004

   December 31, 2003

   Actual

   Minimum
Required(1)


   Actual

   Minimum
Required(1)


   Ratio

    Amount

      Ratio

    Amount

  

Risk-based capital

                                       

Tier 1

                                       

Bank of America Corporation

   7.73 %   $ 45,515    $ 23,551    7.85 %   $ 44,050    $ 22,452

Bank of America, N.A.

   8.68       43,317      19,970    8.73       42,030      19,247

Bank of America, N.A. (USA)

   8.84       3,333      1,508    8.41       3,079      1,465

Total

                                       

Bank of America Corporation

   11.46       67,484      47,102    11.87       66,651      44,904

Bank of America, N.A.

   11.09       55,355      39,940    11.31       54,408      38,494

Bank of America, N.A. (USA)

   12.65       4,771      3,016    12.29       4,502      2,930

Leverage

                                       

Bank of America Corporation

   5.43       45,515      33,506    5.73       44,050      30,741

Bank of America, N.A.

   6.53       43,317      26,553    6.88       42,030      24,425

Bank of America, N.A. (USA)

   9.28       3,333      1,437    9.17       3,079      1,344

(1) Dollar amount required to meet guidelines for adequately capitalized institutions.

 

Credit Risk Management

 

Credit risk is the risk of loss arising from a customer or counterparty’s inability to meet its obligation and exists in our outstanding loans and leases, trading account assets, derivative assets and unfunded lending commitments that include loan commitments, letters of credit and financial guarantees. We define the credit exposure to a client as the amount representing the maximum loss potential arising from all these product classifications, except for derivative positions where we use the current mark-to-market values of the counterparty component to represent credit exposure without giving consideration to future mark-to-market changes. Our commercial and consumer credit extension and review procedures take into account credit exposures that are both funded and unfunded. For additional information on derivatives and credit extension commitments, see Notes 4 and 7 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

Commercial and Consumer Portfolio Credit Risk Management

 

We manage credit risk based on the risk profile of the borrower, repayment source and the nature of underlying collateral given current events and conditions. At a macro level, we segregate our loans into two major groups: commercial and consumer. For a detailed discussion of our credit risk management process associated with these portfolios, see page 44 of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

41


Table 9

 

Outstanding Loans and Leases

 

     March 31, 2004

    December 31, 2003

 

(Dollars in millions)


   Amount

   Percent

    Amount

   Percent

 

Commercial - domestic

   $ 96,148    25.6 %   $ 96,644    26.0 %

Commercial - foreign

     14,513    3.8       15,293    4.1  

Commercial real estate - domestic

     19,545    5.2       19,043    5.1  

Commercial real estate - foreign

     317    0.1       324    0.1  
    

  

 

  

Total commercial(1)

     130,523    34.7       131,304    35.3  
    

  

 

  

Residential mortgage

     142,755    38.0       140,513    37.8  

Home equity lines

     24,946    6.6       23,859    6.4  

Direct/Indirect consumer

     34,451    9.2       33,415    9.0  

Consumer finance

     5,202    1.4       5,589    1.5  

Credit card

     36,087    9.6       34,814    9.4  

Foreign consumer

     2,004    0.5       1,969    0.6  
    

  

 

  

Total consumer(2)

     245,445    65.3       240,159    64.7  
    

  

 

  

Total

   $ 375,968    100.0 %   $ 371,463    100.0 %
    

  

 

  


(1) Includes lease financing of $ 9,291 and $9,692 at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.
(2) Includes lease financing of $1,274 and $1,684 at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Portfolio credit risk is evaluated with a goal that concentrations of credit exposure do not result in undesirable levels of risk. We review, measure and manage concentrations of credit exposure by industry, product, geography and customer relationship. Risk due to borrower concentrations is more prevalent in the commercial portfolio. We also review, measure and manage commercial real estate loans by geographic location and property type. Additionally, within our international portfolio, we also evaluate borrowings by region and by country. Tables 10, 11 and 12 summarize these concentrations.

 

From the perspective of portfolio risk management, customer concentration management is most relevant in Global Corporate and Investment Banking. Within Global Corporate and Investment Banking, concentrations continue to be addressed through the underwriting and ongoing monitoring processes, the established strategy of “originate to distribute” and partly through the purchase of credit protection through credit derivatives. We utilize various risk mitigation tools to hedge our economic risk to certain credit counterparties, including credit default swaps and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) in which a layer of loss is sold to third parties. However, this gives rise to earnings volatility as a consequence of accounting asymmetry as we mark to market our credit default swaps through Trading account profits and CLOs as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” (SFAS 133), while the loans are recorded at historical cost less an allowance for credit losses or, if held for sale, the lower of cost or market. The credit portfolio hedges declined in value by $15 million and $48 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. At the same time, Global Corporate and Investment Banking’s loan portfolio experienced a $23 million net recovery of reserves in the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to a Provision for credit losses of $272 million in the same period in 2003. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the notional amount of these credit derivatives was $14.1 billion and $14.8 billion, respectively.

 

For the consumer portfolio, the geographic span and diversity of our franchise along with the wide array of credit products function to mitigate credit risk concentrations. In addition, credit decisions are statistically-based with tolerances set that decrease the percentage of approvals as the risk profile increases.

 

42


During 2003, we entered into several transactions whereby we purchased credit protection on a portion of our residential mortgage loan portfolio from unaffiliated parties. These transactions are designed to aid us as part of our ALM overall risk management strategy. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, approximately $74.1 billion and $63.4 billion of residential mortgage loans were covered by the purchased credit protection. Our regulatory risk-weighted assets were reduced as a result of these transactions because we had effectively transferred a degree of credit risk on these loans to unaffiliated parties. These transactions had the effect of reducing our risk-weighted assets by $20.1 billion and $18.6 billion at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively, and resulted in a 26 bp increase in our Tier 1 Risk-based Capital ratio at both March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

Table 10 shows commercial utilized credit exposure by industry. As depicted in the table, we believe that commercial utilized credit exposure is well diversified across a range of industries.

 

Table 10

 

Commercial Utilized Credit Exposure by Industry(1)

 

(Dollars in millions)


   March 31
2004


   December 31
2003


Banks

   $ 24,254    $ 25,088

Real estate

     22,416      22,228

Diversified financials

     20,472      20,427

Retailing

     15,253      15,152

Education and government

     14,660      13,919

Individuals and trusts

     13,739      14,307

Leisure and sports, hotels and restaurants

     10,100      10,099

Transportation

     9,181      9,355

Materials

     8,896      8,860

Food, beverage and tobacco

     8,668      9,134

Consumer durables and apparel

     8,624      8,313

Capital goods

     7,610      8,244

Commercial services and supplies

     7,151      7,206

Health care equipment and services

     7,040      7,064

Media

     4,968      4,701

Energy

     4,815      4,348

Utilities

     4,705      5,012

Religious and social organizations

     4,459      4,272

Insurance

     3,690      3,638

Telecommunications services

     2,203      2,526

Technology hardware and equipment

     1,765      1,941

Software and services

     1,731      1,655

Food and staples retailing

     1,662      1,837

Automobiles and components

     1,240      1,326

Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

     445      466

Household and personal products

     262      302

Other

     354      1,474
    

  

Total

   $ 210,363    $ 212,894
    

  


(1) Includes loans and leases, letters of credit, SBLCs and financial guarantees, and mark-to-market exposure for derivatives.

 

43


Table 11 presents outstanding commercial real estate loans by geographic region and by property type. The amounts presented do not include outstanding loans and leases that were made on the general creditworthiness of the borrower, for which real estate was obtained as security and for which the ultimate repayment of the credit is not dependent on the sale, lease, rental or refinancing of the real estate. Accordingly, the outstandings presented do not include commercial loans secured by owner-occupied real estate. As depicted in the table, we believe the commercial real estate loan portfolio is well diversified in terms of both geographic region and property type.

 

Table 11

 

Outstanding Commercial Real Estate Loans(1)

 

(Dollars in millions)


   March 31, 2004

   December 31, 2003

By Geographic Region(2)

             

California

   $ 4,821    $ 4,994

Florida

     2,771      2,316

Southwest

     2,675      2,737

Northwest

     1,837      2,068

Midwest

     1,525      1,432

Mid-Atlantic

     1,411      1,432

Carolinas

     1,408      1,437

Midsouth

     1,334      1,055

Geographically diversified

     996      639

Northeast

     358      490

Other states

     409      443

Non-U.S.

     317      324
    

  

Total

   $ 19,862    $ 19,367
    

  

By Property Type

             

Residential

   $ 4,005    $ 3,631

Apartments

     3,380      3,411

Office buildings

     3,293      3,431

Shopping centers/retail

     2,196      2,295

Industrial/warehouse

     1,830      1,790

Land and land development

     1,649      1,494

Multiple use

     581      560

Hotels/motels

     569      548

Resorts

     246      261

Other

     2,113      1,946
    

  

Total

   $ 19,862    $ 19,367
    

  


(1) Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.
(2) Distribution is based on geographic location of collateral.

 

44


Foreign Portfolio

 

Table 12 sets forth regional foreign exposure to selected countries defined as emerging markets at March 31, 2004.

 

Table 12

 

Selected Emerging Markets(1)

 

(Dollars in millions)


  

Loans

and Loan
Commitments


   Other
Financing (2)


   Derivative
Assets


   Debt
Securities/
Other
Investments (3,4)


  

Total

Cross-
border
Exposure (5)


  

Gross

Local
Country
Exposure (6)


   Total
Foreign
Exposure
March 31,
2004


  Increase/
(Decrease)
From
December 31,
2003


 

Region/Country

                                                        

Asia

                                                        

Hong Kong (7)

   $ 192    $ 19    $ 94    $ 125    $ 430    $ 3,676    $ 4,106   $ 201  

India

     466      104      121      295      986      1,051      2,037     84  

Singapore

     180      9      87      51      327      1,002      1,329     161  

South Korea

     234      644      62      142      1,082      559      1,641     (288 )

Taiwan

     265      173      49      —        487      715      1,202     313  

Other

     135      89      82      230      536      613      1,149     (19 )
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

 


Total

     1,472      1,038      495      843      3,848      7,616      11,464     452  
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

 


Central and Eastern Europe

     23      8      33      138      202      —        202     (68 )
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

 


Latin America

                                                        

Argentina

     102      44      2      105      253      42      295     (48 )

Brazil

     90      258      8      29      385      254      639     (102 )

Mexico(8)

     440      221      48      1,889      2,598      354      2,952     (90 )

Other

     265      185      225      233      908      —        908     60  
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

 


Total

     897      708      283      2,256      4,144      650      4,794     (180 )
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

 


Total

   $ 2,392    $ 1,754    $ 811    $ 3,237    $ 8,194    $ 8,266    $ 16,460   $ 204  
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

 



(1) There is no generally accepted definition of emerging markets. The definition that we use includes all countries in Asia excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand; all countries in Latin America excluding Cayman Islands and Bermuda; and all countries in Central and Eastern Europe excluding Greece.
(2) Includes acceptances, SBLCs, commercial letters of credit and formal guarantees.
(3) Amounts outstanding for Asia Other and Latin America Other have been reduced by $13 and $169, respectively, at March 31, 2004, and $13 and $173, respectively, at December 31, 2003. Such amounts represent the fair value of U.S. Treasury securities held as collateral outside the country of exposure.
(4) Cross-border resale agreements are presented based on the domicile of the counterparty because the counterparty has the legal obligation for repayment. For regulatory reporting under Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council (FFIEC) guidelines, cross-border resale agreements are presented based on the domicile of the issuer of the securities that are held as collateral.
(5) Cross-border exposure includes amounts payable to the Corporation by borrowers with a country of residence other than the one in which the credit is booked, regardless of the currency in which the claim is denominated, consistent with FFIEC reporting rules.
(6) Gross local country exposure includes amounts payable to the Corporation by borrowers with a country of residence in which the credit is booked, regardless of the currency in which the claim is denominated. Management does not net local funding or liabilities against local exposures as allowed by the FFIEC.
(7) Gross local country exposure to Hong Kong consisted of $2,010 of secured consumer loan commitments as well as commercial commitments that are mostly secured and $1,666 of commercial exposure at March 31, 2004 compared to $1,911 of consumer loans and loan commitments and $1,578 of commercial exposure at December 31, 2003. The consumer loans were collateralized primarily by residential real estate. The commercial exposure was primarily to local clients and was diversified across many industries.
(8) Includes $1.7 billion related to GFSS acquired in the first quarter of 2003.

 

        At March 31, 2004, foreign exposure to entities in countries defined as emerging markets increased $204 million to $16.5 billion or 20 percent of total foreign exposure compared to $16.3 billion or 21 percent of total foreign exposure at December 31, 2003. At March 31, 2004, 70 percent of the emerging markets exposure was in Asia compared to 68 percent at December 31, 2003. Growth in Asian emerging markets was largely concentrated in Taiwan due to increases in short-term financing. Hong Kong also contributed to growth in Asian emerging markets with increases in secured foreign consumer loans as well as in commercial loans. Growth in Singapore was concentrated in short-term government placements. A reduction in loans in South Korea partially offset these increases.

 

45


The decline in Latin America was attributable to reductions in client activity, equity investments and trading activity in Brazil. Bank of America, N.A.’s investment in the Mexican entity GFSS accounts for $1.7 billion of reported Mexican exposure.

 

The primary components of our exposure in Brazil at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $395 million and $406 million, respectively, of traditional credit exposure (loans, letters of credit, etc.) and $138 million and $159 million, respectively, of local currency denominated Brazilian government securities. Derivatives exposure totaled $8 million at March 31, 2004 compared to $7 million at December 31, 2003. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the allowance for credit losses related to Brazil consisted of $24 million and $23 million, respectively, related to traditional credit exposure. Nonperforming loans in Brazil were $37 million at March 31, 2004 compared to $39 million at December 31, 2003. There were no net charge-offs for Brazil in the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2003.

 

The primary components of our exposure in Argentina at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, were $141 million and $144 million, respectively, of traditional credit exposure, and $32 million and $65 million, respectively, of Argentine government securities. Derivatives exposure totaled $2 million at both March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003. The allowance for credit losses related to Argentina’s traditional credit exposure was $98 million and $104 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, Argentina nonperforming loans were $103 million and $107 million, respectively. There were no net charge-offs for Argentina in the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $40 million in the three months ended March 31, 2003.

 

Credit Quality Performance

 

Overall credit quality continued to improve in the three months ended March 31, 2004 as all major commercial asset quality performance indicators continued to show positive trends while consumer credit quality performance continued to perform well. In the three months ended March 31, 2004, commercial criticized exposure declined $2.2 billion, or 18 percent, to $10.4 billion, as presented in Table 13. Decreases in criticized exposure were primarily attributable to paydowns and payoffs resulting largely from increased refinancing activity, as well as reduced levels of inflows, credit quality improvements, charge-offs and loan sales. Most of the decrease in the first three months of 2004 was in our large corporate portfolio, which was down $2.1 billion for the quarter. Reductions were concentrated in the commercial—domestic and commercial—foreign categories offset by an increase in commercial real estate – domestic.

 

We routinely review the loan and lease portfolio to determine if any credit exposure should be placed on nonperforming status. An asset is placed on nonperforming status when it is determined that principal and interest are not expected to be fully collected in accordance with its contractual terms. As evidenced by the improvement in credit quality, nonperforming assets at March 31, 2004, presented in Table 14, declined $536 million from December 31, 2003 due primarily to decreases in the nonperforming commercial loan category. Decreases in total nonperforming commercial assets were due to reduced levels of inflows of $197 million, loan sales of $33 million and increased returns to performing status of $180 million, and charge-offs. Paydowns and payoffs declined to $258 million in the first quarter of 2004 in contrast to the elevated levels of paydowns and payoffs experienced in 2003 that resulted from increased refinancings in the capital markets and improvements in the credit quality of individual exposures. Sixty-three percent of the reduction in nonperforming commercial assets was in our large corporate portfolio. Nonperforming commercial—domestic loans decreased by $219 million and represented 1.34 percent of commercial—domestic loans at March 31, 2004 compared to 1.56 percent at December 31, 2003. Nonperforming commercial—foreign loans decreased $248 million and represented 2.33 percent of commercial—foreign loans at March 31, 2004 compared to 3.83 percent at December 31, 2003.

 

Within the consumer portfolio, nonperforming loans decreased $25 million to $613 million, and represented 0.25 percent of consumer loans at March 31, 2004 compared to $638 million, representing 0.27 percent of consumer loans at December 31, 2003. The decrease in nonperforming consumer loans was driven by loan sales of $35 million. The improvement in the percentage of nonperforming consumer loans to the total consumer portfolio was due to growth in residential mortgages.

 

46


Sales of nonperforming assets in the first three months of 2004 totaled $95 million, comprised of $33 million of nonperforming commercial loans, $35 million of nonperforming consumer loans and $27 million of foreclosed properties. Sales of nonperforming assets in the first three months of 2003 totaled $292 million, comprised of $280 million of nonperforming commercial loans and $12 million of foreclosed properties.

 

Table 13

 

Commercial Criticized Exposure (1)

 

     March 31, 2004

    December 31, 2003

 

(Dollars in millions)


   Amount

   Percent(2)

    Amount

   Percent(2)

 

Commercial - domestic

   $ 7,163    4.98 %   $ 8,847    6.08 %

Commercial - foreign

     2,224    5.44       2,820    6.71  

Commercial real estate - domestic

     1,012    3.99       956    3.83  

Commercial real estate - foreign

     2    0.80       27    8.40  
    

  

 

  

Total commercial criticized exposure

   $ 10,401    4.94 %   $ 12,650    5.94 %
    

  

 

  


(1) Criticized exposure corresponds to the Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful asset categories defined by regulatory authorities. Exposure amounts include loans and leases, foreclosed properties, letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, derivatives and assets held for sale.
(2) Commercial criticized exposure is taken as a percentage of total utilized exposure which includes loans and leases, foreclosed properties, letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, derivatives and assets held for sale.

 

Table 14

 

Nonperforming Assets

 

(Dollars in millions)


   March 31,
2004


    December 31,
2003


 

Nonperforming loans and leases

                

Commercial - domestic

   $ 1,288     $ 1,507  

Commercial - foreign

     338       586  

Commercial real estate - domestic

     113       140  

Commercial real estate - foreign

     2       2  
    


 


Total commercial(1)

     1,741       2,235  
    


 


Residential mortgage

     486       531  

Home equity lines

     35       43  

Direct/Indirect consumer

     31       28  

Consumer finance

     58       32  

Foreign consumer

     3       4  
    


 


Total consumer

     613       638  
    


 


Total nonperforming loans and leases

     2,354       2,873  

Foreclosed properties

     131       148  
    


 


Total nonperforming assets(1,2)

   $ 2,485     $ 3,021  
    


 


Nonperforming assets as a percentage of:

                

Total assets

     0.30 %     0.41 %

Outstanding loans, leases and foreclosed properties

     0.66       0.81  

Nonperforming loans and leases as a percentage of outstanding loans and leases

     0.63       0.77  
    


 



(1) Includes lease financing of $66 and $127 at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.
(2) Balances do not include $82 and $202 of nonperforming assets included in Other assets at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

47


Table 15 presents the additions to and reductions in nonperforming assets in the commercial and consumer portfolios during the most recent five quarters.

 

Table 15

 

Nonperforming Assets Activity

 

(Dollars in millions)


   First
Quarter
2004


    Fourth
Quarter
2003


    Third
Quarter
2003


    Second
Quarter
2003


    First
Quarter
2003


 

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 3,021     $ 3,657     $ 4,430     $ 5,033     $ 5,262  
    


 


 


 


 


Commercial

                                        

Additions to nonperforming assets:

                                        

New nonaccrual loans and foreclosed properties

     197       574       419       410       731  

Advances on loans

     15       30       11       59       99  
    


 


 


 


 


Total commercial additions

     212       604       430       469       830  
    


 


 


 


 


Reductions in nonperforming assets:

                                        

Paydowns, payoffs and sales

     (291 )     (689 )     (745 )     (697 )     (673 )

Returns to performing status

     (180 )     (109 )     (22 )     (32 )     (34 )

Charge-offs(1)

     (186 )     (290 )     (362 )     (332 )     (368 )

Transfers to assets held for sale

     (72 )     (108 )     —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


Total commercial reductions

     (729 )     (1,196 )     (1,129 )     (1,061 )     (1,075 )
    


 


 


 


 


Total commercial net reductions in nonperforming assets

     (517 )     (592 )     (699 )     (592 )     (245 )
    


 


 


 


 


Consumer

                                        

Additions to nonperforming assets:

                                        

New nonaccrual loans and foreclosed properties

     357       367       393       395       428  

Transfers from assets held for sale (2)

     1       3       2       —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


Total consumer additions

     358       370       395       395       428  
    


 


 


 


 


Reductions in nonperforming assets:

                                        

Paydowns, payoffs and sales

     (107 )     (191 )     (204 )     (185 )     (132 )

Returns to performing status

     (231 )     (195 )     (235 )     (185 )     (263 )

Charge-offs(1)

     (39 )     (28 )     (30 )     (36 )     (17 )
    


 


 


 


 


Total consumer reductions

     (377 )     (414 )     (469 )     (406 )     (412 )
    


 


 


 


 


Total consumer net additions to (reductions in) nonperforming assets

     (19 )     (44 )     (74 )     (11 )     16  
    


 


 


 


 


Total net reductions in nonperforming assets

     (536 )     (636 )     (773 )     (603 )     (229 )
    


 


 


 


 


Balance, end of period

   $ 2,485     $ 3,021     $ 3,657     $ 4,430     $ 5,033  
    


 


 


 


 



(1) Certain loan products, including commercial credit card, consumer credit card and consumer non-real estate loans, are not classified as nonperforming; therefore, the charge-offs on these loans are not included above.
(2) Includes assets held for sale that were foreclosed and transferred to foreclosed properties.

 

Domestic commercial loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest were $77 million and $133 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. Consumer loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest were $715 million and $698 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively, which included held credit card loans of $655 million and $616 million, respectively.

 

Commercial—domestic loan net charge-offs, as presented in Table 16, decreased $197 million to $51 million in the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003, reflecting overall improvement in the portfolio.

 

Commercial—foreign loan net charge-offs decreased $14 million to $106 million in the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to $120 million in the same period in 2003. The decrease was attributable to reductions in exposure to the telecommunications and utilities sectors. The largest concentration of commercial—foreign loan net charge-offs in the three months ended March 31, 2004, was Parmalat Finanziera SpA and its related entities (Parmalat) of $106 million.

 

Held credit card net charge-offs increased $120 million to $443 million in the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003, of which $35 million were from new advances on previously securitized

 

48


balances. Such advances are recorded on our balance sheet after the revolving period of the securitization, which has the effect of increasing loans on our balance sheet, increasing net interest income and increasing charge-offs, with a corresponding reduction in noninterest income. Major factors driving the remaining increase were continued seasoning of outstandings from new credit card growth over the past several years and economic conditions including higher bankruptcy filings. We expect increases in charge-offs due to seasoning from credit card growth to continue.

 

There has been a great deal of publicity and interest surrounding Parmalat that warrants further explanation of our current exposure to Parmalat. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, our credit exposure related to Parmalat was $120 million and $274 million, respectively, of which $105 million and $123 million, respectively, had credit support. This exposure included derivatives of $2 million and $30 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively, and at December 31, 2003, included undrawn letters of credit collateralized by cash of $18 million. Nonperforming loans related to Parmalat were $118 million and $226 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. In the first quarter of 2004, we charged off $106 million of direct loans that did not have credit support and exercised our contractual rights under the credit agreements to repay the $18 million in drawings under letters of credit. In addition, we marked down the value of our derivative exposure by approximately $28 million.

 

Included in Other assets are loans held for sale and leveraged lease partnership interests of $12.5 billion and $333 million, respectively, at March 31, 2004 and $8.4 billion and $332 million, respectively, at December 31, 2003. Included in these balances are nonperforming loans held for sale and leveraged lease partnership interests of $80 million and $2 million, respectively, at March 31, 2004 and $199 million and $3 million, respectively, at December 31, 2003.

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

 

The Allowance for loan and lease losses is allocated to each product type based on three components.

 

The first component of the Allowance for loan and lease losses covers those commercial loans that are nonperforming or impaired. An allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) is lower than the carrying value of that loan. For purposes of computing the specific loss component of the allowance, larger impaired loans are evaluated individually and smaller impaired loans are evaluated as a pool using historical loss experience for the respective product type and risk rating of the loan.

 

The second component of the allowance covers performing commercial loans and leases, and consumer loans. The allowance for commercial loans is established by product type by analyzing historical loss experience, by internal risk rating, current economic conditions and performance trends within each portfolio segment. The allowance for consumer loans is based on aggregated portfolio segment evaluations generally by product type. Loss forecast models are utilized for consumer products that consider a variety of factors including, but not limited to, historical loss experience, estimated defaults or foreclosures based on portfolio trends, delinquencies, economic trends and credit scores.

 

The third component of the Allowance for loan and lease losses is maintained to cover uncertainties that affect our estimate of probable losses. These uncertainties include the imprecision inherent in the forecasting methodologies, as well as domestic and global economic uncertainty, large single name defaults or event risk. We assess these components, among other current events and conditions, to determine the overall level of the third component. The relationship of the third component to the total allowance for credit losses may fluctuate from period to period. We evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses based on the combined total of these three components.

 

We monitor differences between estimated and actual incurred loan and lease losses. This monitoring process includes periodic assessments by senior management of loan and lease portfolios and the models used to estimate incurred losses in those portfolios.

 

49


Additions to the Allowance for loan and lease losses are made by charges to the Provision for credit losses. Credit exposures (excluding derivatives) deemed to be uncollectible are charged against the Allowance for loan and lease losses. Recoveries of previously charged off amounts are credited to the Allowance for loan and lease losses.

 

Reserve for Unfunded Lending Commitments

 

In addition to the Allowance for loan and lease losses, we also compute an estimate of probable losses related to unfunded lending commitments, such as letters of credit and binding unfunded loan commitments. This computation is similar to the methodology utilized in calculating the allowance for commercial loans and leases with specific, formula and general components, adjusted for the probability of drawdown. The Reserve for unfunded lending commitments is included in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Additions to the Reserve for unfunded lending commitments are made by charges to the Provision for credit losses.

 

We monitor differences between estimated and actual incurred credit losses. This monitoring process includes periodic assessments by senior management of credit portfolios and the models used to estimate incurred losses in those portfolios.

 

50


Table 16 presents a rollforward of the Allowance for credit losses.

 

Table 16

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31


 

(Dollars in millions)


   2004

    2003

 

Allowance for loan and lease losses, January 1

   $ 6,163     $ 6,358  
    


 


Loans and leases charged off

                

Commercial - domestic

     (105 )     (284 )

Commercial - foreign

     (113 )     (125 )

Commercial real estate - domestic

     (1 )     (11 )
    


 


Total commercial

     (219 )     (420 )
    


 


Residential mortgage

     (16 )     (5 )

Home equity lines

     (8 )     (10 )

Direct/Indirect consumer

     (80 )     (93 )

Consumer finance

     (64 )     (87 )

Credit card

     (492 )     (353 )

Other consumer domestic

     (14 )     (15 )

Foreign consumer

     —         (1 )
    


 


Total consumer

     (674 )     (564 )
    


 


Total loans and leases charged off

     (893 )     (984 )
    


 


Recoveries of loans and leases previously charged off

                

Commercial - domestic

     52       45  

Commercial - foreign

     7       5  

Commercial real estate - domestic

     3       2  
    


 


Total commercial

     62       52  
    


 


Residential mortgage

     5       3  

Home equity lines

     4       4  

Direct/Indirect consumer

     32       37  

Consumer finance

     16       19  

Credit card

     49       30  

Other consumer domestic

     5       6  
    


 


Total consumer

     111       99  
    


 


Total recoveries of loans and leases previously charged off

     173       151  
    


 


Net charge-offs

     (720 )     (833 )
    


 


Provision for loan and lease losses

     639       894  

Other, net

     (2 )     2  
    


 


Allowance for loan and lease losses, March 31

   $ 6,080     $ 6,421  
    


 


Reserve for unfunded lending commitments, January 1

   $ 416     $ 493  

Provision for unfunded lending commitments

     (15 )     (61 )
    


 


Reserve for unfunded lending commitments, March 31

   $ 401     $ 432  
    


 


Total

   $ 6,481     $ 6,853  
    


 


Loans and leases outstanding at March 31

   $ 375,968     $ 343,412  

Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of loans and
leases outstanding at March 31

     1.62 %     1.87 %

Average loans and leases outstanding during the period

   $ 374,077     $ 345,662  

Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans and leases
outstanding during the period

     0.77 %     0.98 %

Allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans
and leases at March 31

     258       134  

Ratio of allowance for loan and lease losses at March 31 to annualized net charge-offs

     2.10       1.90  
    


 


 

51


For reporting purposes, we allocate the allowance across products; however, the allowance is available to absorb all credit losses without restriction. Table 17 presents our allocation by product type.

 

Table 17

 

Allocation of the Allowance for Credit Losses by Product Type

 

     March 31, 2004

    December 31, 2003

 

(Dollars in millions)


   Amount

   Percent

    Amount

   Percent

 

Allowance for loan and lease losses

                          

Commercial - domestic

   $ 1,305    20.1 %   $ 1,420    21.6 %

Commercial - foreign

     601    9.3       619    9.4  

Commercial real estate - domestic

     436    6.7       404    6.2  

Commercial real estate - foreign

     6    0.1       9    0.1  
    

  

 

  

Total commercial(1)

     2,348    36.2       2,452    37.3  
    

  

 

  

Residential mortgage

     150    2.3       149    2.3  

Home equity lines

     59    0.9       61    0.9  

Direct/Indirect consumer

     325    5.1       340    5.2  

Consumer finance

     402    6.2       376    5.7  

Credit card

     1,602    24.7       1,602    24.3  

Foreign consumer

     19    0.3       8    0.1  
    

  

 

  

Total consumer

     2,557    39.5       2,536    38.5  
    

  

 

  

General

     1,175    18.1       1,175    17.9  
    

  

 

  

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     6,080    93.8       6,163    93.7  
    

  

 

  

Reserve for unfunded lending commitments

     401    6.2       416    6.3  
    

  

 

  

Total

   $ 6,481    100.0 %   $ 6,579    100.0 %
    

  

 

  


(1) Includes allowance for loan and lease losses of commercial impaired loans of $324 and $391 at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

 

The allowance for total commercial loan and lease losses declined $104 million to $2.3 billion as a result of improvement in credit quality, reflected by the $2.2 billion and $518 million decreases in commercial criticized exposure and commercial nonperforming assets, respectively; offset by an increase in the remainder of the portfolio of $1.0 billion between December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004. Specific reserves on commercial impaired loans decreased $67 million, or 17 percent, in the first quarter of 2004, reflecting a decrease in our investment in specific loans considered impaired of $451 million to $1.7 billion at March 31, 2004. The reduction in the levels of criticized and impaired loans, and the respective reserves resulted from the overall improvements in commercial credit quality, including loan sales, paydowns and payoffs, and net charge-offs. The Allowance for loan and lease losses in the consumer portfolio increased $21 million from December 31, 2003 due to updated loss rates primarily on the liquidating consumer businesses. The Allowance for loan and lease losses on the consumer credit card portfolio remained unchanged as increased volume was offset by changes in the risk profile of the portfolio. General reserves on loans and leases at March 31, 2004 remained at $1.2 billion from December 31, 2003, reflecting the continued uncertainty around the extent and depth of the domestic recovery, the impact of rising interest rates on sectors of the portfolio, the uncertainty in the global arena and continued exposure to large single name defaults or event risk. The Reserve for unfunded lending commitments decreased $15 million between March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 due to improvements in the overall commercial credit quality. Given our overall assessment of probable losses in the portfolio, the Allowance for credit losses was reduced by $98 million from December 31, 2003.

 

Problem Loan Management

 

Banc of America Strategic Solutions, Inc. (SSI), a majority-owned consolidated subsidiary of Bank of America, N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, was established in 2001 to better align the management of domestic commercial loan credit workout operations by providing more effective and efficient management

 

52


processes afforded by a closely aligned end-to-end function. In the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, Bank of America, N.A. sold commercial loans with a gross book balance of approximately $296 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, to SSI. For tax purposes, under the Internal Revenue Code, the sales were treated as a taxable exchange. The tax and accounting treatment of these sales had no financial statement impact on us because the sales were transfers among entities under common control, and there was no change in the individual loan resolution strategies. For additional discussion on Problem Loan Management, see page 50 of the Corporation’s Annual Report.

 

Market Risk Management

 

Market risk is the potential loss due to adverse changes in the market value or yield of a position. This risk is inherent in the financial instruments associated with our operations and/or activities including loans, deposits, securities, short-term borrowings, long-term debt, trading account assets and liabilities, and derivatives. Market-sensitive assets and liabilities are generated through loans and deposits associated with our traditional banking business, our customer and proprietary trading operations, our ALM process, credit risk management, and mortgage banking activities. More detailed information on our market risk management processes is included in the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report on pages 50 through 55.

 

Trading Risk Management

 

The histogram of daily revenue or loss below is a graphic depiction of trading volatility and illustrates the success of trading-related revenue for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004. Trading-related revenue encompasses both proprietary trading and customer-related activities. During the twelve months ended March 31, 2004, positive trading-related revenue was recorded for 86 percent of trading days. Furthermore, only six percent of the total trading days had losses greater than $10 million, and the largest loss was $41 million. This can be compared to the twelve months ended March 31, 2003, where positive trading-related revenue was recorded for 86 percent of trading days and only four percent of total trading days had losses greater than $10 million, with the largest loss being $31 million.

 

LOGO

 

53


To evaluate risk in our trading activities, we focus on the actual and potential volatility of individual positions as well as portfolios. At a portfolio and corporate level, we use Value-at-Risk (VAR) modeling and stress testing. VAR is a key statistic used to measure and manage market risk. Trading limits and VAR are used to manage day-to-day risks and are subject to testing where we compare expected performance to actual performance. This testing provides us a view of our models’ predictive accuracy. All limit excesses are communicated to senior management for review.

 

A VAR model estimates a range of hypothetical scenarios within which the next day’s profit or loss is expected. These estimates are impacted by the nature of the positions in the portfolio and the correlation within the portfolio. Within any VAR model, there are significant and numerous assumptions that will differ from company to company. Our VAR model assumes a 99 percent confidence level. Statistically this means that losses will exceed VAR, on average, one out of 100 trading days, or two to three times a year. Actual losses exceeded VAR once in the twelve months ended March 31, 2004 and once during the twelve months ended March 31, 2003.

 

There are numerous assumptions and estimates associated with modeling, and actual results could differ. In addition to reviewing our underlying model assumptions with senior management, we seek to mitigate the uncertainties related to these assumptions and estimates through close monitoring and by updating the assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis. If the results of our analysis indicate higher than expected levels of risk, proactive measures are taken to adjust risk levels.

 

Table 18 presents average, high and low daily VAR for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

Table 18

 

Trading Activities Market Risk

 

     Twelve Months Ended March 31

     2004

   2003

(Dollars in millions)


   Average
VAR


    High
VAR(1)


   Low
VAR(1)


   Average
VAR


    High
VAR(1)


   Low
VAR(1)


Foreign exchange

   $ 4.2     $ 7.8    $ 2.5    $ 3.2     $ 7.1    $ 0.5

Interest rate

     27.8       65.2      15.1      28.8       42.7      17.9

Credit(2)

     23.2       37.1      14.9      17.9       24.2      13.1

Real estate/mortgage(3)

     12.5       27.3      3.6      16.4       41.4      2.5

Equities

     22.4       51.5      7.9      11.6       53.8      4.3

Commodities

     6.6       11.9      3.8      10.5       19.3      3.4

Portfolio diversification

     (56.7 )     —        —        (52.1 )     —        —  
    


 

  

  


 

  

Total trading portfolio

   $ 40.0     $ 91.0    $ 12.1    $ 36.3     $ 57.8    $ 11.2
    


 

  

  


 

  


(1) The high and low for the total portfolio may not equal the sum of the individual components as the highs or lows of the individual portfolios may have occurred on different trading days.
(2) Credit includes credit fixed income and credit default swaps used for credit risk management.
(3) Real estate/mortgage, which is included in the fixed income category in Table 5 includes capital market real estate and mortgage banking certificates.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2002, we completed an enhancement of our methodology used in the VAR risk aggregation calculation. This approach utilizes historical market conditions over the last three years to derive estimates of trading risk and provides the ability to aggregate trading risk across different businesses. Historically, we used a mathematical method to allocate risk across different trading businesses that did not assume the benefit of diversification across markets. This change resulted in a lower VAR calculation starting in the fourth quarter 2002.

 

The increase in average VAR for the twelve months ended March 2004 was primarily due to increases in the average risk taken in credit and equities. The increase in equities was mainly due to the increased economic risk from customer-facilitated transactions that were held in inventory during portions of 2003 and 2004. The large increase in the “High” VAR for both the interest rate and the total trading portfolio are due to activities on one day during the period.

 

54


Stress Testing

 

Because the very nature of a VAR model suggests results can exceed our estimates, we “stress test” our portfolio. Stress testing estimates the value change in our trading portfolio due to abnormal market movements. Various stress scenarios are run regularly against the trading portfolio to verify that, even under extreme market moves, we will preserve our capital; to determine the effects of significant historical events; and to determine the effects of specific, extreme hypothetical, but plausible events. The results of the stress scenarios are calculated daily and reported to senior management as part of the regular reporting process. The results of certain specific, extreme hypothetical scenarios are presented to the Asset and Liability Committee.

 

Interest Rate Risk Management

 

Interest rate risk represents the most significant market risk exposure to our nontrading financial instruments. Our overall goal is to manage interest rate sensitivity so that movements in interest rates do not adversely affect net interest income. Interest rate risk is measured as the potential volatility in our net interest income caused by changes in market interest rates. Client facing activities, primarily lending and deposit-taking, create interest rate sensitive positions on our balance sheet. Interest rate risk from these activities as well as the impact of ever-changing market conditions, is mitigated using the ALM process.

 

Table 19 provides our estimated net interest income at risk over the subsequent year from March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, resulting from a 100 bp gradual (over 12 months) parallel increase or decrease in interest rates from the forward curve calculated as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. At March 31, 2004, we were positioned to benefit from rising long-term interest rates.

 

Table 19

 

Estimated Net Interest Income at Risk

 

     -100 bp

    +100bp

 

March 31, 2004

   (2.7 )%   0.6 %

December 31, 2003

   1.2     (1.1 )

 

As part of the ALM process, we use securities, residential mortgages, and interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives in managing interest rate sensitivity.

 

Securities

 

The securities portfolio is integral to our ALM process. The decision to purchase or sell securities is based upon the current assessment of economic and financial conditions, including the interest rate environment, liquidity and regulatory requirements, and the relative mix of cash and derivative positions. During the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, we purchased securities of $85.0 billion and $41.3 billion, respectively, sold $11.0 billion and $27.1 billion, respectively and received paydowns of $1.9 billion and $6.9 billion, respectively. Not included in the purchases above were $58.5 billion of forward purchase contracts of both mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans at March 31, 2004 settling from April 2004 to August 2004 with an average yield of 5.13 percent, and $38.0 billion of forward purchase contracts of both mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans at March 31, 2003 that settled in April 2003 to May 2003 with an average yield of 4.69 percent. These forward purchase contracts were accounted for as derivatives and their net-of-tax unrealized gains and losses were included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI). The pre-tax unrealized gain on these forward purchase contracts at March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $492 million and $59 million, respectively. There were also $41.0 billion of forward sale contracts of mortgage-backed securities at March 31, 2004 settling from April 2004 to August 2004 with an average yield of 5.11 percent, and $13.0 billion of forward sale contracts of mortgage-backed securities at March 31, 2003 that settled in April 2003 with an average yield of 5.06 percent. These forward sale contracts were accounted for as derivatives and their net-of-tax unrealized gains and losses were included in Accumulated OCI. The pre-tax unrealized loss on these forward sale contracts at March 31, 2004 was $384 million compared to a pre-tax unrealized loss of $104 million at March 31, 2003. The forward purchase and sale contracts at March 31, 2004 were included in Table 20. During the year, we continuously monitored the interest rate risk position of the portfolio and repositioned the securities portfolio in order to mitigate risk and to take advantage of interest rate fluctuations. Through sales in the securities portfolio, we realized $495 million and $273 million in gains on sales of debt securities during the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

55


Residential Mortgage Portfolio

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, we purchased $6.5 billion and $17.6 billion, respectively, of residential mortgages in the wholesale market for our ALM portfolio and interest rate risk management. Not included in the purchases above were $3.7 billion of forward purchase commitments of mortgage loans at March 31, 2004 settling in April 2004 to June 2004. These commitments, included in Table 20, were accounted for as derivatives at March 31, 2004 under the provisions of SFAS No. 149 “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS 149) and their net-of-tax unrealized gains and losses were included in Accumulated OCI. The pre-tax unrealized loss on these forward purchase commitments at March 31, 2004 was $7 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2004 there were no sales of whole mortgage loans. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, we sold $7.8 billion of whole mortgage loans and recognized $242 million in gains on the sales included in Other noninterest income. Additionally, during the same periods we received paydowns of $7.4 billion and $14.1 billion, respectively.

 

Interest Rate and Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts

 

Interest rate and foreign exchange derivative contracts are utilized in our ALM process and serve as an efficient, low-cost tool to mitigate our risk. We use derivatives to hedge or offset the changes in cash flows or market values of our balance sheet. See Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information on our hedging activities.

 

56


Our interest rate contracts are generally nonleveraged generic interest rate and basis swaps, options, futures and forwards. In addition, we use foreign currency contracts to mitigate the foreign exchange risk associated with foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities, as well as our equity investments in foreign subsidiaries. Table 20 reflects the notional amounts, fair value, weighted average receive fixed and pay fixed rates, expected maturity and estimated duration of our ALM derivatives at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

 

Table 20

 

Asset and Liability Management Interest Rate and Foreign Exchange Contracts

 

March 31, 2004


  Fair
Value


    Expected Maturity

   

Average
Estimated

Duration


(Dollars in millions, average

estimated duration in years)


    Total

    2004

    2005

    2006

    2007

    2008

    Thereafter

   

Open interest rate contracts

                                                                   

Total receive fixed swaps(1)

  $ 2,058                                                             5.98

Notional amount

          $ 105,576     $ —       $ 2,580     $ 4,363     $ 11,760     $ 24,861     $ 62,012      

Weighted average receive rate

            4.09 %     —   %     4.78 %     5.23 %     3.04 %     3.10 %     4.57 %    

Total pay fixed swaps(1)

    (5,047 )                                                           4.39

Notional amount

          $ 164,814     $ 10     $ 21,045     $ 34,572     $ 39,245     $ 11,144     $ 58,798      

Weighted average pay rate

            3.71 %     5.10 %     2.19 %     2.61 %     3.65 %     3.77 %     4.91 %    

Basis swaps

    (2 )                                                            

Notional amount

          $ 7,700     $ 1,000     $ 500     $ 4,400     $ —       $ —       $ 1,800      
   


                                                           

Total swaps

    (2,991 )                                                            
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Option products(2)

    1,142                                                              

Net notional amount(3)

          $ 146,480     $ 23,767     $ 89,000     $ 3,000     $ 30,000     $ —       $ 713      

Futures and forward rate contracts(4)

    84                                                              

Net notional amount(3)

          $ (12,700 )   $ 17,143     $ (1,843 )   $ (29,000 )   $ 1,000     $ —       $ —        
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Total open interest rate contracts

    (1,765 )                                                            
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Closed interest rate contracts(5,6)

    1,873                                                              
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Net interest rate contract position

    108                                                              
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Open foreign exchange contracts

    1,285                                                              

Notional amount

          $ 9,656     $ 711     $ 131     $ 1,552     $ 1,287     $ 239     $ 5,736      
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Total ALM contracts

  $ 1,393                                                              
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

December 31, 2003


  Fair
Value


    Expected Maturity

    Average
Estimated
Duration


(Dollars in millions, average

estimated duration in years)


    Total

    2004

    2005

    2006

    2007

    2008

    Thereafter

   

Open interest rate contracts

                                                                   

Total receive fixed swaps(1)

  $ (1,204 )                                                           5.45

Notional amount

          $ 156,772     $ —       $ 4,580     $ 4,363     $ 36,348     $ 36,199     $ 75,282      

Weighted average receive rate

            3.78 %     —   %     3.61 %     5.22 %     3.18 %     3.00 %     4.38 %    

Total pay fixed swaps(1)

    (2,103 )                                                           5.41

Notional amount

          $ 135,578     $ 81     $ 3,688     $ 14,581     $ 39,254     $ 13,650     $ 64,324      

Weighted average pay rate

            4.01 %     6.04 %     2.13 %     2.93 %     3.34 %     3.78 %     4.82 %    

Basis swaps

    38                                                              

Notional amount

          $ 16,356     $ 9,000     $ 500     $ 4,400     $ 45     $ 590     $ 1,821      
   


                                                           

Total swaps

    (3,269 )                                                            
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Option products(2)

    1,582                                                              

Net notional amount(3)

          $ 84,965     $ 1,267     $ 50,000     $ 3,000     $ —       $ 30,000     $ 698      

Futures and forward rate contracts(4)

    1,908                                                              

Net notional amount(3)

          $ 106,156     $ 86,156     $ 20,000     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —        
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Total open interest rate contracts

    221                                                              
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Closed interest rate contracts(5,6)

    839                                                              
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Net interest rate contract position

    1,060                                                              
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Open foreign exchange contracts

    1,129                                                              

Notional amount

          $ 7,364     $ 100     $ 488     $ 468     $ (379 )   $ 1,560     $ 5,127      
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Total ALM contracts

  $ 2,189                                                              
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

(1) At March 31, 2004, $710 million of the receive fixed swap notional and $89.8 billion of the pay fixed swap notional represented forward starting swaps that will not be effective until their respective contractual start dates. At December 31, 2003, $14.2 billion of the receive fixed swap notional and $114.5 billion of the pay fixed swap notional represented forward starting swaps that will not be effective until their respective contractual start dates.
(2) Option products include caps, floors and exchange-traded options on index futures contracts. These strategies may include option collars or spread strategies, which involve the buying and selling of options on the same underlying security or interest rate index.
(3) Reflects the net of long and short positions.
(4) Futures and forward rate contracts include Eurodollar futures, U. S. Treasury futures and forward purchase and sale contracts. Included are $62.2 billion of forward purchase contracts and $41.0 billion of forward sale contracts of mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans, at March 31, 2004, as discussed on pages 55 and 56. At December 31, 2003 the forward purchase and sale contracts of mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans amounted to $69.8 billion and $8.0 billion, respectively.
(5) Represents the unamortized net realized deferred gains associated with closed contracts. As a result, no notional amount is reflected for expected maturity.
(6) The $1.9 billion and $839 million deferred gains on closed interest rate contracts primarily consisted of gains on closed ALM swaps. Of these unamortized net realized deferred gains, $1.3 billion gain was included in Accumulated OCI and $567 million gain was included as a basis adjustment of long-term debt at March 31, 2004. As of December 31, 2003, $238 million was included in Accumulated OCI and $601 million was included as a basis adjustment of long-term debt.

 

57


Consistent with our strategy of managing interest rate sensitivity to mitigate changes in value of other financial instruments, the notional amount of our interest rate swap position changed to a net pay fixed position of $59.2 billion at March 31, 2004 compared to a net received fixed position of $21.2 billion at December 31, 2003. The net option position increased $61.5 billion to $146.5 billion at March 31, 2004 compared to December 31, 2003 to offset interest rate risk in other portfolios.

 

Mortgage Banking Risk Management

 

Mortgage production activities create unique interest rate and prepayment risk. Interest rate risk occurs between the loan commitment date (pipeline) and the date the loan is sold to the secondary market. To mitigate interest rate risk, we enter into various financial instruments including interest rate swaps, forward delivery contracts, Eurodollar futures and option contracts. The notional amount of such contracts was $38.1 billion at March 31, 2004 with associated net unrealized losses of $35 million. At December 31, 2003, the notional amount of such contracts was $13.1 billion with associated net unrealized losses of $42 million. Of these net unrealized losses, $59 million and $27 million, respectively, were recorded in Accumulated OCI. These unrealized losses at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were offset by economic gains in the warehouse that will be recognized upon delivery to the secondary market.

 

Prepayment risk represents the loss in value associated with a high rate loan paying off in a low rate environment and the loss of servicing value when loans prepay. We mitigate prepayment risk using various financial instruments including purchased options and swaps. The notional amounts of such contracts at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 were $57.3 billion and $64.2 billion, respectively. The related unrealized loss was $42 million and $328 million at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. These amounts are included in the Derivatives table in Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements.

 

Operational Risk Management

 

Operational risk is the potential for loss resulting from events involving people, processes, technology, external events, execution, legal, compliance and regulatory matters, and reputation. Successful operational risk management is particularly important to a diversified financial services company like ours because of the very nature, volume and complexity of our various businesses.

 

In keeping with our management governance structure, the lines of business are responsible for all the risks within the business including operational risks. Such risks are managed through corporate-wide or line of business specific policies and procedures, controls and monitoring tools. Examples of these include personnel management practices, data reconciliation processes, fraud management units, transaction processing monitoring and analysis, business recovery planning, and new product introduction processes.

 

Operational risks fall into two major classifications, corporate-wide and business specific risks affecting all business lines. “Best industry practices”, controls and monitoring tools are used at the Corporate level to monitor and manage operational risk. For business specific risks, operational and compliance risk management work with the business segments to drive consistency in policies, processes, assessments and use of “best industry practices”.

 

Operational and compliance risk management, working in conjunction with senior business segment executives, have developed key tools to help manage, monitor and quantify operational risk. One such tool the businesses and executive management utilize is a corporate-wide quarterly self-assessment process, which helps to identify and evaluate the status of risk issues, including mitigation plans, if appropriate. The goal of this process, which originates at the line of business level, is to continuously assess changing market and business conditions. The self-assessment process also assists in identifying emerging operational risk issues and determining how they should be managed—at the line of business or corporate level. In addition to the self-assessment process, key operational risk indicators have been developed and are used to help identify trends and issues on both a corporate and a line of business level. For additional information on operational risk, see page 55 of the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report.

 

58


Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition - Market Risk Management beginning on page 53 and the sections referenced therein for Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report and pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), the Corporation’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness and design of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this report, that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting information required to be disclosed by the Corporation, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

Changes in internal controls

 

In addition and as of the end of the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting.

 

Part II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings   See Note 7 of the consolidated financial statements for litigation disclosure that supplements the disclosure in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds   At March 31, 2004, all put options under this program had matured and there were no remaining put options outstanding.
    See Table 7 for information on the monthly share repurchase activity for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, including total common shares repurchased under announced programs, weighted average per share price and the remaining buyback authority under announced programs.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders  

1. The Special Meeting of Stockholders was held on March 17, 2004.

 

2. The following are the voting results on each matter submitted to the stockholders:

   

a.      To adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 27, 2003, by and between Bank of America Corporation and FleetBoston Financial Corporation, pursuant to which FleetBoston will merge with and into Bank of America

For


 

Against


 

Abstentions


976,785,731

  23,964,706   11,545,014

 

59


   

b.      To adopt the Amended and Restated Bank of America 2003 Key Associate Stock Plan

For


 

Against


 

Abstentions


809,652,430

  186,074,019   16,568,601
   

c.      To adopt an amendment to the Bank of America amended and restated certificate of incorporation, to increase the number of authorized shares of Bank of America common stock from 5 billion to 7.5 billion

For


 

Against


 

Abstentions


1,166,269,758

  40,418,317   13,130,404
   

d.      To approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the proposals.

For


 

Against


 

Abstentions


764,776,578

  387,387,669   67,652,932
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K  

a) Exhibits

       
    Exhibit 11     Earnings Per Share Computation - included in Note 8 of the consolidated financial statements
    Exhibit 12     Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
            Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
    Exhibit 31(a)     Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    Exhibit 31(b)     Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    Exhibit 32(a)     Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
            Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    Exhibit 32(b)     Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
            Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    b) Reports on Form 8-K
    The following reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Corporation during the quarter ended March 31, 2004:
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 31, 2003 and filed January 2, 2004, Items 5 and 7.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed January 15, 2004, Items 5, 7, 9 and 12.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 22, 2004 and filed January 29, 2004, Items 5 and 7.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 6, 2004 and filed February 17, 2004, Items 5 and 7.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 11, 2004 and filed February 19, 2004, Items 5 and 7.

 

60


    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 2, 2004, Items 5 and 7.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 10, 2004, Item 5.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 15, 2004, Items 5 and 7.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 18, 2004, Item 5.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 22, 2004, Items 5 and 7.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 23, 2004, Items 5 and 7.
    Current Report on Form 8-K dated and filed March 30, 2004, Items 5 and 7.

 

61


SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

Bank of America Corporation


   

Registrant

Date: May 7, 2004

 

/s/ Neil A. Cotty


   

Neil A. Cotty

   

Chief Accounting Officer

   

(Duly Authorized Officer)

 

62


Bank of America Corporation

 

Form 10-Q

 

Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit

   

Description


11     Earnings Per Share Computation - included in Note 8 of the consolidated financial statements
12     Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
31 (a)   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31 (b)   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32 (a)   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32 (b)   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

63