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Bank of America (BAC) explained: how it makes money, how it's doing, what protects it

A plain-English guide to one of America's biggest banks. See what it does, where the money goes, who it competes with and what keeps customers loyal.

⚡What does Bank of America do, in 30 seconds?

Bank of America runs the second-largest bank in the US, measured by the assets of its main bank at 30 June 2026 1727. It holds savings, lends money, runs cards, manages wealth through Merrill and serves big companies and investors 3 311 3 3. In FY2025 its revenue, after paying interest to savers and lenders, was $113.1bn ✓, and it kept $30.5bn ✓ as profit.

Revenue, FY2025
$113.1bn✓
Profit, FY2025
$30.5bn✓
Revenue growth, 4 quarters to 30 Jun 2026
9.7%✓
Shareholders' equity, 30 Jun 2026
$301.1bn✓
Headquarters
Charlotte, North Carolina 10
Main bank established
17 October 1904, per FDIC records 27
Employees
About 213,000 at 31 December 2025, 77% in the US 33
CEO
Brian Moynihan, since January 2010 32
Branches
About 3,600 financial centers in 38 states and Washington D.C. at 31 December 2025 3
Fiscal year ends
31 December 10

📱What does Bank of America sell?

A bank's revenue comes from two engines: interest and fees. Bank of America's four businesses are Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management, Global Banking and Global Markets 10. Here is what each engine is and which businesses feed it.

🏦

Net interest income

This is the interest the bank earns on loans and securities, minus the interest it pays on deposits and borrowings 1. It brought in $60.1bn ✓ in FY2025. Consumer Banking offers deposits, loans and credit cards to consumers and small businesses through about 3,600 financial centers and digital apps at the end of 2025 3. Its net interest income rose $2.2 billion to $35.3 billion in 2025, on higher deposit spreads and balances 3. Global Banking also lends to large and mid-sized companies 3.

👥 About 69 million consumer and small business clients at the end of 2025 1, plus companies that borrow from the bank 3.

💼

Fees and other income

This is money earned without lending, which came to $53.0bn ✓ in FY2025. It included $19.96 billion from investment and brokerage services 1. Global Wealth & Investment Management runs Merrill Wealth Management and Bank of America Private Bank 3. Global Banking provides investment banking, such as helping companies raise money and merger advice 3. Global Markets trades bonds, currencies, commodities and stocks for big investors, and its total 2025 revenue was $24.1 billion 3.

👥 Clients with over $250,000 to invest 3, companies and institutional investors 3 3.

How the mix has shifted

Revenue mix by productFY2023Net interest income: $56.9bn (55%)Net interest income 55%Fees and other income: $45.8bn (45%)Fees and other income 45%FY2024Net interest income: $56.1bn (53%)Net interest income 53%Fees and other income: $49.8bn (47%)Fees and other income 47%FY2025Net interest income: $60.1bn (53%)Net interest income 53%Fees and other income: $53.0bn (47%)Fees and other income 47%
Revenue mix by productFY23Net interest income: $56.9bn (55%)55%Fees and other income: $45.8bn (45%)45%FY24Net interest income: $56.1bn (53%)53%Fees and other income: $49.8bn (47%)47%FY25Net interest income: $60.1bn (53%)53%Fees and other income: $53.0bn (47%)47%Net interest incomeFees and other income
Share of revenue by business line, by fiscal year. Source: BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ 10-K filed 2026-02-25.

Where the customers are

Most of Bank of America's revenue comes from the United States, at 86% ✓ in FY2025. Europe, the Middle East and Africa added 7% ✓, Asia 5% ✓ and Latin America 2% ✓. At the end of 2025 it had operations in the US, its territories and more than 35 countries and jurisdictions 1.

Revenue by regionUnited States$97.7bn 86% of revenueEurope, Middle East and Africa$7.6bn 7% of revenueAsia$6.0bn 5% of revenueLatin America$1.8bn 2% of revenue
Revenue by regionUnited States$97.7bn 86%Europe, Middle East and Africa$7.6bn 7%Asia$6.0bn 5%Latin America$1.8bn 2%
Revenue by region, FY2025. Source: BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ 10-K filed 2026-02-25.

💸How does Bank of America make money?

Follow the money from left to rightfrom top to bottom: what comes in (after paying interest to savers and lenders), what it costs to run, what is lost on bad loans, and what is left as profit.

Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitNet interest income → Revenue: $60.1bnFees and other income → Revenue: $53.0bnRevenue → Pretax profit: $37.7bnRevenue → Running costs: $69.7bnRevenue → Loan losses: $5.7bnPretax profit → Net income: $30.5bnPretax profit → Income tax: $7.2bnNet interest income$60.1bn · 53%Fees and other income$53.0bn · 47%Revenue$113.1bnPretax profit$37.7bn · 33%Running costs$69.7bn · 62%Loan losses$5.7bn · 5%Net income$30.5bn · 27%Income tax$7.2bn · 6%
Money map FY2025: how revenue turns into profitNet interest income: $60.1bnFees and other income: $53.0bnNet interest income$60.1bn · 53%Fees and other income$53.0bn · 47%Revenue: $113.1bnRevenue$113.1bn · 100%Pretax profit: $37.7bnRunning costs: $69.7bnLoan losses: $5.7bnPretax profit$37.7bn · 33%Running costs$69.7bn · 62%Loan losses$5.7bn · 5%Net income: $30.5bnIncome tax: $7.2bnNet income$30.5bn · 27%Income tax$7.2bn · 6%
Money map (a Sankey diagram): band widths are to scale. Hover a band for the amount. Source: BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ 10-K filings.

Bank of America kept $27 ✓ of every $100 of revenue as profit in FY2025. For a bank, revenue means what is left after paying interest to savers and lenders. Bank of America's revenue was $113.1bn ✓ in FY2025. Net interest income made up $60.1bn ✓ and fees and other income $53.0bn ✓.

Deposits are the bank's main funding. In 2025 it held an average of $514.5 billion of deposits that pay no interest, plus $1.47 trillion that paid 2.35% on average 28. Fees came from investment and brokerage services, trading for clients, investment banking, service charges and cards 1.

Running costs took $69.7bn ✓. Next, the bank set aside $5.7bn ✓ for loans that may not be repaid. That left pretax profit of $37.7bn ✓. After tax of $7.2bn ✓, Bank of America kept $30.5bn ✓ as profit. Out of every $100 of revenue, about $62 ✓ went on running costs, $5 ✓ on loan losses and $6 ✓ on tax. The bank kept $27 ✓.

Out of every $100 of revenue in FY2025…

Running costs (staff, offices, technology) $62Loan losses $5Income tax $6Profit kept $27
💡
Interest is a bit more than half of Bank of America's revenue, at 53% ✓ in FY2025. In the July to September 2026 quarter, compared with a year earlier, net interest income rose 8% to $16.4 billion, while total revenue rose 3% to $30.0 billion 25.

⏱️ Bank of America by the clock

Spread the FY2025 totals evenly over its 365 days and you get this. Source: BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ 10-K [2].

🛒
$310m
in revenue every day
⏱️
$967
of profit every second
🎁
$85m
handed to shareholders every day

📈How is Bank of America doing?

Bank of America grows slowly but steadily. From FY2015 to FY2025, revenue grew 3.1% ✓ a year on average. It rose in 9 ✓ of those 10 ✓ years; FY2020 was the one fall, at -6.3% ✓. Profit grew faster, from $15.9bn ✓ in FY2015 to $30.5bn ✓ in FY2025. The share of revenue left as pretax profit rose from 26.7% ✓ to 33.3% ✓.

The four quarters to 30 June 2026 were stronger still. Revenue reached $121.1bn ✓, up 9.7% ✓ on the four quarters before, and profit was $33.7bn ✓. In the July to September 2026 quarter, profit was $6.9 billion, down from $8.3 billion a year earlier 25. That included a $1.2 billion charge for penalties over parts of its anti-money laundering and sanctions programs 29. Without that charge, profit would have been $8.1 billion 25.

📝 The report card

Bank of America earns a top mark for steadiness and middling marks for growth, profit and its equity cushion. Cash generation is not graded ✓ for banks. Every company is graded on the same fixed scale, so an A means the same thing on every page. The strip shows where Bank of America (orange) and its 5 peers land; further right is better.

C

Growth

Revenue growth per year, last 3 fiscal years
6.0% · peer median 7.2%
#4 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 15.0%B ≥ 10.0%C ≥ 5.0%D ≥ 0.0%F below 0.0%

Bank of America's revenue grew 6.0% ✓ a year over its last three fiscal years, which earns a C ✓. That ranked number 4 of the six banks ✓, below the 7.2% ✓ peer median. JPMorgan grew 12.3% ✓ a year, which earns a B ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Growing revenue is the engine of a business. For a bank, revenue is what it earns after paying interest to savers and lenders; for an insurer, it is mostly premiums. Mature giants rarely grow fast, so 5% a year already earns a C.

C

Profitability

Return on equity (profit ÷ shareholders' equity), last 3 years combined
9.4% · peer median 11.0%
#5 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 15.0%B ≥ 12.0%C ≥ 9.0%D ≥ 6.0%F below 6.0%

Over the last three years combined, Bank of America earned 9.4% ✓ profit on its owners' money, which earns a C ✓. That ranked number 5 of six ✓, below the 11.0% ✓ peer median. JPMorgan earned 15.9% ✓, an A ✓.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Banks and insurers work with other people's money, so profit margins on revenue say little. Return on equity shows how much profit they make on the owners' money; above 15% is excellent for a big bank or insurer.

–

Cash generation

Not graded

Not graded for banks and insurers: their cash flow mostly moves customers' money (deposits, loans, premiums), so it says little about the business.

A bank's cash flow mostly shows customers' money moving in and out. Bank of America's operating cash flow went from $45.0bn ✓ in FY2023 to -$8.8bn ✓ in FY2024, which says little about how the business did.

C

Balance sheet

Shareholders' equity as a share of total assets
8.9% · peer median 8.0%
#1 of 6 in the peer group
A ≥ 12.0%B ≥ 10.0%C ≥ 8.0%D ≥ 6.0%F below 6.0%

Shareholders' equity was 8.9% ✓ of everything Bank of America owned at the end of FY2025, which earns a C ✓. That ranked number 1 of the six banks ✓, above the 8.0% ✓ peer median. Regulators use a different test called CET1. Bank of America's was 10.9% at 30 September 2026, above its 10.0% minimum 9.

Why this measure? (higher is better)

Owners' equity is the cushion that absorbs losses before customers' money is at risk. The thicker the cushion compared with everything the company owns, the safer it is.

A

Steadiness

How much yearly revenue growth swings (standard deviation, up to 10 years)
3.8% · peer median 6.8%
#1 of 6 in the peer group
A ≤ 5.0%B ≤ 8.0%C ≤ 12.0%D ≤ 18.0%F above 18.0%

Bank of America's yearly growth swings by only 3.8% ✓, measured as a standard deviation, which earns an A ✓. That ranked number 1 of the six banks ✓. Goldman Sachs, at 15.5% ✓, earns a D ✓.

Why this measure? (lower is better)

Steady growers are easier to plan around. Big swings mean revenue depends on interest rates, markets or one-off events.

🧑‍🏫 How the grades work
  1. Same scale for everyone. Each measure has fixed cut-offs (shown under each strip). Clear the A line and you get an A, whatever your peers do.
  2. Three years together. Profitability and cash generation add up the last three fiscal years before dividing, so one unusual year counts for less than it would on its own (a year much bigger than the others still weighs most).
  3. Banks and insurers are graded differently. They lend or invest customers' money, so profitability uses return on equity, the balance sheet uses the owners' share of total assets, and cash generation is not graded. They are compared only with other banks and insurers.
  4. Peers for context. The rank shows how Bank of America compares with the group. Companies within 0.1 percentage point share a rank.
  5. Same source. Every company's figures come from its own latest annual report (10-K), so fiscal years end in different months.
  6. Judgement, openly stated. The cut-offs are QuantVantage.ai's view of what good looks like for a large, established company. They are not a forecast or a recommendation.

11 years at a glance

Revenue
$113.1bn
FY2025
Revenue by fiscal yearFY2015: $83.0bnFY2016: $83.7bnFY2017: $87.1bnFY2018: $91.0bnFY2019: $91.2bnFY2020: $85.5bnFY2021: $89.1bnFY2022: $95.0bnFY2023: $102.8bnFY2024: $105.9bnFY2025: $113.1bnFY2015FY2025
Pretax margin
33.3%
FY2025
Pretax marginFY2015FY2025
Buybacks + dividends
$31.0bn
FY2025
Buybacks and dividends by fiscal yearFY2015: $5.9bnFY2016: $9.3bnFY2017: $18.5bnFY2018: $27.0bnFY2019: $34.1bnFY2020: $14.8bnFY2021: $33.2bnFY2022: $13.6bnFY2023: $13.7bnFY2024: $22.6bnFY2025: $31.0bnFY2015FY2025
Shareholders' equity
$303.2bn
end of FY2025
Shareholders' equity by fiscal yearFY2015: $255.6bnFY2016: $266.2bnFY2017: $267.1bnFY2018: $265.3bnFY2019: $264.8bnFY2020: $272.9bnFY2021: $270.1bnFY2022: $273.2bnFY2023: $290.2bnFY2024: $294.0bnFY2025: $303.2bnFY2015FY2025

Where the cash goes

Bank of America hands back much of its profit to shareholders. From FY2015 to FY2025 it spent $223.7bn ✓ on dividends and buybacks. In FY2025 it paid out $31.0bn ✓, or 101.6% ✓ of profit: $9.6bn ✓ in dividends and $21.4bn ✓ in buybacks. In the July to September 2026 quarter it returned another $8.3 billion 25. In July 2026 it raised its quarterly dividend by 14% to $0.32 per share 37.

Net income vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bn$30bnFY2016 net income $17.8bnFY2016 buybacks + dividends $9.3bnFY16FY2017 net income $18.2bnFY2017 buybacks + dividends $18.5bnFY17FY2018 net income $28.1bnFY2018 buybacks + dividends $27.0bnFY18FY2019 net income $27.4bnFY2019 buybacks + dividends $34.1bnFY19FY2020 net income $17.9bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $14.8bnFY20FY2021 net income $32.0bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $33.2bnFY21FY2022 net income $27.5bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $13.6bnFY22FY2023 net income $26.3bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $13.7bnFY23FY2024 net income $27.0bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $22.6bnFY24FY2025 net income $30.5bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $31.0bnFY25
Net income vs cash returned to shareholders$0bn$10bn$20bn$30bnFY2020 net income $17.9bnFY2020 buybacks + dividends $14.8bnFY20FY2021 net income $32.0bnFY2021 buybacks + dividends $33.2bnFY21FY2022 net income $27.5bnFY2022 buybacks + dividends $13.6bnFY22FY2023 net income $26.3bnFY2023 buybacks + dividends $13.7bnFY23FY2024 net income $27.0bnFY2024 buybacks + dividends $22.6bnFY24FY2025 net income $30.5bnFY2025 buybacks + dividends $31.0bnFY25
■ Net income   ■ Buybacks + dividends. Source: BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ 10-K filings.

🧮Ratios 101: what are Bank of America's key financial ratios?

Ratios shrink Bank of America's giant numbers into easy comparisons. For a bank, profit on the owners' money and on total assets matter most. A ratio divides one number by another so companies of any size can be compared. Each card shows the formula with Bank of America's real FY2025 numbers, the peer median and the trend.

💰 Profitability: how much of each dollar of revenue is kept?

Higher is better

Net margin

27.0%
Net income$30.5bn$113.1bnRevenue=27.0%

The bottom line: profit after interest and taxes, per dollar of revenue.

👉 Bank of America keeps 27.0% ✓ of revenue as final profit, up from 19.2% ✓ in FY2015 and above the 25.5% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 15% is strong; one-off tax items can move it in a single year.

Peer median 25.5% (5 peers)FY2015 19.2%
Net margin by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

Return on equity (ROE)

10.1%
Net income$30.5bn$303.2bnShareholders' equity=10.1%

Profit earned for each dollar that shareholders have left in the company.

👉 ROE of 10.1% ✓ is up from 6.2% ✓ in FY2015, but below the 13.7% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Around 15% or more is good, but buybacks shrink equity and can make ROE look huge.

Peer median 13.7% (5 peers)FY2015 6.2%
Return on equity (ROE) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

⚙️ Efficiency: how hard do the assets work?

Higher is better

Return on assets (ROA)

0.9%
Net income$30.5bn$3,411.7bnTotal assets=0.9%

Profit earned from everything the company owns, however it was paid for.

👉 Banks earn thin profits on huge balance sheets. Bank of America made 0.9% ✓ on $3,411.7bn ✓ of assets, close to the 1.0% ✓ peer median and up from 0.7% ✓ in FY2015.

📏 Rule of thumb: For big banks, about 1% on assets is usual and above 1.2% is strong; insurers are not judged on that scale.

Peer median 1.0% (5 peers)FY2015 0.7%
Return on assets (ROA) by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

💵 Cash and owners: where does the money end up?

Lower is better

Stock pay

3.5%
Share-based pay$4.0bn$113.1bnRevenue=3.5%

Pay given to staff in shares instead of cash. It is a real cost to owners because it adds shares.

👉 Stock pay is 3.5% ✓ of revenue, above the 2.4% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Banks and insurers pay part of their staff in shares, so a few percent of revenue is normal.

Peer median 2.4% (4 peers)FY2015 -0.1%
Stock pay by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025
It depends

Shareholder payout

101.6%
Dividends + buybacks$31.0bn$30.5bnNet income=101.6%

How much of the year's profit was handed back to owners.

👉 Bank of America returned 101.6% ✓ of FY2025 profit, up from 37.4% ✓ in FY2015 and close to the 102.7% ✓ peer median.

📏 Rule of thumb: Above 100% means it returned more than it earned, using cash savings or debt.

Peer median 102.7% (5 peers)FY2015 37.4%
Shareholder payout by fiscal yearFY2015FY2025

Ratios use fiscal-year-end balance sheet values. Inputs are shown rounded, so dividing them can differ from the result in the last digit. A peer median leaves out peers that do not report the inputs, or where the ratio means nothing (for example, negative shareholders' equity). Rules of thumb are general guides from QuantVantage.ai, not hard limits. No share-price ratios (like price-to-earnings) are shown on this page.

🥊Who are Bank of America's competitors?

Bank of America meets every big US bank, but on different fronts. JPMorgan, Wells Fargo and Citigroup run large US banks 121314 1516 3171819. Goldman Sachs meets it in deal advice and trading 202122. Morgan Stanley meets it there and in wealth 2324.

Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%15%0%10%20%30%40%Revenue growth per year, 3 years →Pretax margin →JPMorgan Chase: revenue $182.4bn, growth 12.3%/yr, pretax margin 39.8%JPMBank of America: revenue $113.1bn, growth 6.0%/yr, pretax margin 33.3%BACCitigroup: revenue $85.2bn, growth 4.2%/yr, pretax margin 23.3%CWells Fargo: revenue $83.7bn, growth 4.0%/yr, pretax margin 30.1%WFCMorgan Stanley: revenue $70.6bn, growth 9.6%/yr, pretax margin 31.1%MSGoldman Sachs: revenue $58.3bn, growth 7.2%/yr, pretax margin 37.5%GS
Peer map: growth vs profitability, bubble size = revenue0%5%10%15%0%10%20%30%40%Revenue growth per year, 3 years →Pretax margin →JPMorgan Chase: revenue $182.4bn, growth 12.3%/yr, pretax margin 39.8%JPMBank of America: revenue $113.1bn, growth 6.0%/yr, pretax margin 33.3%BACCitigroup: revenue $85.2bn, growth 4.2%/yr, pretax margin 23.3%CWells Fargo: revenue $83.7bn, growth 4.0%/yr, pretax margin 30.1%WFCMorgan Stanley: revenue $70.6bn, growth 9.6%/yr, pretax margin 31.1%MSGoldman Sachs: revenue $58.3bn, growth 7.2%/yr, pretax margin 37.5%GS
Peer map from each company's latest 10-K. Bubble size = revenue. Source: SEC filings [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].
CompanyWhere they competeRevenueGrowth/yr (3y)Pretax marginReturn on equity (3y)
Bank of America (BAC, FY2025)Checking, cards, small business loans, wealth (Merrill), company banking and trading 10 3 311$113.1bn6.0%33.3%9.4%
JPMorgan Chase (JPM, FY2025)The largest US bank by assets; both banks claim first place in US deposits on different measures 121314$182.4bn12.3%39.8%15.9%
Wells Fargo (WFC, FY2025)Nationwide consumer banking plus company, investment banking and wealth businesses 1516$83.7bn4.0%30.1%11.0%
Citigroup (C, FY2025)US credit cards, company cash management, investment banking and trading 3171819$85.2bn4.2%23.3%5.8%
Goldman Sachs (GS, FY2025)Deal advice, raising money for companies and trading for big investors 202122$58.3bn7.2%37.5%11.0%
Morgan Stanley (MS, FY2025)Investment banking, trading and wealth businesses built on financial advisors 2324$70.6bn9.6%31.1%12.5%

Bank of America's annual report also names credit unions, brokers, card issuers, fund firms and internet-based and nonfinancial companies as rivals 10. In payments between people, it co-owns the company behind the Zelle network with other big banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo 38.

🧭Bank of America SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

💪 Strengths

  • It was No. 1 in US consumer deposits and the No. 1 small business lender for 21 straight quarters, based on federal data for April to June 2026 2526.
  • It had 38.9 million consumer checking accounts in the July to September 2026 quarter, and 92% were the customer's main account 2526.
  • In 2025 it held an average of $514.5 billion of deposits that pay no interest 28.
  • Its revenue growth swings less than any of the other five banks compared here, which earns an A ✓ for steadiness.

🩹 Weaknesses

  • It earned 9.4% ✓ on its owners' money over the last three years combined, a C ✓ and below the peer median.
  • Costs were 66% of revenue in the July to September 2026 quarter, or 62% without the settlement charge, against 58.5% at Citigroup 252618.
  • In October 2026 regulators issued consent orders over parts of its anti-money laundering and sanctions programs 29.
  • In the July to September 2026 quarter, compared with a year earlier, its investment banking fees fell 11% to $1.8 billion 20.

🚀 Opportunities

  • Average loans grew for the 10th straight quarter in the July to September 2026 quarter, reaching $1.23 trillion 25.
  • Wealth clients brought in $74 billion of net new managed assets in the twelve months to 30 September 2026 2520.
  • Its BofA Rewards program, launched in May 2026, had 17.6 million clients enrolled by the July to September 2026 quarter, including members carried over from an older program 26.
  • In October 2026 the bank said more than 200,000 employees were using AI tools, with over 300 approved uses 25.

⚠️ Threats

  • The bank estimated at 30 September 2026 that an instant 1 point fall in interest rates would cut its banking book net interest income by $1.9 billion over 12 months 30.
  • Under current rules, its extra capital charge as a global systemically important bank is set to rise from 3.0% to 3.5% on 1 January 2027 9.
  • Its annual report warns that cyberattacks on it and its vendors are growing in number and sophistication 31.
  • Internet-based and nonfinancial companies, including firms using digital assets, compete with it 10.
  • New capital rules proposed in 2026 could change how much capital it must hold, and they are not yet final 9.

🏰Does Bank of America have a moat?

Narrow moatSticky checking accounts and the most US consumer deposits protect Bank of America, but in July to September 2026 its costs took a bigger share of revenue than Citigroup's 2526 2526 252618.
Brand 3/5
Why 3?

Bank of America was No. 1 in US consumer deposits and the No. 1 small business lender for 21 straight quarters, based on federal data for April to June 2026 2526. Its wealth arm added about 5,000 net new relationships with $500,000 or more in the July to September 2026 quarter 2520. But it competes with many kinds of firms, from credit unions to internet-based companies 10.

Switching costs 4/5
Why 4?

It had 38.9 million consumer checking accounts in the July to September 2026 quarter, 92% of them the customer's main account 2526. In that quarter 59% of Consumer Banking's $949 billion of average deposits sat in checking accounts 26. Its Global Banking unit has relationships with 96% of the US Fortune 1,000 20. Wealth clients brought in $74 billion of net new managed assets in the twelve months to 30 September 2026 2520.

Network effects 3/5
Why 3?

In the July to September 2026 quarter, 25.7 million active Zelle users at the bank sent and received 500 million payments 26. Its CashPro app handled $358 billion of payments in that quarter, up 20% 20. But it competes with banks, card issuers and internet-based companies 10.

Cost advantages and scale 3/5
Why 3?

Its main bank had $2.65 trillion of assets and 3,593 US branches at 30 June 2026, second to JPMorgan Chase Bank's $4.09 trillion 1727. Its costs improved to 61.65% of revenue in 2025 from 63.12% in 2024 1. But in the July to September 2026 quarter they were 66%, or 62% without the settlement charge, against 58.5% at Citigroup 252618.

Intangibles (patents, licences, regulation) 3/5
Why 3?

Bank of America is supervised by the Federal Reserve, and its national banks by the OCC, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve 11. As a global systemically important bank, it must also hold extra capital buffers 11. Still, many firms outside banking compete with it, including internet-based companies 10.

A moat is what keeps rivals from taking a company's customers and profits. Scores are QuantVantage.ai's judgement (5 = strongest), set with the same rubric on every explainer (orange is Bank of America; grey dots are peers).

🔭What should you watch next?

24 Dec 2026

Next dividend payment

The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share on 21 October 2026, for shareholders of record on 4 December 2026 39.

1 Jan 2027

Higher capital charge

Under current rules, its extra charge as a global systemically important bank is set to rise from 3.0% to 3.5%, lifting its minimum CET1 ratio by 0.5 points from 10.0% 9.

Through 31 Dec 2027

Stress capital buffer

The buffer stays at 2.5% to the end of 2027 9. From 1 January 2029 it will be based on the average of the two latest stress tests 9.

No end date given

Anti-money laundering clean-up

Consent orders require remedial work, including independent reviews of past transactions and of checks on customers 29.

No final date

New capital rules

Regulators proposed new capital rules for large banks on 19 March 2026, and the bank is evaluating their impact 9. Final versions could change its capital requirements 9.

📚Learn the words

Revenue (for a bank)The money a bank takes in from interest and fees, after paying interest to its savers and lenders.
Net interest incomeThe interest a bank earns on loans and bonds, minus the interest it pays on deposits and borrowings.
Fees and other income (noninterest income)Money a bank earns without lending, such as advice fees, card fees, wealth fees and trading for clients.
DepositMoney a person or company keeps at a bank. The bank can lend it out or invest it, but must pay it back on request.
Loan-loss provisionMoney a bank sets aside from its profit for loans it expects will not be repaid.
Primary checking accountThe account a customer uses as their main one, for pay coming in and bills going out.
Efficiency ratioA bank's costs as a share of its revenue. Lower means the bank spends less to earn each dollar.
CET1 ratioThe bank's own money, mostly from shareholders, compared with how risky its loans and investments are. It is the first cushion against losses.
G-SIBA global systemically important bank: one so big that regulators make it hold extra capital.
Return on equityProfit divided by the money shareholders have in the company.
Economic moatA lasting advantage, like a strong brand or high switching costs, that keeps rivals from taking a company's customers.
Fiscal yearA company's own 12-month accounting year. Bank of America's matches the calendar year, so FY2025 ended in December 2025.

❓Frequently asked questions about Bank of America

How does Bank of America make money?

It makes money in two main ways. It earns more interest on loans and bonds than it pays on deposits, which brought in $60.1bn ✓ in FY2025. Fees and other income, such as wealth fees, trading and cards, added $53.0bn ✓ 1.

Is Merrill part of Bank of America?

Yes. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith is one of Bank of America's main US broker-dealers, and Merrill Wealth Management sits in its wealth business 311.

Is Bank of America the biggest bank in the US?

Not by assets. At 30 June 2026 its main bank was second, with $2.65 trillion, behind JPMorgan Chase Bank's $4.09 trillion 1727. But it was No. 1 in US consumer deposits, based on federal data for April to June 2026 2526.

What was the $1.2 billion charge in late 2026?

It covered penalties after US regulators announced consent orders and a settlement over parts of its anti-money laundering and sanctions programs on 13 October 2026 29. Without it, profit for July to September 2026 would have been $8.1 billion 25.

How much capital does Bank of America hold?

Its CET1 ratio was 10.9% at 30 September 2026, above its 10.0% minimum 9. That minimum adds a 3.0% charge for global systemically important banks and a 2.5% stress buffer to a 4.5% base 9.

What happens to Bank of America if interest rates fall?

The bank expects to earn less net interest income. It estimated at 30 September 2026 that an instant 1 point fall in rates would cut banking book net interest income by $1.9 billion over 12 months 30.

How many customers does Bank of America have?

About 69 million consumer and small business clients at 31 December 2025 1. It had 38.9 million consumer checking accounts in the July to September 2026 quarter 2526.

Who runs Bank of America?

Brian Moynihan has been chief executive since January 2010 and chair of the board since October 2014 32.

🎮Play: higher or lower, then test yourself

Higher or lower · round 1 of 3

Figures come from each company's latest annual report (10-K); fiscal years end in different months. Sources: [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].

Score: 0

🧠 Test yourself

5 quick questions. Score: 0 / 5

1. Roughly how much profit did Bank of America make each second in FY2025?

Profit of $30.5bn ✓ works out to $967 ✓ every second.

2. In which city is Bank of America based?

Its main offices are on North Tryon Street in Charlotte, North Carolina 10.

3. Out of every 100 Bank of America consumer checking accounts, about how many are the customer's main account?

92% of its 38.9 million consumer checking accounts were the customer's main account in the July to September 2026 quarter 2526.

4. How many times did customers log in to Bank of America's digital banking from July to September 2026?

Customers logged in 4.2 billion times in that quarter 26.

5. What is Erica?

Erica is the bank's virtual assistant, with 24.2 million active users in the July to September 2026 quarter 26.

🔎Sources and method

Every figure comes from a source listed here or is calculated from those sources (marked ✓). Company financials are taken from SEC filings (10-K and 10-Q) as tagged in XBRL. Peer grades rank the same measures across the company and its peers. This page contains no share-price data and no valuation.

  1. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — MD&A Business Overview and Financial Highlights: assets, clients, branches, ATMs, net interest income, noninterest income table (accessed 2026-10-30)
  2. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Bank of America (BAC) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  3. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — MD&A Business Segment Operations: Consumer Banking, GWIM, Global Banking and Global Markets descriptions and 2025 results (accessed 2026-10-30)
  4. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO (JPM) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  5. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN (WFC) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  6. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: CITIGROUP INC (C) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  7. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC (GS) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  8. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: MORGAN STANLEY (MS) — annual 10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  9. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-30) — Capital Management and Regulatory Developments: capital minimums, G-SIB surcharge, stress capital buffer, rule proposals (accessed 2026-10-30)
  10. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — Cover and Item 1 Business: fiscal year, corporate form, headquarters, four segments, competition (accessed 2026-10-30)
  11. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — Item 1 Supervision and Regulation, Item 1A and Capital Management: regulators, G-SIB surcharge, stress capital buffer, leverage rules (accessed 2026-10-30)
  12. Federal Reserve statistical release: Large Commercial Banks (data as of June 30, 2026, released October 2, 2026) — Bank-level consolidated assets, ranks and domestic branch counts (accessed 2026-10-30)
  13. JPMorgan Chase 8-K Exhibit 99.1: third-quarter 2026 earnings release (October 13, 2026) — Q3 2026 firm and segment results, capital ratios, distributions, CEO comments, company overview (accessed 2026-10-30)
  14. Bank of America 8-K Exhibit 99.1: third-quarter 2026 earnings release — Q3 2026 efficiency ratio; first place in US consumer deposits (accessed 2026-10-30)
  15. Bank of America third quarter 2026 earnings release (Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1) — Third quarter 2026 revenue, efficiency ratio, deposits, consumer deposit rank (accessed 2026-10-30)
  16. Wells Fargo third quarter 2026 earnings release (Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1) — Third quarter 2026 results, segment descriptions and drivers (accessed 2026-10-30)
  17. Federal Reserve statistical release: Large Commercial Banks, data as of June 30, 2026 — Ranking of U.S. commercial banks by consolidated assets, with domestic branch counts, June 30, 2026 (accessed 2026-10-30)
  18. Citigroup third-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 (filed 2026-10-13) — Citigroup third-quarter 2026 efficiency ratio, loans and deposits (accessed 2026-10-30)
  19. Citigroup Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-20) — Citigroup's five business segments (accessed 2026-10-30)
  20. Bank of America third-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 (filed 2026-10-14) — Third-quarter 2026 GWIM, Global Banking and Global Markets pages: client balances, fees, client relationships, trading revenue (accessed 2026-10-30)
  21. Goldman Sachs third-quarter 2026 earnings results presentation, Form 8-K exhibit (filed 2026-10-13) — Goldman Sachs third-quarter 2026 investment banking fees, FICC and equities net revenues (accessed 2026-10-30)
  22. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — Goldman Sachs business segments and what Global Banking & Markets does (accessed 2026-10-30)
  23. Morgan Stanley Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — MD&A Wealth Management metrics: client assets, channels, net new assets, loans, deposits, pre-tax margin (accessed 2026-10-30)
  24. Bank of America Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025 — Business segments; Global Wealth and Investment Management businesses, client balances and margin (accessed 2026-10-30)
  25. Bank of America third-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 (filed 2026-10-14) — Third-quarter 2026 results: net income, revenue, net interest income, loans, deposits, credit quality, capital returned, CEO remarks (accessed 2026-10-30)
  26. Bank of America third-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 (filed 2026-10-14) — Third-quarter 2026 Consumer Banking page: checking accounts, deposits ranking, digital use, Zelle and Erica users, BofA Rewards (accessed 2026-10-30)
  27. FDIC BankFind institution record: Bank of America, National Association (certificate 3510) — Establishment date, location, total assets and domestic offices of the main bank (accessed 2026-10-30)
  28. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — MD&A Table 8 Average Balances and Interest Rates: average deposits and rates paid, 2025 (accessed 2026-10-30)
  29. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-30) — Recent Developments and Litigation: October 2026 consent orders and regulatory settlement charge (accessed 2026-10-30)
  30. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-30) — Table 41 banking book net interest income sensitivity to interest rate changes (accessed 2026-10-30)
  31. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — Item 1A Risk Factors: cybersecurity, reputation and conduct risks (accessed 2026-10-30)
  32. Bank of America Corporation 2026 proxy statement (DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-23) — Director biography: Brian Moynihan's roles and dates (accessed 2026-10-30)
  33. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (filed 2026-02-25) — Item 1 Human Capital Resources: employees, training, minimum wage (accessed 2026-10-30)
  34. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Bank of America (BAC) — quarterly 10-Q/10-K facts (accessed 2026-10-28)
  35. SEC EDGAR companyfacts: Bank of America (BAC) — balance sheet at 2026-06-30 (accessed 2026-10-28)
  36. Bank of America (BAC) Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, filed 2026-02-25 — revenue by product, segment and geography (accessed 2026-10-28)
  37. Bank of America news release on the common stock dividend, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 (filed 2026-07-24) — Dividend increase to $0.32 per quarter and first-half 2026 capital returns (accessed 2026-10-30)
  38. New York Attorney General press release (August 13, 2025): lawsuit against the company behind Zelle — Banks that own Early Warning Services, the operator of Zelle (accessed 2026-10-30)
  39. Bank of America Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed 2026-10-30) — Recent Developments and Item 2: dividend declared October 21, 2026 and share repurchases in the quarter (accessed 2026-10-30)