CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bank of America Corporation today reported first-quarter 2008 net income declined to $1.21 billion from $5.26 billion a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share fell 80 percent to $0.23 from $1.16 in the same period in 2007.
"Despite revenue growth in most of our businesses, these results clearly did not meet our expectations," said Kenneth D. Lewis, chairman and chief executive officer. "The weakness in the economy and prolonged disruptions in the capital markets took their toll on our performance. That said, we are continuing to invest in growth initiatives across the company, and believe our core strengths - including our diverse income stream, liquidity and capital - put us in a strong position to withstand the jolts to the system and emerge even stronger when conditions improve."
With regard to the outlook for the U.S. economy, Lewis noted that gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to be minimal at best in the second quarter, with a slight pickup in the second half of the year.
"Our earnings power from our core business activities is strong and growing," Lewis added. "We are bringing innovative new products to market, taking market share and expanding customer relationships across the company. Nevertheless, we remain concerned about the health of the consumer given the prolonged housing slump, subprime issues, employment levels and higher fuel and food prices."
Provision expense increased by $4.78 billion from a year-ago, to $6.01 billion due to rising credit costs - particularly in the home equity, small business and homebuilder portfolios - including a $3.30 billion increase to the reserve.
Trading-related losses were $1.31 billion compared with income of $1.66 billion a year earlier, driven primarily by $1.47 billion in writedowns of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and $439 million in writedowns of leveraged loans. Trading-related losses were $5.15 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007, which included CDO-related writedowns of $5.28 billion.
Total retail sales increased 10 percent to 13 million products, driven by strong growth in checking and savings, debit and online banking. Net new retail checking accounts grew 14 percent or by 557,000. Key contributors of growth include free Online Checking and our Affinity and Group Banking products. Additionally 45 percent of new checking account openings participated in Keep the Change(TM), Bank of America's savings program that combines debit cards and deposit products.
Total average retail deposits increased $51 billion, or 11 percent, on solid increases in certificates of deposit and consumer checking accounts and the addition of U.S. Trust and LaSalle. Debit card purchase volume increased 15 percent.
Direct-to-consumer mortgage originations in the quarter rose 32 percent, resulting in the highest quarter since 2003, as low mortgage rates in January spurred refinancing activity.
Within Global Wealth and Investment Management, loans rose 30 percent and deposits increased 29 percent, including the impact of the U.S. Trust and LaSalle acquisitions.
The integration of U.S. Trust and LaSalle remains on schedule. In May, U.S. Trust is scheduled to convert trust, custody and investment management accounts for legacy U.S. Trust clients to the Bank of America platform, and LaSalle will convert to the Bank of America brand, providing LaSalle customers with even greater access to Bank of America products and services. The Countrywide acquisition is still expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.
The $0 Online Equity Trades initiative resulted in more than 20,000 net new self-directed accounts.
Mobile Banking recorded approximately 224,000 activations reaching 840,000 active customers.
Keep the Change(TM) reached 8 million net new enrollments since inception, with 974,000 customers alone signing up in the first quarter.
(2) Results shown are defined by Global Wealth and Investment Management's calculation of the percentage of assets under management in the top two quartiles of categories based on Morningstar as of March 31, 2008. The category percentile rank was calculated by ranking the one and three year net returns of share classes within the categories. The assets of the number of funds within the top 2 quartile results were added and then divided by Columbia Management's total equity fund assets under management. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The share class earning the ranking may have limited eligibility and may not be available to all investors.
(3) Barron's, February 4, 2008. Rankings for the five year period include performance of Excelsior Funds that were acquired by Bank of America Corporation from U.S. Trust on July 1, 2007. For additional important information, please refer to the end of the text section of this press release.
Revenue net of interest expense on a fully taxable-equivalent basis declined 6 percent to $17.30 billion from $18.48 billion in the first quarter a year earlier.
Net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis rose 20 percent to $10.29 billion from $8.60 billion in the first quarter of 2007 on strong loan growth; an increase from market-based net interest income; and the addition of LaSalle. The increase was partially offset by higher funding costs. The net interest yield improved 12 basis points to 2.73 percent.
Noninterest income declined 29 percent to $7.01 billion from $9.89 billion a year earlier. Increases in service charges, card income, mortgage-banking income and investment and brokerage services were more than offset by trading account losses and lower other income related to CDO writedowns. Equity investment income remained essentially unchanged as the gain from the Visa, Inc. initial public offering was offset by reductions in Principal Investing gains.
Noninterest expense was relatively flat compared to a year earlier as lower personnel expenses and the reversal of litigation costs related to Visa were offset by modest increases in most other expense categories. Pretax merger and restructuring charges related to acquisitions were $170 million compared with $111 million a year earlier due to the addition of U.S. Trust and LaSalle.
Credit quality deteriorated from more favorable levels experienced in the first half of 2007. Weak markets, particularly geographic regions that have experienced the most significant home price declines, and the slowing economy resulted in credit deterioration in several portfolios particularly home equity, small business and homebuilders.
Provision expense rose $4.78 billion from the year-ago period mainly because of additions to the allowance for loan and lease losses in consumer and commercial portfolios directly tied to housing. Portfolio seasoning and the impact of a slowing economy on domestic consumer and small business portfolios also drove reserve additions compared with reductions a year earlier from securitization activities and the sale of a portfolio. Net charge-offs increased $1.29 billion from a year ago, also reflecting housing market deterioration and slowing economic conditions.
Provision for credit losses was $6.01 billion, up from $3.31 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007, and $1.24 billion in the first quarter of 2007.
Net charge-offs were $2.72 billion, or 1.25 percent, of total average loans and leases compared with $1.99 billion, or 0.91 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $1.43 billion, or 0.81 percent, in the first quarter of 2007.
Total managed net losses were $4.14 billion, or 1.69 percent, of total average managed loans and leases compared with $3.31 billion, or 1.34 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $2.57 billion, or 1.26 percent, in the first quarter of 2007.
Nonperforming assets were $7.83 billion, or 0.90 percent, of total loans, leases and foreclosed properties at quarter-end compared to $5.95 billion, or 0.68 percent, at December 31, 2007 and $2.06 billion, or 0.29 percent, at March 31, 2007. Results for the period ended March 31, 2007 do not include LaSalle.
The allowance for loan and lease losses was $14.89 billion, or 1.71 percent, of loans and leases measured at historical cost, at March 31, 2008. That compared with $11.59 billion, or 1.33 percent, at December 31, 2007 and $8.73 billion, or 1.21 percent, at March 31, 2007. Results for the period ended March 31, 2007 do not include LaSalle.
Total shareholders' equity was $156.31 billion at March 31. Period-end assets were $1.74 trillion. The Tier 1 Capital ratio was 7.51 percent, up from 6.87 percent at December 31, 2007 after the company raised about $13 billion in capital through the issuance of preferred stock in January. The Tier 1 ratio was 8.57 percent in the year ago quarter.
Bank of America paid a cash dividend of $0.64 per share in the quarter. The company also issued about 15 million common shares primarily related to restricted stock activity and did not repurchase any shares. Period-end common shares issued and outstanding were 4.45 billion for the first quarter of 2008 and 4.44 billion for the fourth and first quarters of 2007.
Managed net revenue rose 17 percent as mortgage banking income more than doubled and both card income and service charges increased 14 percent helping generate a 30 percent increase in noninterest income.
Net income fell 59 percent from a year ago, as credit costs rose and expenses increased 10 percent.
The provision for credit losses increased by $4.04 billion to $6.45 billion compared with a year ago. The increase was due to reserve additions for home equity reflecting the impacts of housing weakness and the slowing economy, as well as seasoning of the consumer portfolios and deterioration in the small business portfolio. Net losses increased $1.25 billion to $3.69 billion, reflecting housing market deterioration and weakened economic conditions.
Deposits net revenue declined 4 percent to $4.09 billion as spread compression and competitive pricing of deposits negatively impacted net interest income despite strong average deposit growth of 5 percent. Noninterest expenses increased $327 million, largely due to the acquisition of LaSalle and higher deposit levels and transaction volume, resulting in net income of $995 million, down 25 percent.
Card Services managed net revenue increased 21 percent to $7.33 billion due to 15 percent growth in net interest income and 33 percent growth in non interest income driven by 14 percent growth in average loans and leases, Card Services allocation of the Visa, Inc. IPO gain and higher card income. Net income of $670 million was down 39 percent as the higher net revenue and the reversal of litigation costs related to Visa were more than offset by higher credit costs.
Consumer Real Estate had $1.31 billion in net revenue, a 57 percent increase, as mortgage banking income more than doubled to $656 million. Net income fell to a loss of $773 million due to higher credit costs related to deterioration in the home equity portfolio.
Net revenue decreased 41 percent and net income fell 92 percent on CDO and leveraged finance-related writedowns. Also impacting net income was an increase in credit costs offset in part by a decline in noninterest expense.
The provision for credit losses increased $408 million to $523 million. The impact of the housing market slowdown on the homebuilder loan portfolio drove additions to the credit loss reserves and higher net charge-offs. Higher net charge-offs related to seasoning of the dealer-related retail portfolios, and modest increases in middle market net charge-offs from very low prior year levels also contributed to the increased provision.
Business Lending net revenue increased 22 percent to $1.64 billion due to improvements in net interest income, driven by an increase in average loans and leases of 30 percent due to the acquisition of LaSalle and organic loan growth. Net income declined 27 percent to $337 million as the revenue increase was more than offset by the increase in credit costs.
Capital Markets and Advisory Services had negative net revenue of $621 million compared with net revenue of $2.37 billion a year earlier. This was due primarily to CDO-related losses and writedowns on leveraged loans and commitments. The business had a net loss of $1.10 billion compared with net income of $528 million a year earlier.
Treasury Services net revenue increased 24 percent to $2.14 billion due to its allocation of the gain from the Visa, Inc. IPO and increased service charges. Net income increased 68 percent to $875 million as a result of the increased revenues and due to lower expenses related primarily to the reversal of litigation costs related to Visa.
Net revenue in Global Wealth and Investment Management increased 8 percent. Asset management fees rose 39 percent to $899 million mainly from the addition of U.S. Trust and LaSalle. The increase was offset by a $220 million loss related to support provided to certain cash funds.
Net income declined 54 percent as noninterest expense rose 35 percent due mainly to the additions of U.S. Trust and LaSalle combined with increased expenses related to the retirement and mass affluent initiatives. Provision for credit losses increased to $243 million from $23 million a year ago due to deterioration in the home equity portfolio from housing market weakness.
U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management net revenue rose 47 percent to $675 million driven by the acquisition of U.S. Trust and LaSalle. Net income rose 31 percent to $106 million.
Columbia Management net revenue declined 44 percent to $179 million, reflecting the support provided to certain cash funds, offset in part by the addition of U.S. Trust and growth in investment and brokerage services revenue. A net loss of $79 million resulted from the cash funds support and higher revenue-related operating expenses.
Premier Banking and Investments net revenue decreased 8 percent to $841 million on lower net interest income related to spread compression, driven by deposit mix and competitive pricing of deposits. Net income fell 67 percent to $104 million as credit costs increased by $238 million reflecting home equity portfolio deterioration.
All Other recorded a net loss of $223 million compared to net income of $615 million in the year earlier period. The decline was mainly due to lower equity investment income in Principal Investing and the absence of earnings from certain liquidated businesses when compared to last year. These decreases were partially offset by increases in gains on sales of debt securities and lower expenses related to stock-based compensation granted to retirement- eligible employees.
Note: Chief Executive Officer Kenneth D. Lewis and Chief Financial Officer Joe L. Price will discuss first quarter 2008 results in a conference call at 9:30 a.m. EDT today. The presentation and supporting materials can be accessed on the Bank of America Investor Relations web site at http://investor.bankofamerica.com. For a listen-only connection to the conference call, dial 800.894.5910 and the conference ID: 79795.
Columbia Management: Columbia Management Group, LLC ("Columbia Management") is the primary investment management division of Bank of America Corporation. Columbia Management entities furnish investment management services and products for institutional and individual investors. Columbia Funds and Excelsior Funds are distributed by Columbia Management Distributors, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC. Columbia Management Distributors, Inc. is part of Columbia Management and an affiliate of Bank of America Corporation. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any Columbia Fund or Excelsior Fund before investing. Contact your Columbia Management representative for a prospectus, which contains this and other important information about the fund. Read it carefully before investing.
Barron's, February 4, 2008. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. For the one, five and ten year periods ended 12/31/07, our fund family ranked 19 (of 67 fund families), 1 (of 61 fund families) and 17 (of 52 fund families) in the annual Lipper/Barron's Fund Families Survey. Mutual funds are advised by Columbia Management, the primary investment management division of Bank of America Corporation. Lipper calculated the returns of each fund, adjusted for 12b-1 fees and sales charges, and gave it a preliminary ranking, or percentile, in its category measuring how it compared with all peers tracked by Lipper. The percentile ranking was then weighted by asset size relative to the fund family's other assets in its general classification, e.g. world equity. This score was then multiplied by the weighting of its general classification, as determined by the entire Lipper universe of funds. Had 12b-1 fees or sales loads been included, rankings would have been lower.
SFAS 159 at and for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.
The Corporation reports its Global Consumer and Small Business Banking's results, specifically Card Services, on a managed basis. This basis of presentation excludes the Corporation's securitized mortgage and home equity portfolios for which the Corporation retains servicing. Reporting on a managed basis is consistent with the way that management evaluates the results of Global Consumer and Small Business Banking. Managed basis assumes that securitized loans were not sold and presents earnings on these loans in a manner similar to the way loans that have not been sold (i.e., held loans) are presented. Loan securitization is an alternative funding process that is used by the Corporation to diversify funding sources. Loan securitization removes loans from the Consolidated Balance Sheet through the sale of loans to an off- balance sheet qualified special purpose entity which is excluded from the Corporation's Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).
Managed net interest income includes Global Consumer and Small Business Banking's net interest income on held loans and interest income on the securitized loans less the internal funds transfer pricing allocation related to securitized loans.
Managed noninterest income includes Global Consumer and Small Business Banking's noninterest income on a held basis less the reclassification of certain components of card income (e.g., excess servicing income) to record managed net interest income and provision for credit losses. Noninterest income, both on a held and managed basis, also includes the impact of adjustments to the interest-only strip that are recorded in card income as management continues to manage this impact within Global Consumer and Small Business Banking.