CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 18, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Bank of America Corporation today reported that second quarter net income rose 12 percent to $4.30 billion from $3.85 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share increased 14 percent to $1.06 per share (diluted) from $0.93. Return on average common shareholders' equity in the second quarter was 17.54 percent.
Second quarter earnings included merger and restructuring charges of $121 million pre-tax, which reduced earnings per share by 2 cents.
Improved results were driven by a 7 percent increase in revenue and 3 percent decrease in noninterest expense. The revenue increase was primarily due to strong noninterest income growth, led by the growth in card income and service charges. Also contributing were gains from whole loan sales and equity investment gains. Noninterest expense fell due to savings created by the merger with FleetBoston Financial Corporation.
Nearly all major customer-related actions related to the Fleet integration have now been accomplished as several major systems conversions were completed during the quarter. Direct cost savings achieved in the second quarter totaled $441 million. Total savings from the Fleet merger are projected to be $1.85 billion for 2005.
For the first six months of 2005, Bank of America earned $8.99 billion, or $2.20 per share (diluted), compared to $6.53 billion, or $1.85 per share, a year earlier.
During the second quarter Bank of America agreed to buy approximately 9 percent of the stock of China Construction Bank for $3 billion, with the option of increasing its stake in future years. Bank of America also announced a definitive agreement to acquire MBNA Corporation. The MBNA acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
"I am very pleased with our continued strong performance in 2005," said Kenneth D. Lewis, chairman and chief executive officer. "Our ability to achieve profitable growth in the midst of a challenging interest rate environment demonstrates the value and resilience of our balanced business mix as well as the efficiency advantages of our large-scale enterprise."
"As we successfully complete the Fleet integration, and look ahead to the MBNA acquisition, we will build upon a successful customer-centric formula to provide continued long-term growth for investors from our expanded and enhanced financial services platform," Lewis said. "I am very proud that we are continuing to achieve customer growth while completing our integration of Fleet."
Average managed consumer credit card outstandings rose to $58.5 billion as the company added a record 1.6 million consumer credit card accounts in the quarter.
The bank added a record 629,000 net new retail checking accounts in the quarter.
Debit card purchase volume rose to over $35 billion in the quarter, an increase of 27 percent from second quarter 2004.
Average loans and leases in Global Business and Financial Services grew $5 billion from first quarter 2005, which was an annualized growth rate of more than 11 percent.
Total retail deposits grew 11 percent from the second quarter of 2004 to more than $428 billion in the second quarter of 2005.
Active online banking users increased to 13.6 million, while 6.6 million active online bill-payers paid more than $30 billion worth of bills, an increase of 41 percent from the second quarter of 2004.
The accounts of more than 1.9 million customers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Florida have been converted to Bank of America's retail platform, including all deposit and loan accounts, overdraft protection and online banking and bill pay. Final conversion of remaining customers in the Fleet footprint will take place later this month.
Net new retail checking accounts in the former Fleet footprint increased 78,000 in the second quarter of 2005, as compared to 16,000 net new retail checking accounts in the second quarter of 2004.
Middle market and business banking loans in the former Fleet footprint grew by more than $600 million during the quarter. This was an annualized increase of more than 17 percent.
Revenue on a fully taxable-equivalent basis grew to $14.21 billion from $13.22 billion the same quarter last year.
Net interest income on a fully taxable-equivalent basis was $7.84 billion, up 1 percent from $7.75 billion a year earlier. The increase was due to growth in consumer and business loans, a larger asset-liability management portfolio and higher domestic deposit levels. These increases were partially offset by the impact of further flattening of the yield curve, a lower trading-related contribution and lower levels of large corporate and foreign loans.
Noninterest income rose 16 percent to $6.37 billion from $5.47 billion a year earlier. These results were driven by gains from whole loan sales, card income, service charges and equity investment gains. These improvements were offset by weaker trading profits and investment banking income as well as lower mortgage banking income.
During the quarter, the company realized $325 million in securities gains, down significantly from $795 million in the second quarter of 2004.
Noninterest expense declined 3 percent to $7.02 billion compared to $7.23 billion a year ago. The efficiency ratio improved to 49.42 percent (48.56 percent excluding merger and restructuring charges). For 2005 year-to-date, the company has achieved operating leverage of 13.5 percent.
Most major credit quality indicators showed positive trends. The company recorded net recoveries on commercial loans. Credit card charge-offs increased from the second quarter of 2004 reflecting growth and seasoning in the portfolio, the impact of last year's changes in minimum payment requirements and bankruptcy reform. Consumer credit quality remained strong in all other categories.
Provision for credit losses was $875 million, up from $580 million in the first quarter of 2005 and $789 million a year earlier.
Net charge-offs were $880 million, or 0.68 percent of average loans and leases. This compared to $889 million, or 0.69 percent, in the first quarter of 2005 and $829 million, or 0.67 percent of average loans and leases in the second quarter of 2004.
Nonperforming assets decreased to $1.90 billion, or 0.36 percent of total loans, leases and foreclosed properties, at June 30, 2005. This compared to $2.34 billion, or 0.44 percent, at March 31, 2005 and $3.18 billion, or 0.64 percent, at June 30, 2004.
Total shareholders' equity was $100.54 billion at June 30, 2005. Period-end assets grew to $1.25 trillion. The Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 8.06 percent, compared to 8.20 percent at March 31, 2005 and a year ago.
During the quarter, Bank of America paid a cash dividend of $0.45 per share. The Board of Directors has increased the quarterly dividend to $0.50 per share, effective with the payment in the third quarter. The company issued 22 million shares, primarily related to employee stock options and ownership plans, and repurchased 40 million shares. Average common shares issued and outstanding were 4.01 billion in the second quarter, compared to 4.03 billion in the first quarter of 2005 and 4.06 billion in the second quarter of 2004.
Global Consumer and Small Business Banking earnings decreased 8 percent to $1.60 billion from $1.74 billion a year earlier. Revenue rose 5 percent to $7.06 billion.
The decline in earnings occurred because of an increase in provision expense due to increased credit card charge-offs. Also, included in this quarter's provision was $210 million to establish a reserve for anticipated net charge-offs from additional minimum payment requirements for consumer credit cardholders, which will be implemented in the fourth quarter.
Business momentum continued to be solid, led by growth in card income and service charges as well as increases in home equity loans. Service charges rose 12 percent and benefited from a growing number of new consumer and business accounts. Card income increased 25 percent from a year ago due to significant growth in debit and credit card volumes as well as the acquisition of NPC, which closed in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Global Business and Financial Services earnings rose 43 percent to $1.22 billion from $849 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 11 percent to $2.69 billion.
Strong loan and deposit growth fueled a $149 million increase in net interest income while growth in service charges was the major driver of higher noninterest income. A negative provision expense of $164 million and a 7 percent decline in noninterest expense added to the earnings improvement. The business also recorded gains on sales of debt securities in Latin America.
Global Capital Markets and Investment Banking earnings increased 12 percent to $461 million from $411 million a year ago. Revenue declined 19 percent to $2.12 billion.
The earnings increase was primarily driven by the absence of litigation expense incurred in the second quarter of 2004. Revenue declined as trading profits and investment banking income decreased in the face of weak market conditions. However, the company outperformed the market in mergers and acquisitions, advisory services and investment grade and high yield debt offerings. Investment and brokerage service fees rose. Credit quality continued to be strong.
Global Wealth and Investment Management earnings increased 48 percent to $590 million from $398 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 19 percent to $1.84 billion.
Asset management fees rose as assets under management increased. Earnings also benefited from continued strong expense management.
All Other reflected $433 million of net income for the quarter. This included securities gains of $204 million and whole loan sale gains of $278 million related to asset-liability management. The Equity Investments business earned $167 million compared to a loss of $13 million in the second quarter of 2004.
Note: Marc Oken, chief financial officer, will discuss second quarter results in a conference call at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) today. The call can be accessed via a webcast available on the Bank of America Web site at http://www.bankofamerica.com/investor/.
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving 33 million consumer relationships through more than 5,800 retail banking offices and 16,600 ATMs and through award-winning online banking with more than 13 million active users. Bank of America is ranked the No. 1 Small Business Administration Lender in the United States by the SBA. The company serves clients in 150 countries and has relationships with 96 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 85 percent of the Global Fortune 500 companies. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the financial conditions, results of operations and earnings outlook of Bank of America Corporation. The forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results or earnings to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: 1) projected business increases following process changes and other investments are lower than expected; 2) competitive pressure among financial services companies increases significantly; 3) general economic conditions are less favorable than expected; 4) political conditions including the threat of future terrorist activity and related actions by the United States abroad may adversely affect the company's businesses and economic conditions as a whole; 5) changes in the interest rate environment reduce interest margins and impact funding sources; 6) changes in foreign exchange rates increases exposure; 7) changes in market rates and prices may adversely impact the value of financial products; 8) legislation or regulatory environments, requirements or changes adversely affect the businesses in which the company is engaged; 9) litigation liabilities, including costs, expenses, settlements and judgments, may adversely affect the company or its businesses; and 10) decisions to downsize, sell or close units or otherwise change the business mix of any of the company. For further information regarding Bank of America Corporation, please read the Bank of America reports filed with the SEC and available at http://www.sec.gov.