Bank of America - 10-K annual report

Item 1.  Business

General

Bank of America Corporation (“Bank of America” or the “Corporation”) is a Delaware corporation, a bank holding company and a financial holding company under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Our principal executive offices are located in the Bank of America Corporate Center, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255.

Through our banking subsidiaries (the “Banks”) and various nonbanking subsidiaries throughout the United States and in selected international markets, we provide a diversified range of banking and nonbanking financial services and products through three business segments: Global Consumer and Small Business Banking, Global Corporate and Investment Banking and Global Wealth and Investment Management. We currently operate in 32 states, the District of Columbia and more than 30 foreign countries. The Bank of America footprint covers more than 82 percent of the U.S. population and 44 percent of the country’s wealthy households. In the United States, we serve approximately 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and approximately 24 million active on-line users. We have banking centers in 13 of the 15 fastest growing states and hold the top market share in 6 of those states. Bank of America is the number one Small Business Administration lender and has relationships with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 Companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500 Companies.

Additional information relating to our businesses and our subsidiaries is included in the information set forth in pages 19 through 35 of Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 22 – Business Segment Information of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this report.

Bank of America’s website is www.bankofamerica.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available on our website at http://investor.bankofamerica.com under the heading SEC Filings as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In addition, we make available on http://investor.bankofamerica.com under the heading Corporate Governance: (i) our Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy; (ii) our Corporate Governance Guidelines; and (iii) the charters of each of Bank of America’s Board committees, and we also intend to disclose any amendments to our Code of Ethics, or waivers of our Code of Ethics on behalf of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer, on our website. All of these corporate governance materials are also available free of charge in print to stockholders who request them in writing to: Bank of America Corporation, Attention: Shareholder Relations Department, 101 South Tryon Street, NC1-002-29-01, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255.

None of our domestic employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. Management considers our employee relations to be good.

Acquisition and Disposition Activity

As part of our operations, we regularly evaluate the potential acquisition of, and hold discussions with, various financial institutions and other businesses of a type eligible for financial holding company ownership or control. In addition, we regularly analyze the values of, and submit bids for, the acquisition of customer-based funds and other liabilities and assets of such financial institutions and other businesses. We also regularly consider the potential disposition of certain of our assets, branches, subsidiaries or lines of businesses. As a general rule, we publicly announce any material acquisitions or dispositions when a definitive agreement has been reached.

On October 1, 2007, the Corporation completed the acquisition of ABN AMRO North America Holding Company, parent of LaSalle Bank Corporation. On July 1, 2007, the Corporation completed the acquisition of U.S. Trust Corporation. Additional information on our acquisitions and mergers is included under Note 2 – Merger and Restructuring Activity of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Government Supervision and Regulation

The following discussion describes elements of an extensive regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies, financial holding companies and banks and specific information about Bank of America and our subsidiaries. Federal regulation of banks, bank holding companies and financial holding companies is intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund rather than for the protection of stockholders and creditors.

General

As a registered bank holding company and financial holding company, Bank of America is subject to the supervision of, and regular inspection by, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board” or “FRB”). The Banks are organized as national banking associations, which are subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “Comptroller” or “OCC”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Federal Reserve Board, other federal and state regulatory agencies, and with respect to Bank of America’s operations in the United Kingdom, the Financial Services Authority (the “FSA”). In addition to banking laws, regulations and regulatory agencies, Bank of America and our subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to various other laws and regulations and supervision and examination by other regulatory agencies, all of which directly or indirectly affect the operations and management of Bank of America and our ability to make distributions to stockholders.

A financial holding company, and the companies under its control, are permitted to engage in activities considered “financial in nature” as defined by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and Federal Reserve Board interpretations (including, without limitation, insurance and securities activities), and therefore may engage in a broader range of activities than permitted for bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. A financial holding company may engage directly or indirectly in activities considered financial in nature, either de novo or by acquisition, provided the financial holding company gives the Federal Reserve Board after-the-fact notice of the new activities. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also permits national banks, such as the Banks, to engage in activities considered financial in

The leverage ratio is determined by dividing Tier 1 capital by adjusted quarterly average total assets, after certain adjustments. Well-capitalized bank holding companies must have a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of three percent and are not subject to an FRB directive to maintain higher capital levels. Our leverage ratio at December 31, 2007 was 5.04 percent, which exceeded our leverage ratio requirement.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”), among other things, identifies five capital categories for insured depository institutions (well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized) and requires the respective federal regulatory agencies to implement systems for “prompt corrective action” for insured depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements within such categories. FDICIA imposes progressively more restrictive constraints on operations, management and capital distributions, depending on the category in which an institution is classified. Failure to meet the capital guidelines could also subject a banking institution to capital raising requirements. An “undercapitalized” bank must develop a capital restoration plan and its parent holding company must guarantee that bank’s compliance with the plan. The liability of the parent holding company under any such guarantee is limited to the lesser of five percent of the bank’s assets at the time it became “undercapitalized” or the amount needed to comply with the plan. Furthermore, in the event of the bankruptcy of the parent holding company, such guarantee would take priority over the parent’s general unsecured creditors. In addition, FDICIA requires the various regulatory agencies to prescribe certain non-capital standards for safety and soundness relating generally to operations and management, asset quality and executive compensation and permits regulatory action against a financial institution that does not meet such standards.

The various regulatory agencies have adopted substantially similar regulations that define the five capital categories identified by FDICIA, using the total risk-based capital, Tier 1 risk-based capital and leverage capital ratios as the relevant capital measures. Such regulations establish various degrees of corrective action to be taken when an institution is considered undercapitalized. Under the regulations, a “well capitalized” institution must have a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least six percent, a total risk-based capital ratio of at least ten percent and a leverage ratio of at least five percent and not be subject to a capital directive order. Under these guidelines, each of the Banks was considered well capitalized as of December 31, 2007.

Regulators also must take into consideration: (a) concentrations of credit risk; (b) interest rate risk; and (c) risks from non-traditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage those risks, when determining the adequacy of an institution’s capital. This evaluation will be made as a part of the institution’s regular safety and soundness examination. In addition, Bank of America, and any Bank with significant trading activity, must incorporate a measure for market risk in their regulatory capital calculations.

Distributions

Our funds for cash distributions to our stockholders are derived from a variety of sources, including cash and temporary investments. The primary source of such funds, and funds used to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness, is dividends received from the Banks. Each of the Banks is subject to various regulatory policies and requirements relating to the payment of dividends, including requirements to maintain capital above regulatory minimums. The appropriate federal regulatory authority is

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

The following discusses some of the key risk factors that could affect Bank of America’s business and operations. Other factors besides those discussed below or elsewhere in this report also could adversely affect our business and operations, and these risk factors should not be considered a complete list of potential risks that may affect Bank of America.

Business, economic and political conditions. Our businesses and earnings are affected by general business, economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad. Given the concentration of our business activities in the United States, we are particularly exposed to downturns in the United States economy. For example, in a poor economic environment there is a greater likelihood that more of our customers or counterparties could become delinquent on their loans or other obligations to us, which, in turn, could result in a higher level of charge-offs and provision for credit losses, all of which would adversely affect our earnings. General business and economic conditions that could affect us include the level and volatility of short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, fluctuations in both debt and equity capital markets, liquidity of the global financial markets, the availability and cost of credit, investor confidence, and the strength of the United States economy and the local economies in which we operate. Geopolitical conditions can also affect our earnings. Acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the United States or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, could affect business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad.

In the second half of 2007, certain credit markets experienced difficult conditions and volatility. These conditions resulted in less liquidity, greater volatility, widening of credit spreads and a lack of price transparency. The Corporation’s Global Corporate and Investment Banking business operates in these markets, either directly or indirectly, through exposures in securities, loans, derivatives and other commitments. While it is difficult to predict how long these conditions will exist and which markets, products or other businesses of the Corporation will ultimately be affected, these factors could continue to adversely impact the Corporation’s results of operations.

Access to funds from subsidiaries. The Corporation is a separate and distinct legal entity from our banking and nonbanking subsidiaries. We therefore depend on dividends, distributions and other payments from our banking and nonbanking subsidiaries to fund dividend payments on the common stock and our preferred stock and to fund all payments on our other obligations, including debt obligations. Many of our subsidiaries are subject to laws that authorize regulatory bodies to block or reduce the flow of funds from those subsidiaries to the Corporation. Regulatory action of that kind could impede access to funds we need to make payments on our obligations or dividend payments. In addition, the Corporation’s right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors.

Changes in accounting standards. Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. From time to time the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) changes the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes can be hard to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in the Corporation restating prior period financial statements.

Competition. We operate in a highly competitive environment that could experience intensified competition as continued merger activity in

in litigation and regulatory proceedings against financial institutions remain high. Substantial legal liability or significant regulatory action against Bank of America could have material adverse financial effects or cause significant reputational harm to Bank of America, which in turn could seriously harm our business prospects.

For a further discussion of litigation risks, see “Litigation and Regulatory Matters” in Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes.

Market risk. We are directly and indirectly affected by changes in market conditions. Market risk generally represents the risk that values of assets and liabilities or revenues will be adversely affected by changes in market conditions. For example, changes in interest rates could adversely affect our net interest margin – the difference between the yield we earn on our assets and the interest rate we pay for deposits and other sources of funding – which could in turn affect our net interest income and earnings. Market risk is inherent in the financial instruments associated with our operations and activities including loans, deposits, securities, short-term borrowings, long-term debt, trading account assets and liabilities, and derivatives. Just a few of the market conditions that may shift from time to time, thereby exposing us to market risk, include fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates, equity and futures prices, changes in the implied volatility of interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity and futures prices, and price deterioration or changes in value due to changes in market perception or actual credit quality of either the issuer or its country of origin. Accordingly, depending on the instruments or activities impacted, market risks can have wide ranging, complex adverse effects on our results from operations and our overall financial condition.

For a further discussion of market risk and our market risk management policies and procedures, see “Market Risk Management” in the MD&A.

Merger risks. There are significant risks and uncertainties associated with mergers. For example, we may fail to realize the growth opportunities and cost savings anticipated to be derived from the merger. In addition, it is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, or that the disruption of ongoing business from the merger could adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with clients or suppliers. We have an active acquisition program and there is a risk that integration difficulties may cause us not to realize expected benefits from the transactions and affect our results. We will be subject to similar risks and difficulties in connection with future acquisitions, as well as decisions to downsize, sell or close units or otherwise change the business mix of the Corporation.

Non-U.S. operations; trading in non-U.S. securities. We do business throughout the world, including in developing regions of the world commonly known as emerging markets. Our businesses and revenues derived from non-U.S. operations are subject to risk of loss from currency fluctuations, social instability, changes in governmental policies or policies of central banks, expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets, unfavorable political and diplomatic developments and changes in legislation relating to non-U.S. ownership. We also invest in the securities of corporations located in non-U.S. jurisdictions, including emerging markets. Revenues from the trading of non-U.S. securities also may be subject to negative fluctuations as a result of the above factors. The impact of these fluctuations could be magnified, because generally non-U.S. trading markets, particularly in emerging market countries, are smaller, less liquid and more volatile than U.S. trading markets.

Operational risks. The potential for operational risk exposure exists throughout our organization. Integral to our performance is the continued efficacy of our technical systems, operational infrastructure, relationships

cial outcome or the specifics and timing of such outcomes. Accordingly, our ability to successfully identify and manage risks facing us is an important factor that can significantly impact our results. For a further discussion of our risk management policies and procedures, see “Managing Risk” in the MD&A.

Additional risks and uncertainties. We are a diversified financial services company. In addition to banking, we provide investment, mortgage, investment banking, credit card and consumer finance services. Although we believe our diversity helps lessen the effect when downturns affect any one segment of our industry, it also means our earnings could be subject to different risks and uncertainties than the ones discussed herein. If any of the risks that we face actually occur, irrespective of whether those risks are described in this section or elsewhere in this report, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

There are no unresolved written comments that were received from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff 180 days or more before the end of Bank of America’s fiscal year relating to our periodic or current reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 2.  Properties

As of December 31, 2007, Bank of America’s principal offices and primarily all of our business segments were located in the 60-story Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is owned by one of our subsidiaries. We occupy approximately 592,000 square feet and lease approximately 609,000 square feet to third parties at market rates, which represents substantially all of the space in this facility. We occupy approximately 932,000 square feet of space at 100 Federal Street in Boston, Massachusetts, which is the headquarters for one of our primary business segments, Global Wealth and Investment Management. The 37-story building is owned by one of our subsidiaries which also leases approximately 321,000 square feet to third parties. We also lease or own a significant amount of space worldwide. As of December 31, 2007, Bank of America and our subsidiaries owned or leased approximately 25,200 locations in 41 states, the District of Columbia and more than 30 foreign countries.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

See “Litigation and Regulatory Matters” in Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes beginning on page 122 for Bank of America’s litigation disclosure which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters To A Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of stockholders during the quarter ended December 31, 2007.

Item 4A.  Executive Officers of The Registrant

Pursuant to the Instructions to Form 10-K and Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K, the name, age and position of each current executive officer of Bank of America are listed below along with such officer’s business experience. Officers are appointed annually by the Board of Directors at the meeting of directors immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders.

Keith T. Banks, 52, President, Global Wealth and Investment Management. Mr. Banks was named to his present position in October 2007. From August 2000 to April 2004, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of FleetBoston Financial Corporation’s asset management organization; and from April 2004 to October 2007, he

served as President, Consumer Finance; from August 1997 to October 1999 he served as Corporate Risk Evaluation Executive and General Auditor; from June 1995 to July 1997 he served as Controller; and from April 1993 to May 1995 he served as Accounting Policy and Finance Executive.

Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stock Holder Matters

The principal market on which the Common Stock is traded is the New York Stock Exchange. The Common Stock is also listed on the London Stock Exchange, and certain shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the periods indicated:

The Corporation did not have any unregistered sales of its equity securities in fiscal year 2007.

This report 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 Annual Report of Bank of America Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Corporation) should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements and should consider all uncertainties and risks throughout this report as well as those discussed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” 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 and market liquidity which may reduce interest margins, impact funding sources and affect the ability to originate and distribute financial products in the primary and secondary markets; 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 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 court, Internal Revenue Service 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, the Office of the Comptroller of Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, state regulators and the Financial Services Authority; changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations; 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.

The Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates in 32 states, the District of Columbia and more than 30 foreign countries. The Corporation provides a diversified range of banking and

pricing of certain municipal securities and the liquidity of the short term public finance markets. We have direct and indirect exposure to monolines and as a result are continuing to monitor this exposure as the markets evolve. For more information related to our monoline exposure, see the Industry Concentrations discussion on page 54.

The above conditions together with uncertainty in energy costs and the overall economic slowdown, which may ultimately lead to recessionary conditions, will affect other markets in which we do business and will adversely impact our results in 2008. The degree of the impact is dependent upon the duration and severity of the aforementioned conditions in this rapidly changing business and interest rate environment. For more information on interest rate sensitivity, see the Interest Rate Risk Management for Nontrading Activities discussion on page 65.

Other Recent Events

In January 2008, we announced changes in our CMAS business within GCIB which better align the strategy of this business with GCIB’sbroader integrated platform. We will continue to provide corporate, commercial and sponsored clients with debt and equity capital raising services, strategic advice, and a full range of corporate banking capabilities. However, we will reduce activities in certain structured products (e.g., CDOs) and will resize the international platform to emphasize debt, cash management, and selected trading services, including rates and foreign exchange. This realignment will result in the reduction of 650 front office personnel with additional infrastructure headcount reduction to follow. We also plan to sell our equity prime brokerage business. This is in addition to our announcement in October 2007 to eliminate approximately 3,000 positions within various businesses, which includes reductions in GCIB as part of our GCIB business strategic review to enhance the operating platform, reductions in the wholesale mortgage-related business included in GCSBB and reductions in other related infrastructure positions.

In August of 2007, we made a $2.0 billion investment in Countrywide Financial Corporation (Countrywide), the largest mortgage lender in the U.S., in the form of Series B non-voting convertible preferred securities yielding 7.25 percent. In January 2008, we announced a definitive agreement to purchase all outstanding shares of Countrywide for approximately $4.0 billion in common stock. The acquisition would make us the nation’s leading mortgage lender and loan servicer. The closing of this transaction is subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close early in the third quarter of 2008.

In January 2008, the Board of Directors (the Board) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.64 per share, payable on March 28, 2008 to common shareholders of record on March 7, 2008. In October 2007, the Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.64 per share which was paid on December 28, 2007 to common shareholders of record on December 7, 2007. In July 2007, the Board increased the quarterly cash dividend on common stock 14 percent from $0.56 to $0.64 per share.

In January 2008, we issued 240 thousand shares of Bank of America Corporation Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series K with a par value of $0.01 per share for $6.0 billion. The fixed rate is 8.00 percent through January 29, 2018 and then adjusts to three-month LIBOR plus 363 basis points (bps) thereafter. In addition, we issued 6.9 million shares of Bank of America Corporation 7.25% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series L with a par value of $0.01 per share for $6.9 billion. In November and December of 2007, we issued 41 thousand shares of Bank of America Corporation 7.25% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series J with a par value of $0.01 per share for $1.0 billion. In September 2007, we issued 22 thousand shares of Bank of America Corporation 6.625% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series I with a par value of $0.01 per share for $550 million.

Global Consumer and Small Business Banking

Net income decreased $1.9 billion, or 17 percent, to $9.4 billion in 2007 compared to 2006. Managed net revenue rose $2.8 billion, or six percent, to $47.7 billion driven by increases in both noninterest and net interest income. Noninterest income increased $2.1 billion, or 13 percent, to $18.9 billion driven by higher card, service charge and mortgage banking income. Net interest income increased $612 million, or two percent, to $28.8 billion due to the impacts of organic growth and the LaSalle acquisition on average loans and leases, and deposits. These increases in revenues were more than offset by the increase in provision for credit losses of $4.4 billion, or 51 percent, to $12.9 billion. This increase reflects portfolio growth and seasoning, increases from the unusually low loss levels experienced in 2006 post bankruptcy reform, the impact of housing market weakness on the home equity portfolio, and growth and deterioration in the small business portfolio. Noninterest expense increased $1.7 billion, or nine percent, mainly due to increases in personnel and technology-related costs. For more information on GCSBB, see page 21.

Global Corporate and Investment Banking

Net income decreased $5.5 billion, or 91 percent, to $538 million, and total revenue decreased $7.7 billion, or 37 percent, to $13.4 billion in 2007 compared to 2006. These decreases were driven by $5.6 billion in losses resulting from our CDO exposure and other trading losses. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in net interest income, primarily market-based, of $1.3 billion, or 14 percent. The provision for credit losses increased $643 million driven by the absence of 2006 releases of reserves, higher net charge-offs and an increase in reserves during 2007 reflecting the impact of the weak housing market particularly on the homebuilder loan portfolio. Noninterest expense increased $347 million, or three percent, mainly due to an increase in expenses related to the addition of LaSalle partially offset by a reduction in CMAS performance-based incentive compensation. For more information on GCIB, see page 25.

Global Wealth and Investment Management

Net income decreased $128 million, or six percent, to $2.1 billion in 2007 compared to 2006 as an increase in noninterest expense was partially offset by an increase in total revenue. Total revenue grew $566 million, or eight percent, to $7.9 billion driven by higher noninterest income of $380 million. Noninterest income increased due to growth in investment and brokerage services income of $827 million. The increase was due to higher AUM primarily attributable to the impact of the U.S. Trust Corpo-

related to our CMAS business. For more information on net interest income on a FTE basis, see Tables I and II beginning on page 73.

Noninterest Income

Table 2  Noninterest Income

Noninterest income decreased $6.1 billion to $31.9 billion in 2007 compared to 2006.

At December 31, 2007, total assets were $1.7 trillion, an increase of $256.0 billion, or 18 percent, from December 31, 2006. Growth in period end total assets was due to an increase in loans and leases, AFS debt securities and all other assets. The increase in loans and leases was attributable to organic growth and the LaSalle merger. The increases in AFS debt securities and all other assets were driven by the LaSalle merger. The fair value of the assets acquired in the LaSalle merger was approximately $120 billion. All other assets also increased due to higher loans held-for-sale and the fair market value adjustment associated with our investment in China Construction Bank (CCB).

Average total assets in 2007 increased $135.4 billion, or nine percent, from 2006 primarily due to the increase in average loans and leases driven by the same factors as described above. Average trading account assets also increased during 2007 reflective of growth in the underlying business in the first half of 2007. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in AFS debt securities. The acquisition of LaSalle occurred in the fourth quarter of 2007 minimizing its impact on the average balance sheet.

At December 31, 2007, total liabilities were $1.6 trillion, an increase of $244.5 billion, or 18 percent, from December 31, 2006. Average total liabilities in 2007 increased $129.2 billion, or 10 percent, from 2006. The increase in period end and average total liabilities was attributable to increases in deposits and long-term debt, which were utilized to support the growth in overall assets. In addition, the increase in period end and average total liabilities was due to the funding of, and the assumption of liabilities associated with, the LaSalle merger. The fair value of the liabilities assumed in the LaSalle merger was approximately $100 billion.

Trading Account Assets

Trading account assets consist primarily of fixed income securities (including government and corporate debt), equity and convertible instruments. The average balance increased $42.0 billion to $187.3 billion in 2007, due to growth in client-driven market-making activities in interest rate, credit and equity products but was negatively impacted by the market disruptions in the second half of 2007. For additional information, see Market Risk Management beginning on page 61.

Deposits

Average deposits increased $44.2 billion to $717.2 billion in 2007 compared to 2006 due to a $31.3 billion increase in average domestic interest-bearing deposits and a $16.6 billion increase in average foreign interest-bearing deposits. We categorize our deposits as core or market-based deposits. Core deposits are generally customer-based and represent a stable, low-cost funding source that usually reacts more slowly to interest rate changes than market-based deposits. Core deposits include savings, NOW and money market accounts, consumer CDs and IRAs, and noninterest-bearing deposits. Core deposits exclude negotiable CDs, public funds, other domestic time deposits and foreign interest-bearing deposits. Average core deposits increased $19.3 billion to $593.9 billion in 2007, a three percent increase from the prior year. The increase was attributable to growth in our average consumer CDs and IRAs due to a shift from noninterest-bearing and lower yielding deposits to our higher yielding CDs. Average market-based deposit funding increased $24.9 billion to $123.3 billion in 2007 compared to 2006 due to increases of $16.6 billion in foreign interest-bearing deposits and $8.4 billion in negotiable CDs, public funds and other time deposits related to funding of growth in core and market-based assets. The increase in deposits was also impacted by the assumption of deposits, primarily money market, consumer CDs, and other domestic time deposits associated with the LaSalle merger.

Trading Account Liabilities

Trading account liabilities consist primarily of short positions in fixed income securities (including government and corporate debt), equity and convertible instruments. The average balance increased $18.0 billion to

Supplemental Financial Data

Table 6 provides a reconciliation of the supplemental financial data mentioned below with financial measures defined by GAAP. Other companies may define or calculate supplemental financial data differently.

Operating Basis Presentation

In managing our business, we may at times look at performance excluding certain nonrecurring items. For example, as an alternative to net income, we view results on an operating basis, which represents net income excluding merger and restructuring charges. The operating basis of presentation is not defined by GAAP. We believe that the exclusion of merger and restructuring charges, which represent events outside our normal operations, provides a meaningful year-to-year comparison and is more reflective of normalized operations.

Net Interest Income – FTE Basis

In addition, we view net interest income and related ratios and analysis (i.e., efficiency ratio, net interest yield and operating leverage) on a FTE basis. Although this is a non-GAAP measure, we believe managing the business with net interest income on a FTE basis provides a more accurate picture of the interest margin for comparative purposes. To derive the FTE basis, net interest income is adjusted to reflect tax-exempt income on an equivalent before-tax basis with a corresponding increase in income tax expense. 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 taxable and tax-exempt sources.

Core Net Interest Income – Managed Basis

We manage core net interest income – managed basis, which adjusts reported net interest income on a FTE basis for the impact of market-based activities and certain securitizations, net of retained securities. As discussed in the GCIB business segment section beginning on page 25, we evaluate our market-based results and strategies on a total market-based revenue approach by combining net interest income and noninterest income for CMAS. We also adjust for loans that we originated and subsequently sold into certain securitizations. These securitizations include off-balance sheet loans and leases, primarily credit card securitizations where servicing is retained by the Corporation, but excludes first mortgage 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 believe the use of this non-GAAP presentation provides additional clarity in managing our results. An analysis of core net interest income – managed basis, core average earning assets – managed basis and core net interest yield on earning assets – managed basis, which adjusts for the impact of these two non-core items from reported net interest income on a FTE basis, is shown in the table above.

Core net interest income on a managed basis increased $107 million in 2007 compared to 2006. The increase was driven by higher levels of consumer and commercial loans, the impact of the LaSalle acquisition, and a one-time tax benefit from restructuring our existing non-U.S. based commercial aircraft leasing business. These increases were partially offset by spread compression, increased hedge costs and the impact of divestitures of certain foreign operations in late 2006 and the beginning of 2007.

On a managed basis, core average earning assets increased $84.1 billion in 2007 compared to 2006 due to higher levels of consumer and commercial managed loans and increased levels from ALM activities partially offset by a decrease in average balances from the divestitures mentioned above.

Our ALM activities maintain an overall interest rate risk management strategy that incorporates the use of interest rate contracts to manage fluctuations in earnings that are caused by interest rate volatility. Our goal is to manage interest rate sensitivity so that movements in interest rates do not significantly adversely affect net interest income. The results of the business segments will fluctuate based on the performance of corporate ALM activities. Some ALM activities are recorded in the businesses (e.g., Deposits) such as external product pricing decisions, including deposit pricing strategies, as well as the effects of our internal funds transfer pricing process. The net effects of other ALM activities are reported in each of our segments under ALM/Other. In addition, certain residual impacts of the funds transfer pricing process are retained in All Other.

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 costs, item processing costs and certain centralized or shared functions. Data

The strategy for GCSBB is to attract, retain and deepen customer relationships. We achieve this strategy through our ability to offer a wide range of products and services through a franchise that stretches coast to coast through 32 states and the District of Columbia. We also provide credit card products to customers in Canada, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., we serve approximately 59 million consumer and small business relationships utilizing our network of 6,149 banking centers, 18,753 domestic branded ATMs, and telephone and Internet channels. Within GCSBB, there are three primary businesses:Deposits, Card Services, and Consumer Real Estate. In addition, ALM/Other includes the results of ALM activities and other consumer-related businesses (e.g., insurance). GCSBB, specifically Card Services, is presented on a managed basis. For a reconciliation of managed GCSBB to held GCSBB, see Note 22 – Business Segment Information to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

During 2007, Visa Inc. filed a registration statement with the SEC with respect to a proposed IPO. Subject to market conditions and other factors, Visa Inc. expects the IPO to occur in the first half of 2008. We expect to record a gain associated with the IPO. In addition, we expect that a portion of the proceeds from the IPO will be used by Visa Inc. to fund liabilities arising from litigation which would allow us to record an offset to the litigation liabilities that we recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 as discussed below.

Net income decreased $1.9 billion, or 17 percent, to $9.4 billion compared to 2006 as increases in noninterest income and net interest income were more than offset by increases in provision for credit losses and noninterest expense.

Net interest income increased $612 million, or two percent, to $28.8 billion due to the impacts of organic growth and the LaSalle acquisition on average loans and leases, and deposits compared to 2006. Noninterest income increased $2.1 billion, or 13 percent, to $18.9 billion compared to the same period in 2006, mainly due to increases in card income, service charges and mortgage banking income.

Provision for credit losses increased $4.4 billion, or 51 percent, to $12.9 billion compared to 2006. This increase primarily resulted from a $3.2 billion increase in Card Services and a $978 million increase in Consumer Real Estate. For further discussion of the increase in provision for credit losses related to Card Servicesand Consumer Real Estate, see their respective discussions.

Noninterest expense increased $1.7 billion, or nine percent, to $20.1 billion largely due to increases in personnel-related expenses, Visa-related litigation costs, equally allocated to Card Services and Treasury Services on a management accounting basis, and technology related costs. For additional information on Visa-related litigation, see Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Deposits

Deposits provides a comprehensive range of products to consumers and small businesses. Our products include traditional savings accounts, money market savings accounts, CDs and IRAs, and noninterest and

The Corporation reports its GCSBB results, specifically Card Services, on a managed basis, which is consistent with the way that management evaluates the results of GCSBB. 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 QSPE which is excluded from the Corporation’s Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP.

Securitized loans continue to be serviced by the business and are subject to the same underwriting standards and ongoing monitoring as held loans. In addition, excess servicing income is exposed to similar credit risk and repricing of interest rates as held loans.

Net income decreased $2.0 billion, or 35 percent, to $3.7 billion compared to 2006 as growth in noninterest income and net interest income was more than offset by higher provision for credit losses and noninterest expense. Net interest income increased $205 million, or one percent, to $16.6 billion as an increase in managed average loans and leases of $18.5 billion was partially offset by spread compression.

Noninterest income increased $692 million, or eight percent, to $9.0 billion mainly due to higher cash advance fees related to organic loan growth in domestic credit card and unsecured lending. All other income increased $124 million primarily due to higher foreign revenues.

Provision for credit losses increased $3.2 billion, or 40 percent, to $11.3 billion compared to 2006. The increase was primarily driven by higher managed net losses from portfolio seasoning and increases from unusually low loss levels experienced in 2006 post bankruptcy reform. The higher provision was also driven by reserve increases in our small business portfolio reflective of growth in the business and portfolio deterioration. In addition, higher provision was due to seasoning of the unsecured lending portfolio. These increases in provision were partially offset by a higher level of reserve reduction from the addition of higher loss profile accounts to the domestic credit card securitization trust.

Noninterest expense increased $775 million, or 10 percent, to $8.3 billion compared to 2006, largely due to increases in personnel-related expenses, Card Services’ allocation of the Visa-related litigation costs and technology related costs. For additional information on Visa-related litigation, see Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Consumer Real Estate

Consumer Real Estate generates revenue by providing an extensive line of consumer real estate products and services to customers nationwide. Consumer Real Estate products are available to our customers through a retail network of personal bankers located in 6,149 banking centers, mortgage loan officers in nearly 200 locations and through a sales force offering our customers direct telephone and online access to our products. Consumer Real Estate products include fixed and adjustable rate loans for home purchase and refinancing needs, reverse mortgages, lines of credit and home equity loans. Mortgage products are either sold into the secondary mortgage market to investors, while retaining the Bank of America customer relationships, or are held on our balance sheet for ALM purposes. Consumer Real Estate is not impacted by the Corporation’s mortgage production retention decisions as Consumer Real Estate is compensated for the decision on a management accounting basis with a corresponding offset recorded in All Other.

The Consumer Real Estate business includes the origination, fulfillment, sale and servicing of first mortgage loan products, reverse mortgage products and home equity products. Servicing activities primarily include collecting cash for principal, interest and escrow payments from borrowers, disbursing customer draws for lines of credit and accounting for and remitting principal and interest payments to investors and escrow payments to third parties. Servicing income includes ancillary income derived in connection with these activities such as late fees.

Within GCSBB, the Consumer Real Estate first mortgage and home equity production were $93.3 billion and $69.2 billion for 2007 compared to $76.9 billion and $67.9 billion in 2006. During the second quarter of 2007, the Corporation completed the purchase of a reverse mortgage business which increased the Corporation’s offerings of reverse mortgages.

Net income for Consumer Real Estate decreased $341 million to $371 million compared to 2006 as increases in mortgage banking income and net interest income were more than offset by higher provision for credit losses and an increase in noninterest expense. Net interest income grew $287 million, or 14 percent, to $2.3 billion and was driven by loan balances in our home equity business partially offset by spread compression. Average loans and leases increased $20.7 billion, or 24 percent. The increase in mortgage banking income of $456 million, or 52 percent, to $1.3 billion was primarily due to the election under SFAS 159 to account for certain mortgage loans held-for-sale at fair value, favorable performance of the MSRs and increased production income partially offset by widening of credit spreads during the year.