Bank of America Merrill Lynch Named Most Innovative Investment Bank from North America for Second Consecutive Year

Bank of America Merrill Lynch announced today that it was named the Most Innovative Investment Bank from North America, for the second straight year, in The Banker magazine’s 2011 Investment Banking Awards.

In addition, the bank received three global awards for innovation, including:

• Most Innovative for Prime Brokerage (second consecutive year).
• Most Innovative for IPOs.
• Most Innovative for Climate Change and Sustainability.

The Banker noted that Bank of America Merrill Lynch has been at the forefront of providing creative liability management solutions, structuring and pricing flexible capital solutions across the credit spectrum, and monetizing assets outside of traditional equity markets. The integrated nature of the platform was also highlighted, which offers clients seamless access to a coordinated sales force across all of the different products the bank offers.

The magazine also recognized the bank’s multi-faceted commitment to addressing climate change and its participation in transactions that prove that great deals in this arena can still be completed in ways that are profitable and beneficial to the environment.

The Banker’s 2011 Investment Banking Awards recognize innovations that bring transparency and clarity to the market, provide cost savings and risk management solutions to clients, and create value for investors.

These awards are the latest in a series that Bank of America Merrill Lynch has received this year for innovation and creativity. Earlier this year, the company was voted the “Most Creative Global Investment Bank” by Global Finance.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market 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 approximately 58 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,700 retail banking offices and approximately 17,800 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“Investment Banking Affiliates”), including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, which is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, a locally registered entity. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank Guaranteed.

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