Bank of America

Bank of America in brief

• Rank: #69 of 100 in America's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #9 of 14 in Banking & Financial Services.
• WCRC Power Score: 71.20 out of 100.
• Founded: 1904, by Amadeo Giannini (as the Bank of Italy in San Francisco).
• Owner: Bank of America Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Leadership: Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO.
• Latest revenue: $113.1bn revenue (FY2025, +6.8%), as per company filings.

What makes Bank of America powerful

Bank of America's power rests on scale and daily digital habit. It serves tens of millions of clients, and in 2025 they logged in to its mobile and online channels 16.6 billion times, up 15%. Its virtual assistant, Erica, has handled 3.2 billion client interactions since 2018. Zelle is another habit, with 25 million active users at the bank.

The bank pairs that consumer reach with Merrill and its private bank. In the third quarter of 2026, client balances in its wealth division reached $5.1 trillion, up 9% from a year earlier. The bank also added more than 200,000 net new consumer checking accounts in the quarter. That daily contact keeps the brand in front of tens of millions of customers.

Bank of America's virtual assistant, Erica, has handled 3.2 billion client interactions since 2018.

Why Bank of America ranks #69

Bank of America sits at #69 with a WCRC Power Score of 71.2, just behind Gatorade and Fidelity and just ahead of PayPal and Intuit. Its huge client base and strong digital channels give it high marks for positioning and recall and for digital and financial strength. A costly regulatory charge and long-running fee criticism weigh on consumer trust, which keeps it below the brands just above. Its scale and steady growth keep it ahead of PayPal and Intuit, which tie on 70.84.

The Achilles' heel

Bank of America's Achilles' heel is regulatory and reputational risk. In its third-quarter 2026 results, released on 14 October, it booked a $1.2 billion regulatory settlement charge. The charge cut reported net income to $6.9 billion, against $8.1 billion on an adjusted basis, and reported earnings per share to $0.91 from $1.08 adjusted. For a bank that asks tens of millions of people to trust it with their money, fresh penalties do real damage to the brand.

The 2026 story

Bank of America's 2026 has been a year of steady growth with one costly setback. In March it reported that clients made about 30 billion digital engagements in 2025, including logins and alerts. On 14 October it posted net interest income of $16.4 billion for the third quarter, up $1.2 billion from a year earlier. Assets under management in its wealth division rose 12% to $2.4 trillion. Its new BofA Rewards program signed up more than 3 million clients in its first seven weeks. A $1.2 billion regulatory settlement charge held back reported profit.

Pillar profile

Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.

Versus its nearest rivals

Questions people ask

Also featured in

• Most powerful Banking & Financial Services brands
• Biggest American Brands by Revenue
• Most powerful brands in North Carolina

Key facts

Sources

• Annual report (Form 10-K) and financial results of Bank of America Corporation filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
• Company website, official announcements and press releases
• Published interviews and statements by the leadership
• WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data