Bank of America is phasing out the 105-year-old Merrill Lynch brand | CNN Business (2024)

New York CNN Business

Ten years after the financial crisis, Bank of America is phasing out the Merrill Lynch brand for some businesses.

Bank of America (BAC)said Monday that it will no longer use the Merrill Lynch name for its investment banking and trading divisions. Instead, these businesses will form a unit called BofA Securities.

The bank also said that its investment and wealth management offerings will become “Merrill” products, though the wealth management team’s logo will still include Merrill Lynch’s famous bull.

The main financial advisory unit will still operate as “Merrill Lynch Wealth Management,” according to the company.

Bank of America scooped up Merrill Lynch in 2008 at the height of pandemonium on Wall Street. But Bank of America’s commitment to the Merrill Lynch brand gave it a long afterlife. Names like Bear Stearns and Wachovia weren’t so lucky.

In a statement, CEO Brian Moynihan said the changes would take place over the coming months.

US Trust, which Bank of America bought in 2007, will now be called the Bank of America Private Bank, the bank said.

Merrill Lynch was founded in 1914 by Charles Merrill and Edmund Lynch. The company grew into a massive retail brokerage that aimed to expose everyday investors to the stock market, and its brokers became known as the “thundering herd.”

Bank of America is phasing out the 105-year-old Merrill Lynch brand | CNN Business (1)

A view of the offices of Merrill Lynch, Fenner and Smith in 1958.

The bank also gained cachet on Wall Street for its investment banking arm.

Merrill Lynch was sold to Bank of America for $50 billion in September 2008.

Since then, the merged entity has soared in value, and Bank of America appears to believe it’s time to move on.

The company brought in $7.3 billion in profit last quarter. Profits in 2018 hit $28.1 billion, a record.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional information about the use of the Merrill Lynch brand in the wealth management division.

Bank of America is phasing out the 105-year-old Merrill Lynch brand | CNN Business (2024)

FAQs

Is Bank of America getting rid of Merrill Lynch? ›

The investment bank and capital markets business is ditching the 104-year old name to become BofA Securities and its wealth management businesses will collectively be called "Merrill," without the Lynch.

What is happening to Merrill Lynch? ›

It just became a division of Bank of America. Merrill Lynch continues to provide brokerage and wealth management services.

Did Merrill Lynch get bought out by Bank of America? ›

Merrill Lynch & Co. agreed to be acquired by Bank of America on September 14, 2008, at the height of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the same weekend that Lehman Brothers was allowed to fail. The acquisition was completed in January 2009 and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

What is the Merrill Lynch controversy? ›

NEW YORK (AP) — Merrill Lynch has agreed to pay nearly $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accuses the Wall Street brokerage giant of racially discriminating against its Black financial advisers.

Why are so many people leaving Merrill Lynch? ›

Beyond that, advisors felt that Merrill's limitations, demands, and pressure to put clients in banking products that didn't make sense (read violation of Reg BI for which there are consequences) led to significant client attrition.

What is the new name for Bank of America Merrill Lynch? ›

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is Now Bank of America & BofA Securities. Our award-winning analysts provide insightful, objective and in-depth research to help you make informed investing decisions.

Is your money safe with Merrill Lynch? ›

Any assets you hold in your Merrill Cash Management Account ® (CMA account) are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). The SIPC provides up to $500,000 of account protection per client, inclusive of up to $250,000 for cash.

Does Merrill Lynch exist anymore? ›

What Is Merrill Lynch & Co.? Merrill Lynch & Co. is the former name of a prominent Wall Street investment firm. Since its acquisition by Bank of America (BAC) in 2009, it has become known simply as “Merrill” and operates as a wealth management division of Bank of America. Founded by Charles E.

Can I trust Merrill Lynch? ›

Merrill is a good company if you're looking for an established financial advisor to help create and implement a plan to meet your financial goals. Whether you're looking for guidance on investing or selling a business, Merrill can help with various levels of service and options for both in-person and online advising.

What is the New Bank of America scandal? ›

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered Bank of America to pay more than $100 million to customers for systematically double-dipping on fees imposed on customers with insufficient funds in their account, withholding reward bonuses explicitly promised to credit card customers, ...

What family owns Bank of America? ›

Bank of America is one of the largest consumer banks in the United States, with $3 trillion in customer deposits and other assets. The largest shareholder is Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which holds 13% of all marketable shares.

What Bank took over Bank of America? ›

Bank of America, one of the largest banking and financial services brands and corporations in the United States. It was formed through NationsBank's acquisition of BankAmerica in 1998.

How many advisors have left Merrill Lynch? ›

That fell to a net decline of 703 financial advisors in 2022 and, last year, to a drop of 445, or less than half the amount seen two years earlier. At the end of last year, Merrill Lynch reported a total of 18,916 client-facing financial advisors across its various business models.

What did Merrill Lynch used to be called? ›

Throughout the 1930s, Fenner & Beane was consistently the second largest securities firm in the US. The combined firm, which became the clear leader in securities brokerage in the US, was renamed Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Beane.

Why did Merrill Lynch drop the Lynch? ›

The rebranding marks BofA's biggest step away from the legendary 105-year-old firm known for its “thundering herd” of brokers since the two companies unexpectedly merged in 2009 during the throes of the financial crisis. BofA wants “growth on a unified basis,” Moynihan said in a statement Monday.

Is Bank of America Merrill worth it? ›

Merrill Edge is a good choice for long-term investors, especially those who already have an account with Bank of America. The Preferred Rewards program offers discounts and perks that increase with your balance—so you could benefit by having deposit and investment accounts under the same roof.

Is Bank of America and Merrill Lynch different? ›

BofA Securities, Inc., previously Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML), is an American multinational investment banking division under the auspices of Bank of America. It is not to be confused with Merrill, the stock brokerage and trading platform subsidiary of Bank of America. Merrill Lynch & Co.

Does Merrill Lynch work with Bank of America? ›

You can simplify your financial life with Merrill Edge, which offers the investment insights of Merrill Lynch plus the convenience of Bank of America banking.

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