Friday, August 11, 2006

Bank of America Named Best Consumer Internet Bank by Global Finance Magazine

Bank of America also awarded best investment management services, best bill pay and presentment, best information security initiatives and best integrated consumer site


Bank of America is the number one financial institution based on the number of relationships, investment banking, treasury management, syndications, secured and unsecured credit and leasing, providing comprehensive services to middle market companies throughout the United States. Bank of America Community Development Banking has invested in or developed over 100,000 units of affordable housing.


CHARLOTTE, N.C.
August 8, 2006

Bank of America was named best consumer Internet bank in North America by Global Finance magazine as part of its "World's Best Internet Banks" competition. Global Finance magazine also gave Bank of America awards for the best investment management services, best information security initiatives, best bill pay and presentment, as well as best integrated consumer site in North America. Winners were selected based on strength of strategy for attracting and servicing online customers, breadth of product offerings, evidence of tangible benefits gained from Internet initiatives and Web site design and functionality.


Category winners were selected based on the strength and success of those products and services. Bankofamerica.com is the leading online banking site, with nearly 20 million active online banking customers, more than 10 million bill pay customers, and more than 2 billion visits annually.


Bank of America has more than 34 percent of the online banking market share in the U.S., according to comScore Networks, Inc., and the bankofamerica.com site is the most visited financial services Web site, based on Nielsen/NetRatings. "We're very proud of the work we're doing to make the customers' experiences the best of any financial institution," said Sanjay Gupta, e-Commerce executive.


"We continue to focus on making Bank of America the number one choice by providing consumers with convenient and secure online services that help them better manage their financial lives."



Bank of America led the industry with SiteKey, a two-way authentication system that helps customers confirm they are at the real Bank of America Web site and avoid phishing scams. The bank also rolled out new alerts that help customers monitor accounts and detect potential fraudulent activity and provides.


Brokerage accounts are integrated within Online Banking, providing a single sign on for banking and investment accounts. The My Portfolio feature in Online Banking also lets customers view in one location mileage rewards, credit card and other accounts from outside the bank. Earlier this year, Bank of America also won the Webby Award and the Webby's People's Voice Award in the online banking/bill pay category.


A record 5,500 entries from more than 40 countries entered the Webby Awards in 69 business, consumer and culture categories. The judging was based on content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity and overall experience. For the past two years, Javelin Strategy & Research ranked Bank of America No. 1 in its Online Banking Safety Scorecard.


In 2003, Bank of America financed mortgages for over 625,000 families. Bank of America provides financial services and products to customers and clients in all 50 states through its 175,000 associates.


Bank of America was the first Fortune 500 financial institution to endorse the corporate code of conduct for environmental responsibility known as the CERES Principles. Since 1999, Bank of America has helped put thousands of teachers and administrators into new homes through two mortgage programs: Teacher Flex and Teacher Zero Down.