Bank of America - Employment

Multicultural Fact Sheet

"As the nation's largest consumer bank, Bank of America serves diverse communities in markets throughout the United States. We are proud to provide financial services to individuals of every race, culture and creed and look forward to continue helping all American families realize their dreams."
   — Kenneth D. Lewis, Chairman &Chief Executive Officer, Bank of America

Bank of America is committed to higher standards in serving multicultural communities. Below are just a few examples of ways the company is demonstrating this commitment to Hispanic, African-American and Asian individuals.

Hispanic

• Bank of America has always been a pioneer in developing innovative ways to serve Hispanic communities. It was the first commercial bank to introduce Spanish-language ATMs and the first bank to offer an international ATM remittance service (SafeSend).
• On August 11, Bank of America launched four new TV ads in Spanish that will reach approximately 28.5 million Hispanic consumers in some of the company's largest multicultural markets - including California, with 11 million Hispanics, and Texas, which has 6.7 million.
• In 2002, Bank of America acquired 24.9% of a Santander subsidiary, Grupo Financiero Santander Serfin, the most profitable and third largest bank in Mexico.
• Bank of America accepts the Mexican Consulate ID Card (also known as the Matricula Consular) for identification when opening new accounts and cashing checks at its banking centers.
• Bank of America recently made a $3.6 million commitment to the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) to support the organization's work to improve the lives of Hispanics living in the United States.
• In 2003, Bank of America appointed Edward Romero, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain, to its Board of Directors, which demonstrates the company's commitment to current and prospective Hispanic customers.

African American

• Bank of America has long been committed to helping African Americans achieve the dream of homeownership. As one of the top mortgage lenders to African Americans, the company made more than $3 billion in mortgage loans to African Americans in 2002.
• On August 25, as part of a $5 million media campaign, Bank of America launched new TV, print and radio ads that will run through November 31 and reach approximately 9 million consumers in some of the company's largest African American markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Richmond, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Miami, St. Louis and Washington, DC.
• Bank of America is proud to have purchased the Hewitt Collection of African American art, one of the country's largest and most diverse private collections of African American art, and sponsored the collection's nationwide tour to museums and cultural centers.
• Bank of America has pledged more than $10 million to historically black colleges and universities and will continue this level of support in the future.
• Bank of America builds partnerships with influential organizations, such as the NAACP, and received the 1999 NAACP Corporation of the Year Award for excellence in achievements in African American communities.
• Bank of America is committed to higher standards in practicing diversity. Fortune magazine has ranked it among the 50 Best Companies for Asians, Blacks and Hispanics. DiversityInc.com ranked it among the top 10 best for diversity achievement.

Asian

• Bank of America serves Asian American customers through more than 200 designated Asian banking centers throughout California and the Northwest. In California, the company has more than 150 Asian-designated banking centers, 240 Chinese language ATMs and offers in-language toll-free customer service assistance in Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
• During the week of September 8, Bank of America launched new TV, print and radio ads in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Vietnamese that will run through October and reach approximately 1.1 million Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese consumers in California.
• For many Asian consumers, these ads are the first time they will see and hear the new Higher Standards brand platform in their native language. Research shows that the following expressions best convey the spirit and meaning of Higher Standards to each cultural group:
  • Chinese: "High Standard/High Quality"
  • Korean: "One Step Ahead"
  • Vietnamese: "Higher Standard"
• To help strengthen Asian-American communities, Bank of America partners with organizations such as the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, On Lok (a San Francisco organization that provides advocacy and services for senior citizens) and the Chinese American Voters Education Committee. Each year, the company supports the Lunar New Year, Harvest Moon, Chu Sok and Tet Nguyen Dan festivals.
• The Bank of America Foundation, the charitable arm of the company, has made grants to organizations such as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles, the Chinese Historical Society of America, Search to Involve Filipino Americans, Korean Resource Center, Vietnamese Cultural House and, in San Francisco, the Chinatown Community Development Center, Chinese Newcomers Service Center and St. Mary's Chinese Schools and Center.