Pros

Very large and secure ( as this volatile world will allow) financial institution. Wide array of products and services to offer customers. Bank of America in the recent economic environment has a very large customer base with the addition of both ML and CWide.

Cons

Bank of America has become the "fast food" of retail banking. They try to preach a "needs based selling" model to all new and current employees. BUT, the unrealistic goals that are asked of you trump that. Most manager's either turn a blind eye or actively condone a forceful if not blatant ignorance of what a customer can handle or really needs. The "Market Team" sets goals very similar to what you would see at a mall store ( the Gap or a Shoe dep't). These Goals include checking accounts, savings, and credit cards, etc. The only thing that your manager will care about is a number at the end of the day. Not the three letters from happy customers left on his/her desk. Those won't even be put in your file. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you open enough checking and savings accounts. You are NOT an advisor you are a fast food clerk and hopefully a speedy talkative salesperson who glazes over details. This is a VERY entry level position in the financial world. Promotions are given to the one with the highest "numbers" no matter what intangibles are present. They say ethics is upheld tantamount, but even a proof-positive example is brushed aside as a "one time occurrence". Management at the retail level is far from professional. At a meeting, regional executive has said "if you are feeling under-appreciated, you are in the wrong business".

Advice to Senior Management

Try and evaluate a system or person not just on numbers but the entire picture they bring to your company. Get back to being a neighborhood bank that is everywhere not just a fast food chain that wants more and more market share of unused and unfunded checking accounts.