Bank of America reported fourth-quarter 2024 net income of $6.7 billion, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared to $3.1 billion, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023. Revenue for the quarter increased to $25.3 billion, up 15%, driven by growth in asset management and investment banking fees, sales and trading revenue, and higher net interest income (NII). NII reached $14.4 billion, a 3% increase from both the previous quarter and the same quarter last year, supported by fixed-rate asset repricing and loan growth.
Provision for credit losses was $1.5 billion, slightly higher than the previous quarter and up from $1.1 billion a year earlier. Noninterest expense decreased by 5% to $16.6 billion due to the absence of the 2023 FDIC special assessment expense, despite increased spending on personnel, technology, and branding.
Consumer Banking reported net income of $2.8 billion, driven by $10.6 billion in revenue and strong deposit balances averaging $942 billion, though down slightly from the prior quarter. Client activity was robust, with 213,000 new checking accounts opened, $1.9 trillion in consumer investments, and $1.1 trillion in payments, reflecting 6% growth.
Global Wealth and Investment Management saw net income of $1.2 billion, a 15% increase, fueled by higher market levels and flows in assets under management (AUM), which totaled $1.9 trillion, up 16%.
Global Banking reported $2.1 billion in net income, supported by record investment banking fees of $1.7 billion, a 44% increase, and a 10% growth in average deposits to $582 billion.
Global Markets recorded $941 million in net income as trading revenue increased by 13% to $4.1 billion, driven by gains in fixed income, commodities, and equities.
Balance sheet highlights included a 3% increase in average deposits to $1.96 trillion and loans at $1.08 trillion. The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio improved to 11.9%, exceeding regulatory minimums. Bank of America returned $5.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, with book value per share rising 7% to $35.79. CEO Brian Moynihan emphasized the bank's strong performance in capital and liquidity, positioning it well for growth in 2025.