Bank of America Corp. chief executive Brian Moynihan insisted today that his company won't have to raise additional capital as it absorbs mortgage-related losses.
"We don't see any reason to raise capital at all," Moynihan said at an investor conference in New York.
The Charlotte bank faces billions of dollar in requests from investors to buy back soured mortgage loans originated by the bank and Countrywide Financial, which it bought in 2008. It has reached settlements with some investors and continues to have talks with others.
In reaching these agreements, Moynihan said the bank is balancing the desire to put the issue behind it, while paying amounts that are "reasonable" to its own shareholders.
Moynihan, chief executive for about 18 months, wasn't specific about when Bank of America will ask the Federal Reserve again for permission to increase its dividend. The Fed in March rejected the bank's request for a dividend hike in the second half of this year.
"Stay tuned," Moynihan said. "We've learned our lessons about the process."
As he said at the bank's annual shareholder meeting last month, Moynihan said the bank needs to finish integrating Bank of America and Merrill Lynch risk management systems and to continue reducing "unknown risk" at the company, likely referring to the mortgage repurchase requests.
Asked about settlement talks with state attorneys general over foreclosure-related errors at major loan servicers, Moynihan said the dialogue is ongoing but it will take longer than people think because of the amount of work involved.
Bank of America shares are down more than 15 percent this year. This afternoon, the shares are down more than 3 percent to $11.28.












