Bank of America CEO gets top UNC Charlotte honor. Hugh McColl offered perspective
Hugh McColl announced Monday during a luncheon honoring Bank of America’s CEO and president Brian Moynihan that he can now be called “Brian the Lion,” a nickname from his college years playing rugby.
Moynihan received UNC Charlotte’s 2026 Distinguished Service Award during a luncheon at Popp-Martin Student Union. The college’s highest recognition recognizes outstanding leadership, enduring service and deep community commitment.
It’s that same “ferocity of his competitive spirit has been compelling the company,” McColl said of Moynihan’s days on the rugby field. McColl said Moyinhan’s belief that strong business and strong communities are inseparable distinguishes his leadership.
”No community can exist without educational capabiltites of the stature you’re building here,” Moynihan said of UNC Charlotte. He in turn recognized bank executive leaders and employees, as well as McColl, for their work and support.
“I only am successful because of what they do.”
He connected America the country and Bank of America the company. “America was an idea. It was about everybody else could be successful, with the opportunity that anybody could participate,” Moynihan said.
In Massachusetts, he said that a bank formed in 1784 by a group of people who wouldn’t have had any position, because people needed a place to put their money and the bank served the people by lending money to grow the country.
“That is the oldest bank in our franchise,” Moynihan said. “People needed banks to help finance the businesses and business growth to support communities like Charlotte and this school.”
He highlighted the ways Bank of America has been a part of the Charlotte community from employees volunteering over two million hours over the past decade, including 2,000 hours to the college, and about $100 million to 330 Charlotte-based nonprofits, again including UNC Charlotte.
“We can only be strong as a company if Charlotte is strong as a community,” Moynihan added.
Bank of America and UNC Charlotte
Over the past three decades, Bank of America has invested substantially in the university, strengthening programs for student success, faculty excellence, research, innovation and community engagement.
Moynihan, who has led the second-largest bank in the U.S. for half of that time, has remained committed to Charlotte, economic opportunity and helping improve financial lives for individuals and institutions around the world, McColl said.
“Today we honor not only this distinguished executive, but a trusted partner, city leader and a champion of education and opportunity,” McColl said.
UNC Charlotte chancellor praises bank leader
UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber praised Moynihan’s leadership and service to the region.
Beyond his corporate role, Moynihan serves on boards including the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture advisory council, the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and the Partnership for Rhode Island.
“He understands the connective tissue of higher education, fuels economic engine of the city and community,” Gaber said.
Bank of America’s partnership with UNC Charlotte dates back to 1960. The bank has invested more than $10.6 million in programs supporting students and faculty, including the Community Innovation Incubator and the University Transition Opportunities Program.
Bank of America has 210,000 employees companywide, and 19,000 in Charlotte. There are a more than 2,000 UNC Charlotte alumni employed by Bank of America, Gaber said.
“Few institutions have shaped Charlotte’s tragectory as profoundly as Bank of America,” Gaber said. “They didn’t just help build our skyline, they helped build our city’s soul ... improving the quality of life for Charlotte and its residents. It’s deeply connected to and invested in the pace it calls home.”
Brian Moynihan’s leadership at Bank of America
Moynihan became CEO of Bank of America in 2010 at age 50.
He guided the bank through the turbulent aftermath of the Merrill Lynch acquisition, reorganizing the company and resolving major financial crisis issues. His succession followed Ken Lewis, who in turn had succeeded Hugh McColl, credited with building the modern Bank of America and cementing Charlotte’s reputation as “Banktown.”
He grew up in Marietta, Ohio, the sixth of eight children. Moynihan majored in history and co-captained the rugby team at Brown University before earning a law degree at the University of Notre Dame.
Recipients of the UNC Charlotte award are given a statue of “The 49er Miner” by sculptor Lorenzo Ghiglieri. Other recipients of the 40-year-old award have been Truist CEO Bill Rogers and former Bank of America executive Catherine Bessant.
The award recognizes “unwavering civic energy” and “deep passion and care for Charlotte university and region, said Tom Scrivener, UNC Charlotte board of trustees and chief operations executive for Bank of America . “Clearly, Brian has both.”
This story was originally published March 30, 2026 at 4:53 PM.
