Alumni Passion Runs Deep - Can It Be Channeled?

Bank of America Survey Finds Alums Take Pride in their Alma Mater, But May Be
Uncertain How to Share That Passion Financially

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- American college alumni agree on
one thing: college life rules. And with the kick-off of college football
season, many of them feel nostalgic for days spent on campus. According to a
recent survey commissioned by Bank of America, alumni are looking for a more
hassle-free method to financially give back to their alma maters. With the
introduction of Bank of America MyExpression(TM) Alumni checking, donations
can be made to an alumni group of choice with every check card or credit card
purchase.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050720/CLW086LOGO-b )
The Bank of America MyExpression Alumni Survey notes that 45 percent of
alums make annual contributions to their alma maters. And of those who that do
contribute, only about one-in-four make contributions of more than $100
annually.
Further confirming Alumni passion for their college life, 57 percent of
survey respondents claim that their college years were the best years of their
lives and 58 percent would like their kids to attend the same college they
did. Of the 55 percent that have yet to donate, nearly four-in-ten claim the
lapse is because they have not gotten around to it, or find it difficult to
juggle donations amid other financial and time obligations. Hassle-free
donation is just one of the benefits of Bank of America MyExpression Alumni
products.
"People are always looking for easy ways to support what's important to
them. However, prioritizing one's college or university among so many other
responsibilities -- financially and otherwise -- can be a tall order," says
Stephen Gillin, Affinity Banking executive. "That's exactly where the Bank of
America MyExpression alumni account fits in. Alumni can easily convert their
school passion into financial giving, simply by making their everyday
purchases through their MyExpression alumni account."
Alumni passion accounts are part of the Bank of America MyExpression suite
of banking products which allow our customers to show off their loyalty to
their favorite charity, school, professional organization or sports team.
Product features and financial benefits associated with the MyExpression
alumni products include:
-- An initial financial contribution made to each alumni organization with
the opening of each new MyExpression alumni account; and every time an
alumni check card is used thereafter, a financial contribution is made
to the group featured on the card.
-- Customized checks, check cards and credit cards with university alumni
association logo
-- Special benefits associated with the Bank of America's popular Keep the
Change(R) savings program that automatically rounds check card
purchases up to the nearest whole dollar and transfers the difference
from the customer's checking account into their Bank of America savings
account.
-- Special pricing on CDs and IRAs with select Alumni Organizations

While alums can score rewards for their alma mater with Bank of America,
the survey also finds that alums say the college experience has had other
winning impacts on their life. For example:
-- Four-in-ten college graduates say college friendships helped lead them
to a spouse or partner
-- 70 percent say their major in school relates directly to their career
-- And 37 percent say that friendships formed in college resulted in
business relationships later in life.

However, for college grads, the touchdowns scored in life as a result of
the college experience don't always translate to their sports knowledge. Of
those polled, just a little more than a third (36 percent) could accurately
state whether their alma mater was part of the Big 10 or PAC 10.
"Conference and national ranking is important to college football fans,"
says college football analyst and former NCAA coach Lee Corso. "But most fans
are just happy for an opportunity to show their support for their school in
the way that best suits them -- whether from a college stadium, in front of a
TV at home, or simply choosing a Bank that makes it easy for them give back
their alma mater."
To learn more about MyExpression alumni accounts or find your college or
university alumni association program, please visit
http://www.BankofAmerica.com/MyExpression.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions,
serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large
corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and
other financial and risk-management products and services. The company
provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 59
million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail
banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with
more than 25 million active users. Bank of America offers industry leading
support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of
innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves
clients in more than 150 countries and has relationships with 99 percent of
the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank
of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones
Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
http://www.bankofamerica.com
SOURCE Bank of America

Diane Wagner of Bank of America, +1-312-828-2932,
diane.wagner@bankofamerica.com