BofA CEO "optimistic" about economic recovery

* Lewis increasingly optimistic about recovery

* BofA CEO cites bottoming housing sector, other reasons

NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis is increasingly optimistic about global economic recovery, and believes the rebound may be more robust than many expect.

"I feel like my optimistic side is coming back, as economic data points toward recovery," Lewis told a conference in Tokyo, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.

Lewis spoke as the largest U.S. bank faced legal challenges at home. On Monday, a federal judge rejected its $33 million regulatory settlement over Merrill Lynch & Co bonuses.

And New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was preparing to file civil charges against some Bank of America executives, including "some of the very highest-ranking", over the companies' merger, according to a person familiar with the probe.[ID:nN14511823])

In his prepared remarks, Lewis said deeper recessions are typically followed by stronger recoveries. He said businesses already have shrunk inventories aggressively, the housing sector is bottoming out and consumers, while still under significant pressure, have boosted their savings rates.

"There are reasons to believe the rebound may surprise to the upside," Lewis said.

Lewis sounded more hopeful about the economy than in the recent past.

In May, he had said the worst of the downturn had past, and a recovery would likely be "slow and sustainable."

In Tokyo, where Lewis is delivering his remarks it is Sept 15. Last Sept. 15, Bank of America agreed to buy Merrill, on the same morning that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc LEHMQ.PK went bankrupt.

Cuomo has criticized top Bank of America executives for failing to disclose to investors essential details about the Merrill takeover before shareholders voted on the deal. (Reporting by Joe Rauch; editing by Carol Bishopric)