Bank of America doles out additional pay increases and electric-car perks

Bank of America is boosting pay for tens of thousands of U.S. employees who earn less than $100,000 a year and adding reimbursements for a portion of electric-vehicle purchases. 

Base salaries will climb as much as 7% for workers who have been with the firm since 2021 or earlier, according to a memo seen by Bloomberg News. The size of the raises, which start at 3% and kick in next month, will be based on how many years each employee has worked at the company.

Bank Of America Locations Ahead Of Earnings Figures
Bloomberg/Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomber

Bank of America, which employs more than 200,000 worldwide, is also evaluating compensation for similar roles outside the U.S., according to the memo, which was confirmed by a company representative. Those decisions will be made and communicated “in the coming weeks,” the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company said in the memo. 

U.S. firms are battling to retain employees in a tight job market, marked by a record number of open positions and historically low unemployment. Bank of America previously announced that its hourly minimum wage would increase to $22 from $21, another step toward its goal of reaching $25 an hour by 2025.

Pay increases aren’t keeping up with decades-high inflation for many Americans, increasing financial stress for a third of households, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. Despite those pressures, consumer spending is still strong and likely to stay that way, Chief Executive Brian Moynihan said in a Bloomberg TV interview in Davos, Switzerland.

Bank of America also announced a new perk to encourage all-electric rather than fuel-based driving. The company will give a $4,000 reimbursement to employees who buy an electric vehicle, or $2,000 for a new lease, according to a separate memo. The one-time perk will be available starting in July to workers who have served at least three years and have annual salaries of less than $250,000.

Earlier this year, the bank said it would reward nearly all its staff with a pool of $1 billion in restricted stock, on top of regular compensation. That incentive went out to employees who earn as much as $500,000 a year.

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