Bank of America acquired the health care technology company Axia Technologies as the financial giant continues to build out its products for helping merchants take payments.

Virtual training and orientation, including any licensing needed, will begin in July for the bank’s campus hires, with the aim of having new employees at offices in October, Bank of America said.

Bank of America said Tuesday that it would up its initial commitment from $1 billion to $1.25 billion and would increase support in Asian American communities, where violence and incidents of harassment have risen sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rainforest Action Network says the 2020 decline stemmed more from weak energy demand during the pandemic than banks’ pledge to reduce financing to firms that contribute to climate change.

The two banks are pushing back against shareholder requests for sweeping audits of how they handle racial equity as the industry faces mounting public scrutiny of its historic role in economic disparities.

Bank of America Chief Executive Brian Moynihan said the company is confident in its growth prospects even as competition intensifies from fintechs including Walmart’s startup.

Bank of America will book a $400 million expense in the first quarter to account for a change in bonus policies that sparked anger among high earners.

Bank of America cut some of its staff in the global banking and markets division this week. The latest cuts mark an end to BofA's pledge not to eliminate any jobs in 2020 as the global pandemic flared.

A survey commissioned by Bank of America found that Black entrepreneurs are more hopeful about revenue opportunities than other small-business owners, though many are still struggling to bring in the capital needed to expand.

Bank of America and Citigroup trimmed compensation for their chief executives in 2020, a year in which banks exercised restraint in compensating employees as the pandemic ravaged the economy.