Why B of A Might Dissolve Merrill Unit

Bank of America this month disclosed plans to eliminate its crisis-era purchase by the end of this year, keeping Merrill Lynch's name and branding but dissolving the formal subsidiary. The merger should help Chief Executive Brian Moynihan's multi-year cost-cutting effort and will help eliminate some complexity at B of A, as regulators continue to scrutinize the size and scale of large financial companies.