In a Davos interview, CEO Brian Moynihan announced that Bank of America has upgraded its U.S. GDP growth forecast for 2026 from 2.6% to 2.8%, outpacing the current market consensus of roughly 2.4%. This reflects positive trends in consumer spending—early January retail transactions rose by 4.2% year-over-year—and solid credit performance, with the bank’s internal delinquency rates holding below 1.2% across its card and mortgage portfolios. The research team cited robust earnings among large financial institutions and stable corporate tax policies as additional catalysts for stronger economic expansion next year.

Bank of America will grant $1 billion in common stock to non-executive employees through its Sharing Success Program, equivalent to nearly 19 million shares. The program, now in its ninth year, extends to 96% of the bank’s 213,000-strong workforce and brings total awards since inception in 2017 to $6.8 billion. These equity grants are in addition to base salaries and annual incentives, aligning employee interests with long-term shareholder value. Moynihan emphasized that these awards reward a year of double-digit revenue growth in the consumer banking division and a 15% increase in net income across the enterprise.

Moynihan highlighted that the Sharing Success awards reinforce a sense of ownership among employees and reflect confidence in current U.S. economic policies. He credited last year’s tax legislation for preserving corporate tax stability, which supported BofA’s plans for sustained capital deployment. The bank also raised its minimum hourly wage to $25, impacting over 50,000 full-time team members, and expanded its career development initiatives, including commitments to hire 10,000 military veterans and open new financial centers in high-growth regions. These actions aim to foster both internal talent growth and broader economic resilience.