11-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 11-K

 

 

FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK

PURCHASE SAVINGS AND SIMILAR PLANS

PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 1-6523

 

 

 

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

 

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Bank of America Corporation

Bank of America Corporate Center

Charlotte, NC 28255

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Financial Statements and Report of

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

December 31, 2017 and 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     1-2  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

  

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS—DECEMBER 31, 2017 and 2016

     3  

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS—YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017

     4  

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     5-18  

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE:

  

SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i—SCHEDULE OF ASSETS

     19-20  

SIGNATURE

     21  

EXHIBIT INDEX

     22  

EXHIBIT 23.1

     23  

All other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Plan Participants and the Corporate Benefits Committee of

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Bank of America 401(k) Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and schedule of assets as of December 31, 2017 (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.


Table of Contents

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Supplemental Information

The schedule of assets as of December 31, 2017 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

/s/ Morris Davis Chan & Tan LLP

We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2000.

Charlotte, North Carolina

June 21, 2018


Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

     2017      2016  

Assets

     

Investments, at fair value (Notes 2 and 5)

   $ 22,545,252,187      $ 18,195,661,141  

Plan interest in the Stable Value Master Trust, at contract value (Note 4)

     3,154,757,527        3,125,277,849  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     25,700,009,714        21,320,938,990  

Accrued dividends and interest receivable

     964,771        744,364  

Employer contribution receivable

     331,771,828        317,788,411  

Participant contribution receivable

     24,100,201        22,576,672  

Participant notes receivable (Notes 1 and 2)

     494,310,159        449,793,562  

Other receivable

     6,019,600        5,397,439  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     26,557,176,273        22,117,239,438  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Due to broker for securities purchased

     26,325        8,726  

Other payable

     608,132        323,175  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     634,457        331,901  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits

   $ 26,556,541,816      $ 22,116,907,537  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

Additions to net assets available for benefits attributed to:

  

Investment income

  

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

   $ 3,714,429,439  

Investment income from mutual funds

     395,735,249  

Interest and dividends

     57,365,255  
  

 

 

 

Total non-Master Trust investment income

     4,167,529,943  

Plan interest in the Stable Value Master Trust investment income

     65,234,570  
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     4,232,764,513  

Contributions (Note 1)

  

Participant

     889,229,460  

Employer

     791,819,129  

Rollover

     97,684,341  
  

 

 

 

Total contributions

     1,778,732,930  
  

 

 

 

Interest income on participant notes receivable

     20,583,180  
  

 

 

 

Other income

     3,130,950  
  

 

 

 

Total additions

     6,035,211,573  
  

 

 

 

Deductions from net assets available for benefits attributed to:

  

Benefits paid to plan participants

     1,591,009,793  

Trustee and administrative fees (Note 2)

     4,567,501  
  

 

 

 

Total deductions

     1,595,577,294  
  

 

 

 

Net increase

     4,439,634,279  

Net assets available for benefits

  

Beginning of year

     22,116,907,537  
  

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 26,556,541,816  
  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

 

 

1. Description of the Plan

The following description of The Bank of America 401(k) Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description and any supplements thereto for a more complete description of applicable Plan provisions. Other Plan provisions may also apply to participants from predecessor plans assumed by Bank of America Corporation (the Corporation) and merged into the Plan.

Plan Sponsor and Participating Employers

The Corporation is the Plan Sponsor. Participating employers in the Plan include the Corporation and certain of the Corporation’s principal subsidiaries.

Plan Administrator

The Plan is administered by the Bank of America Corporation Corporate Benefits Committee (the Committee). The Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Corporation delegated to the Global Human Resources Executive of the Corporation the authority to select members of the Committee. Members of the Committee serve without compensation and act by majority vote. The Committee has overall responsibility for the operation and administration of the Plan including the power to construe and interpret the Plan, decide all questions that arise thereunder and to delegate responsibilities.

Plan Trustee

Bank of America, N.A. (BANA) is the Plan Trustee.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan for employees of the Corporation and participating subsidiaries. It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). Full-time, part-time and temporary employees paid by US payroll are eligible to participate in the Plan after hire.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Plan added an automatic enrollment feature for employees hired on or after January 1, 2016 equal to 1% of covered compensation subject to a 45-day opt-out election.

Participant Contributions

All employees covered by the Plan are eligible to make pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) contributions as soon as administratively practical after employment commences. Each participant may elect to make pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) contributions to the Plan through payroll deductions from 1% to 75% of such participant’s eligible compensation (as defined in the Plan document) for each pay period.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

1. Description of the Plan (Continued)

 

Participant Contributions (Continued)

In accordance with federal law, 2017 annual pre-tax and/or Roth (after tax) contributions were limited to $18,000 for participants. Additional 2017 contributions of $6,000 were permitted for participants over age 50. Effective January 1, 2016, participants were permitted to contribute whole or fractional percentages of their eligible compensation at any time during the year.

Employer Contributions

All employees covered by the Plan are eligible to receive company matching contributions and an annual company contribution after completing 12 months of service. Any pre-tax and/or Roth (after-tax) contributions made prior to completing 12 months of service are not eligible for the company matching contribution. The company matching contribution is calculated and allocated to the participant’s account on a pay period basis beginning the first of the month after the participant earns 12 months of vesting service and is equal to the first 5% of plan-eligible compensation contributed by the participant for the pay period. The company matching contribution is made in cash and directed to the same investment choices as the pre-tax and/or Roth (after-tax) contributions. An end of year “true-up” matching contribution is also provided.

The Corporation also provides an annual company contribution equal to 2% (3% if the participant has at least 10 years of vesting service) of the participant’s eligible compensation, subject to the Plan’s applicable compensation limit, beginning the first of the month after the participant earns 12 months of vesting service.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Plan added an employee welcome contribution equal to $50 per eligible participant.

Employer contributions are made in the form of cash. After consideration of forfeitures, the actual cash remitted by the Corporation was $791,819,129 for 2017.

Payment of Benefits

While still in service, participants may generally withdraw employee and employer vested contributions as follows:

 

  (1) Employee contributions may be withdrawn in the case of financial hardship within the meaning of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), disability or after age 59 12;

 

  (2) Company matching contributions for 2005 and later plan years may be withdrawn in the case of disability or after age 59 12; and

 

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Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

1. Description of the Plan (Continued)

 

Payment of Benefits (Continued)

 

  (3) Company matching contributions for pre-2005 plan years may be withdrawn in the case of financial hardship (as referenced above), disability, after 5 years of Plan participation, or after age 59 12.

Participants who take a financial hardship distribution are not permitted to make contributions during the 6 month period beginning on the date of such distribution.

Following a participant’s death, disability, retirement or other separation from service, all vested amounts held in the Plan for a participant’s benefit are payable in a single lump sum. The form of payment is cash, except to the extent that the participant elects to have the portion of his/her account invested in the Bank of America Corporation Common Stock Fund distributed in shares of Bank of America Corporation common stock. A participant or a beneficiary may receive distributions under one of several options. The options are as follows: a lump-sum distribution of cash and/or shares of Bank of America Corporation common stock, transfer to an individual retirement account or other brokerage account, or, in the event of a disability or for a participant who meets the Rule of 60, a participant may receive a withdrawal in the form of a single lump sum or in quarterly or annual installments for up to 15 years. The Plan provides other payment methods for certain participants in predecessor plans merged with the Plan.

Vesting of Benefits

Each participant is 100% vested in the participant’s pre-tax, Roth (after-tax) and rollover contributions to the Plan and company matching and welcome contributions as well as earnings thereon.

The annual company contribution, including earnings thereon, is fully vested after completion of 36 months of vesting service (with accelerated vesting upon the attainment of normal retirement age or in the event of retirement, severance, divestiture or death) and is forfeited if a participant terminates employment prior to completing such vesting service requirement.

Participant Accounts

Each participant’s account is credited with the allocation of the participant’s pre-tax, Roth (after-tax) rollover, company matching, annual company and welcome contributions. Earnings for all funds are allocated to a participant’s account on a daily basis based on the participant’s account balance in relation to the total fund balance. Participants may elect to have the dividends earned on the Corporation’s stock allocated to their accounts paid directly to them in cash or reinvested in the Plan. Interest on participant notes receivable is credited to the accounts of the participant making the payment.

 

 

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Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

1. Description of the Plan (Continued)

 

Participant Notes Receivable

Generally, active participants in the Plan are eligible for loans from the Plan. A maximum of two outstanding loans is permitted at any time. Interest rates on loans are generally calculated based on the prime rate as published by Reuters on the last business day of the month prior to the month the loan was obtained. Interest rates on the loans are fixed. General purpose loans have a term of 1 to 5 years and principal residence loans have a term of 1 to 15 years. The maximum loan amount that may be obtained is the lesser of (a) 50% of the participant’s vested account balance reduced by any outstanding loan balance or (b) $50,000 reduced by the highest outstanding balance of loans under the Plan and under any tax-qualified plans maintained by affiliates during the 12 month period ending on the day before the loan was made.

Each loan bears an interest rate equal to the prime rate plus 1% and is fixed for the life of the loan. Interest rates ranged from 4.25% to 11.50% for loans held by the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Investment Alternatives

The Plan provides participants with a total of 30 investment alternatives as of December 31, 2017. Investment alternatives include 7 mutual funds, 21 collective investment funds (including 10 LifePath Index funds), a Stable Value Fund and the Bank of America Corporation Common Stock Fund (invests primarily in the Corporation’s common stock).

Participants may elect to modify existing investment allocations on a periodic basis subject to the provisions of the Plan.

The Plan also includes a Segregated Fund that is not available for additional participant investments. The Segregated Fund consists of the segregated investments and accounts of certain participants of the former NationsBank Texas Plan.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Accounting Pronouncement Adopted

In February 2017, Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-06, Plan Accounting—Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960), Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): Employee Benefit Plan Master Trust Reporting (A Consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2017-06 amended the presentation and disclosure requirements relating to master trusts in accordance with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The amendments are effective for all plan years beginning after December 15, 2018 and are to be applied retrospectively. Earlier adoption is permitted.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

The Corporation has early adopted ASU 2017-06. The Plan’s financial statements are presented to conform to the requirements of ASU 2017-06.

Significant accounting policies of the Plan are summarized below:

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Revenues are recognized as earned. Benefits paid to plan participants are recorded when paid. All other expenses are recorded as incurred.

Management Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of Plan assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statement and the reported amounts of Plan additions and deductions during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

Investments are reported at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (see Note 5: Fair Value Measurements).

Benefit responsive investment contracts held in the Stable Value Master Trust (Master Trust) are stated at contract value (which represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest less withdrawals and administration expenses) on the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits (see Note 4: Interest in the Stable Value Master Trust). Contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for the portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.

Realized gains (losses) on investment transactions are recorded as the difference between proceeds received and cost. Cost is determined on the average cost basis. Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments includes the reversal of previously recognized appreciation (depreciation) related to investments sold during the period. Investment securities purchased and sold are recorded on a trade date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Participant Notes Receivable

Participant notes receivable are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent participant notes receivable are reclassified as distributions based upon the terms of the Plan document.

Plan Expenses

Plan expenses, to the extent not paid by the Plan, are paid by the Corporation. Certain expenses are borne by participants based on their investment selections.

 

3. Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.

 

4. Interest in the Stable Value Master Trust

A portion of the Plan’s investments is in the Master Trust. The Master Trust provides a single collective investment vehicle for the Stable Value Fund investment option of the Plan, The Bank of America Transferred Savings Account Plan and the Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. 401(k) Savings & Investment Plan (collectively known as Participating Plans).

The assets of the Master Trust are held by BANA, as Trustee, and the portfolio is managed by an unaffiliated investment advisor, Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC (Standish), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. Each Participating Plan owns an undivided interest in the Master Trust.

The terms of the underlying investment contracts in the Stable Value Fund are benefit responsive, providing a guarantee by the issuer to pay principal plus accrued interest in response to benefit-related requests for payment.

The value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust is based on the beginning value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust plus actual contributions and allocated investment income less actual distributions and allocated administrative expenses.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

4. Interest in the Stable Value Master Trust (Continued)

 

The following tables present the Master Trust net assets and the Plan interest in the Master Trust net assets at contract value as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

     Net Assets as of December 31, 2017  
     Master Trust      Plan Interest in
Master Trust
 

Money market funds

   $ 21,623,888      $ 14,346,692  

Investment contracts:

     

Fixed maturity synthetic guaranteed investment contracts

     504,400,275        334,651,902  

Constant duration synthetic guaranteed investment contracts

     3,557,796,841        2,360,473,497  

Insurance company separate account guaranteed investment contracts

     515,628,562        342,101,477  

Collective investment fund

     155,840,364        103,394,619  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,755,289,930        3,154,968,187  

Accrued expenses

     (317,516      (210,660
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets

   $ 4,754,972,414      $ 3,154,757,527  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Net Assets as of December 31, 2016  
     Master Trust      Plan Interest in
Master Trust
 

Money market funds

   $ 281,674,535      $ 186,715,844  

Investment contracts:

     

Fixed maturity synthetic guaranteed investment contracts

     449,736,915        298,120,695  

Constant duration synthetic guaranteed investment contracts

     3,479,102,038        2,306,220,104  

Insurance company separate account guaranteed investment contracts

     504,511,408        334,429,499  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     4,715,024,896        3,125,486,142  

Accrued expenses

     (314,225      (208,293
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets

   $ 4,714,710,671      $ 3,125,277,849  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents net investment income for the Master Trust for the year ended December 31, 2017:

 

Interest

   $ 99,151,186  

Other income

     2,969  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     99,154,155  

Net transfers

     (57,640,455

Investment management and other expenses

     (1,251,957
  

 

 

 

Increase in net assets

     40,261,743  

Net assets:

  

Beginning of year

     4,714,710,671  
  

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 4,754,972,414  
  

 

 

 

Plan interest in the Stable Value Master Trust investment income

   $ 65,234,570  
  

 

 

 

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

4. Interest in the Stable Value Master Trust (Continued)

 

The Stable Value Fund generally consists of the following types of guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) and corresponding valuation methodologies:

Fixed Maturity Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts

Fixed maturity synthetic GICs consist of an asset or collection of assets that are owned by the Participating Plans and a benefit responsive, book value wrap contract purchased for the portfolio. The wrap contract provides book value accounting for the assets and assures that benefit responsive payments will be made at book value for participant directed withdrawals. Generally, fixed maturity synthetic GICs are held to maturity. The initial crediting rate is established based on the market interest rates at the time the initial asset is purchased.

Constant Duration Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts

Constant duration synthetic GICs consist of a portfolio of securities owned by the Participating Plans and a benefit responsive, book value wrap contract purchased for the portfolio. The wrap contract amortizes gains and losses of the underlying securities over the portfolio duration and assures that benefit responsive payments will be made at book value for participant directed withdrawals. The initial crediting rate is established based on the market interest rates at the time the underlying portfolio is funded.

Insurance Company Separate Account Guaranteed Investment Contracts

Insurance company separate account GICs are investments in a segregated account of assets maintained by an insurance company for the benefit of the investors. The total return of the segregated account assets supports the separate account GIC’s return. The crediting rate on this product will reset periodically and it will have an interest rate of not less than 0%.

It is probable that withdrawals and transfers resulting from the following events will limit the ability of the fund to transact at book or contract value. Instead, market value will likely be used in determining the payouts to the participants:

 

    Employer-initiated events – events within the control of the plan or the plan sponsor which would have a material and adverse impact on the fund;

 

    Employer communications designed to induce participants to transfer from the fund;

 

    Competing fund transfer or violation of equity wash or equivalent rules in place;

 

    Changes of qualification status of the plan.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

4. Interest in the Stable Value Master Trust (Continued)

 

In general, issuers may terminate the contract and settle at other than contract value if the qualification status of employer or plan changes, if there is a breach of material obligations under the contract and misrepresentation by the contract holder, or failure of the underlying portfolio to conform to the pre-established investment guidelines. Issuers may also make payment at a value other than book when withdrawals are caused by certain employer-initiated events.

All contracts are benefit responsive unless otherwise noted.

 

5. Fair Value Measurements

Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurement, establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are described below:

 

  Level 1 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

 

  Level 2 Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

 

    Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
    Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
    Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
    Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

  Level 3 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

5. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

 

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value:

 

    Money market funds and interest bearing cash are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.

 

    U.S. government and government agency obligations and common and preferred stocks are valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the securities are traded.

 

    Asset-backed securities are valued using the external broker bids, where applicable.

 

    Mutual funds are valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end.

 

    Collective investment funds are stated at fair value as determined by the issuers based on the unit values of the funds. Unit values are determined by dividing the funds’ net assets, which represent the unadjusted prices in active markets of the underlying investments, by the number of units outstanding at the valuation date.

There have been no changes in the methodologies used as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while management believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

5. Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

 

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s non-Master Trust investments at fair value as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

    Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2017  
    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Money market funds and interest bearing cash

  $ 74,812,133      $ 611,948      $ —        $ 75,424,081  

U.S. government and government agency obligations

    495,800        —          —          495,800  

Asset-backed securities

    —          5,606        —          5,606  

Mutual funds

    5,236,951,413        —          —          5,236,951,413  

Collective investment funds

    —          12,989,529,187        —          12,989,529,187  

Common and preferred stocks

    4,242,846,100        —          —          4,242,846,100  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-Master Trust investments

  $ 9,555,105,446      $ 12,990,146,741      $ —        $ 22,545,252,187  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
    Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2016  
    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Money market funds and interest bearing cash

  $ 76,946,081      $ 610,795      $ —        $ 77,556,876  

U.S. government and government agency obligations

    502,530        —          —          502,530  

Asset-backed securities

    —          7,458        —          7,458  

Mutual funds

    10,017,934,785        —          —          10,017,934,785  

Collective investment funds

    —          4,838,178,632        —          4,838,178,632  

Common and preferred stocks

    3,261,478,305        —          —          3,261,478,305  

Other investments

    —          2,555        —          2,555  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-Master Trust investments

  $ 13,356,861,701      $ 4,838,799,440      $ —        $ 18,195,661,141  
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Transfers Between Levels

The Plan recognizes any transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers between levels for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

6. Plan Termination

Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Corporation has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA. In the event the Plan terminates, the total amounts credited to the accounts of each participant become fully vested and no further allocations shall be made.

 

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The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

 

7. Related Party Transactions

Prior to April 15, 2016, the Plan’s cash funds were managed by BofA Global Capital Management, advised by BofA Advisors, LLC, distributed by BofA Distributors, Inc. and were collectively referred to as the “BofA Funds”. BofA Global Capital Management, BofA Advisors, LLC and BofA Distributors, Inc. are all affiliates of BANA and the Corporation. On April 15, 2016, the Corporation transferred BofA Global Capital Management’s investment management responsibilities, including the management of certain of the BofA Funds, to BlackRock, Inc. From April 16, 2016 to April 17, 2016, the BofA Cash Reserves Capital Class was reorganized into the BlackRock Liquidity Funds TempFund Institutional Shares managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC and subsequently invested in the Fidelity Government Portfolio Fund Institutional Shares managed by Fidelity Management & Research Company.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Plan held investments in Bank of America Corporation common stock totaling $4,242,578,504 and $3,261,206,279, respectively. The Plan earned dividends thereon of $56,759,661 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Institutional Retirement & Benefit Services (IRBS), a division of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Corporation) performs administrative services for the Plan. The Plan paid direct expenses to IRBS totaling $3,586,966 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The Plan paid direct expenses to BANA totaling $227,216 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

8. Reconciliation to Form 5500

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

 

     December 31  
     2017      2016  

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 26,556,541,816      $ 22,116,907,537  

Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts

     (5,491,013      3,399,204  

Benefit obligations payable

     (2,734,136      (2,485,473
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500

   $ 26,548,316,667      $ 22,117,821,268  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

8. Reconciliation to Form 5500 (Continued)

 

The following is a reconciliation of total income per the financial statements to the Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2017:

 

Total Plan interest in the the Stable Value Master Trust investment income per the financial statements

   $ 65,234,570  

Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fullybenefit-responsive investment contracts

  

End of year

     (5,491,013

Beginning of year

     (3,399,204
  

 

 

 

Total Plan interest in the the Stable Value Master Trust investmentincome per Form 5500

   $ 56,344,353  
  

 

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to plan participants per the financial statements to the Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2017:

 

Benefits paid to plan participants per the financial statements

   $ 1,591,009,793  

Add:  Benefit obligations payable at end of year

     2,734,136  

Less:  Benefit obligations payable at beginning of year

     (2,485,473
  

 

 

 

Benefits paid to plan participants per Form 5500

   $ 1,591,258,456  
  

 

 

 

Benefit obligations payable and related benefits paid are recorded on Form 5500 for those claims that have been processed and approved for payment prior to December 31 but not yet paid as of that date. For financial statement purposes, such amounts are not recorded until paid.

 

9. Federal Income Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined and informed the Corporation by letter dated April 8, 2015 that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the IRC. The Plan has been amended since receiving this determination letter.

The Plan administrator believes the Plan as amended is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax exempt.

 

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Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

9. Federal Income Tax Status (Continued)

 

Under present federal income tax laws, a participating employee will not be subject to federal income taxes on the contributions by the employer, or on the interest, dividends or profits on the sale of investments received by the trustee, until the participating employee’s account is distributed.

 

10. Litigation

The Plan is the subject of litigation involving certain participants’ voluntary transfer of Plan assets to the Pension Plan and whether such transfers were in accordance with applicable law. The outcome of this litigation cannot be predicted at this time.

 

11. Subsequent Events

In preparing the Plan’s financial statements, subsequent events and transactions have been evaluated for potential recognition. Plan management determined that there are no subsequent events or transactions that require disclosure to or adjustment in the financial statements except as disclosed below:

 

    Effective January 1, 2018, the employee welcome contribution was no longer offered to newly-hired employees.

 

    Effective January 1, 2018, the default elective deferral contribution rate under the automatic enrollment feature for newly-hired employees increased to 3% of covered compensation with automatic annual increases of 1% up to a ceiling of 5%.

 

    On January 31, 2018, Standish combined with Mellon Capital Management Corporation and The Boston Company Asset Management to form BNY Mellon Asset Management North America.

 

 

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Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

EIN 56-0906609 Plan No. 003

Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets

December 31, 2017

 

(a)   (b)   (c)                                                    (e)  
   

Identity of Issue, Borrower,

Lessor, or Similar Party

 

Description of Investment Including Maturity Date,

Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par, or Maturity Value

   Number of
Shares / Units
     Current Value  
  Money market and interest bearing cash      

*

  BOFA   OVERNIGHT DEPOSIT—CUSTODY      7,100      $ 7,100  
  BANK OF DESOTO   CD #10650 INT MO DTD 08/06/14 1.050% DUE 08/06/19      50,000        50,000  
  BANK OF DESOTO   CD #13533 INT MO DTD 02/04/15 1.050% DUE 02/04/20      50,000        50,000  
  BANK OF DESOTO   CD #10649 INT MO DTD 08/06/14 1.050% DUE 08/06/19      90,000        90,000  
  BEAL BANK   CD #7500114802 INT RENVST DTD 07/11/13 1.240% DUE 07/11/18      61,948        61,948  
  BEAL BANK   CD #7500137713 INT MO DTD 11/16/16 0.910% DUE 11/16/17      70,000        70,000  
  BEAL BANK   CD #0120632229 INT MO DTD 08/25/17 0.910% DUE 02/25/19      100,000        100,000  
  FEDERATED   GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS FUND, PREMIER CLASS      50,889        50,889  
  FIDELITY   GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO, INSTITUTIONAL CLASS      74,754,144        74,754,144  
  HILLCREST BANK   CD #8310000360 INT SEMI ANNUAL DTD 08/11/15 1.400% DUE 02/11/19      90,000        90,000  
  USAA FEDERAL SAVINGS   CD #0005353200 INT MO DTD 01/20/17 0.760% DUE 01/20/18      100,000        100,000  
         

 

 

 
  Total money market and interest bearing cash         75,424,081  
         

 

 

 
  U.S. government and government agency obligations      
  UNITED STATES TREAS NT   DTD 02/15/12 2.000% DUE 02/15/22      100,000        99,523  
  UNITED STATES TREAS NT   DTD 02/18/14 2.750% DUE 02/15/24      100,000        102,625  
  UNITED STATES TREAS NT   DTD 08/15/13 2.500% DUE 08/15/23      50,000        50,678  
  UNITED STATES TREAS NT   DTD 08/15/15 2.000% DUE 08/15/25      50,000        48,744  
  UNITED STATES TREAS NT   DTD 11/15/12 1.625% DUE 11/15/22      100,000        97,453  
  UNITED STATES TREAS NT   DTD 11/15/16 2.000% DUE 11/15/26      100,000        96,777  
         

 

 

 
  Total U.S. government and government agency obligations         495,800  
         

 

 

 
  Asset-backed securities      
  GOVERNMENT NATL MTG ASSN   POOL #604740 DTD 11/01/03 5.000% DUE 11/15/33      2,771        3,001  
  GOVERNMENT NATL MTG ASSN   POOL #604897 DTD 12/01/03 5.000% DUE 12/15/33      2,403        2,605  
         

 

 

 
  Total asset-backed securities         5,606  
         

 

 

 
  Mutual funds      
  ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN   INTERMEDIATE BOND PORTFOLIO CL A SHARES      10,064        111,711  
  BLACKROCK   GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND CLASS I SHARES      8,543,666        169,250,030  
  COLUMBIA   GLOBAL EQUITY VALUE FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES      10,310        146,708  
  COLUMBIA   SHORT TERM BOND FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES      3,990        39,578  
  COLUMBIA   US GOVT MTG FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES      3,885        21,020  
  DODGE & COX   STOCK FUND      9,121,383        1,857,204,891  
  INVESCO VAN KAMPEN   US MORTGAGE FUND CL A SHARES      1,722        20,576  
  NICHOLAS FUND INC   NICHOLAS FUND      6,610        408,544  
  PIMCO   ALL ASSET FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES      5,147,708        62,544,655  
  PIMCO   TOTAL RETURN FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES      13,655,066        140,237,527  
  T ROWE PRICE   INSTITUTIONAL LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND      50,502,936        1,864,063,364  
  VANGUARD   GNMA FUND INVESTORS SHARES      18,185        190,220  
  VANGUARD   INFLATION PROTECTED SECURITIES FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES      18,170,519        189,518,510  
  VANGUARD   WELLESLEY INCOME FUND INVESTOR SHARES      1,762        47,488  
  VANGUARD   WELLINGTON FUND INVESTOR SHARES      15,384        646,576  
  VANGUARD   WINDSOR II INVESTOR SHARES      1,666        63,019  
  WESTERN ASSET   CORE BOND PORTFOLIO FUND INSTITUTIONAL CLASS I SHARES      75,112,720        952,429,290  
  WESTERN ASSET   HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND      1,520        7,706  
         

 

 

 
  Total mutual funds         5,236,951,413  
         

 

 

 
  Collective investment funds      
  BLACKROCK   EQUITY DIVIDEND FUND      41,524,732        833,584,083  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2020 FUND O CLASS      22,211,846        338,376,820  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2025 FUND O CLASS      25,520,610        409,798,976  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2030 FUND O CLASS      28,609,170        481,262,306  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2035 FUND O CLASS      24,830,612        436,096,563  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2040 FUND O CLASS      24,423,238        445,052,207  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2045 FUND O CLASS      17,092,195        320,893,819  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2050 FUND O CLASS      14,186,314        271,865,383  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2055 FUND O CLASS      10,011,612        198,435,354  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX 2060 FUND O CLASS      2,858,135        36,867,078  
  BLACKROCK   LIFEPATH INDEX RETIREMENT FUND O CLASS      20,431,344        289,503,761  
  BLACKROCK   US FUNDAMENTAL LARGE CAP GROWTH FUND      27,070,544        571,594,543  
  FIAM   SMALL/MID CORE FUND II      8,802,586        184,766,278  
 

HAND BENEFITS & TRUST

  QS US SMALL CAP EQUITY COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT FUND      36,513,435        374,992,977  
  MFS   INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND      72,301,386        1,158,991,218  

 

* Investments with parties-in-interest as defined under ERISA.

Column (d) Cost was omitted as all investments are participant-directed.

 

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Table of Contents

The Bank of America 401(k) Plan

EIN 56-0906609 Plan No. 003

Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets

December 31, 2017

 

(a)   (b)   (c)                                 (e)  
   

Identity of Issue, Borrower,

Lessor, or Similar Party

 

Description of Investment Including Maturity Date,

Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par, or Maturity Value

  Number of
Shares / Units
    Current Value  
  STATE STREET   REAL ASSET NL FUND C CLASS     17,046,034     $ 203,904,660  
  VANGUARD   INSTITUTIONAL 500 INDEX TRUST     29,658,799       3,150,950,834  
  VANGUARD   INSTITUTIONAL EXTENDED MARKET INDEX TRUST     23,649,268       2,455,976,472  
  VANGUARD   INSTITUTIONAL TOTAL BOND MARKET INDEX TRUST     2,320,926       232,974,575  
  VANGUARD   INSTITUTIONAL TOTAL INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKET     3,858,635       404,616,486  
  WILMINGTON TRUST, N.A.   TEMPLETON INTERNATIONAL EQUITY COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT TRUST     18,280,928       189,024,794  
       

 

 

 
  Total collective investment funds       12,989,529,187  
       

 

 

 
  Common and preferred stocks    

*

  BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION   COMMON STOCK     143,718,784       4,242,578,504  

*

  BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION   PREFERRED STOCK     750       19,388  
  CITIGROUP INC   COMMON STOCK     100       7,441  
  DEUTSCHE BK CONTINGENT CAP TR II   PREFERRED STOCK     860       21,896  
  EXXON MOBIL CORP   COMMON STOCK     200       16,728  
  GENERAL ELEC CAP CORP   PREFERRED STOCK     1,700       42,602  
  INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHS   COMMON STOCK     510       78,244  

*

  MERRILL LYNCH CAP TR I   PREFERRED STOCK     1,028       26,821  
  OMNISKY CORP   COMMON STOCK     3,500       35  
  QWEST CORP   PREFERRED STOCK     800       17,600  
  QWEST CORP   PREFERRED STOCK     800       18,016  
  WELLS FARGO & CO   PREFERRED STOCK     750       18,825  
       

 

 

 
  Total common and preferred stocks       4,242,846,100  
       

 

 

 
  Total non-Master Trust investments     $ 22,545,252,187  
       

 

 

 

*

  Participant loans   INTEREST RATES RANGING FROM 4.25% TO 11.50%     $ 494,310,159  
       

 

 

 

 

* Investments with parties-in-interest as defined under ERISA.

Column (d) Cost was omitted as all investments are participant-directed.

 

20


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

      The Bank of America 401(k) Plan
Date: June 27, 2018       /s/ LYNN COOPER
      Senior Vice President
Retirement Service Delivery Manager
Bank of America Corporation

 

21


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

23.1

   Consent of Morris Davis Chan & Tan LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

22