Bank of America has approved total compensation of $41 million for chief executive Brian Moynihan for the 2025 financial year, representing a pay increase of more than 17.1 percent compared with the previous year.
The 65 year old leader remains one of the longest serving executives on Wall Street, having taken charge in 2010 during a turbulent succession period following the global financial crisis.
His tenure has been widely associated with stabilizing operations, rebuilding profitability and strengthening investor confidence after years of restructuring and regulatory pressure.
Breakdown Of Compensation Package
The bank confirmed the package consists of a $1.5 million base salary, with the vast majority of the award delivered through equity incentives tied to long term performance metrics.
Moynihan earned $35 million in total compensation in 2024, meaning the latest award reflects continued confidence in his leadership during a year of strong financial results.
In regulatory filings, Bank of America pointed to solid company performance, employee initiatives and philanthropic programs overseen by the chief executive as key reasons behind the increase.
The compensation structure emphasizes shareholder alignment because the equity component depends on future stock performance and sustained profitability.
Industry Peers Also Receive Pay Increases
Major banking rivals also reported higher executive compensation after a strong year for the financial sector, particularly in trading and dealmaking activity.
Citigroup chief executive Jane Fraser received $42 million, Wells Fargo leader Charlie Scharf was awarded $40 million and JPMorgan Chase chairman Jamie Dimon earned $43 million.
Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon collected $47 million while Morgan Stanley head Ted Pick received $45 million, highlighting the broader industry trend of rising executive rewards.
Banks are preparing for another active year in corporate transactions while simultaneously managing evolving regulatory scrutiny and political pressures in Washington.
Strong Financial Performance Drives Rewards
Bank of America exceeded expectations in fourth quarter earnings as market volatility boosted trading activity and interest income improved significantly.
The lender reported full year profit of $30.5 billion for 2025, up from $27 billion the previous year, reinforcing the board’s justification for higher executive pay.
Shares finished the year roughly 25 percent higher, marking the third consecutive year of gains for investors.
Following the results, the bank also granted approximately $1 billion in equity awards to employees excluding senior management, extending a nine year streak of company wide staff incentives.
The move reflects an effort to balance executive rewards with broader workforce participation in the bank’s financial success.
