Stock Markets February 13, 2026

Bank of America Increases CEO Brian Moynihan's 2025 Pay to $41 Million

Total compensation rises by more than 17.1% as equity awards comprise the bulk of the package; move tracks peer increases ahead of a projected dealmaking surge

By Avery Klein
Bank of America Increases CEO Brian Moynihan's 2025 Pay to $41 Million

Bank of America approved $41 million in total compensation for CEO Brian Moynihan for 2025, a rise of more than 17.1% from 2024. The package includes $1.5 million in base salary with the remainder delivered as equity incentives. The decision echoes similar pay increases at other major U.S. banks as the industry prepares for elevated dealmaking activity while confronting a more complex relationship with Washington.

Key Points

  • Bank of America approved $41 million in total compensation for CEO Brian Moynihan for 2025, a rise of more than 17.1% from 2024.
  • The announced package includes $1.5 million in base salary; the remainder is provided as equity incentives.
  • The pay increase follows similar moves at Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase as major banks position for an expected uptick in dealmaking activity.

Bank of America has approved a total compensation package of $41 million for Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan for 2025, the bank said on Friday. The award represents an increase of more than 17.1% compared with the $35 million Moynihan received in 2024.

The bank detailed that the 2025 package includes $1.5 million in base salary, with the balance comprised of equity incentives. Moynihan, 65, is among the longest-serving executives in the industry. He became CEO in 2010 after a tumultuous succession process and has been credited internally with guiding the bank's recovery following the 2008 financial crisis.

The raise comes amid a broader pattern of upward adjustments in pay for top executives at large U.S. banks. The move follows similar increases for leaders at Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase. The banking sector has been positioning itself for what is widely expected to be a bumper year for dealmaking, even as firms navigate an increasingly complex relationship with Washington.

This compensation decision highlights two primary elements disclosed by the bank: the fixed cash salary component and the substantially larger equity-linked incentives that make up the remainder of the award. The bank's statement emphasizes the composition of the package rather than operational metrics or performance targets tied to the award in the text provided.

Observers will note that the pace of executive pay adjustments at Bank of America mirrors moves at peer institutions as the industry anticipates heightened merger and acquisition activity. The announcement did not provide additional details on the vesting schedule or the precise structure of the equity incentives in the awarded package.


Context and implications

  • Brian Moynihan's total compensation for 2025 is $41 million, up from $35 million in 2024.
  • The package contains $1.5 million of base salary with the remainder in equity incentives.
  • The rise in pay aligns with similar increases at Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase as banks prepare for expected dealmaking while handling a more complex relationship with Washington.

Risks

  • Banks are navigating an increasingly complex relationship with Washington, which could affect strategy and regulatory outcomes for major financial institutions - this impacts the banking and financial services sector.
  • Anticipated elevated dealmaking activity is an expectation rather than a guarantee, introducing uncertainty for firms that are positioning compensation and strategy around higher transaction volumes - this affects investment banking and capital markets.
  • Industry-wide increases in top executive pay may draw scrutiny or create competitive pressures among large banks as peers adjust compensation packages - this impacts corporate governance and human resources within the banking sector.

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