(Bloomberg) — Financial institution of America Corp. Chief Govt Officer Brian Moynihan mentioned the corporate’s prospects are in a position to tackle extra debt, with demand pushed by small companies and people within the center market.
“Shoppers have a capability to borrow to maintain the financial system going,” Moynihan mentioned in tv interview Thursday with Bloomberg’s David Westin. The financial institution expects progress in mortgage balances within the single digits this yr. That relies upon, although, on the trajectory of the U.S. financial system, Moynihan mentioned.
His feedback come after the Charlotte, North Carolina-based financial institution reported fourth-quarter outcomes that beat analysts’ estimates. Earnings had been pushed by a rise in mortgage balances and decrease prices. General income rose quicker than bills, that are anticipated to be flat this yr.
Financial institution of America reported $50 billion of mortgage progress within the final quarter of 2021, Moynihan mentioned. “You possibly can anticipate us to develop quicker than the financial system,” with purchasers having extra capability to borrow, he mentioned.
Within the center market and amongst small companies, “we’re seeing extra demand for loans,” indicating “extra exercise going ahead,” Moynihan mentioned. Within the small-business sector, “we even have seen 125%, 150%” of quarterly manufacturing “in comparison with the place the place it was earlier than the pandemic, so not solely have we gotten all the best way again, we’re additionally rising and creating extra loans per quarter, which once more is nice for the financial system.”
The CEO additionally mentioned he sees the investment-banking pipeline as “full” after a report 2021. “That income can come and go primarily based on market exercise” in addition to corporations’ choices to “purchase and promote.” For now, exercise stays robust, Moynihan mentioned.
Conserving bills low has been a key driver for Financial institution of America. Nonetheless, rising compensation stays a problem for the lender, because it does for companies all through the finance trade. The financial institution is aware of its headcount and is investing in workers, purchasers and know-how to stay aggressive, Moynihan mentioned.
Additionally, with the Federal Reserve anticipated to boost rates of interest this yr, Financial institution of America is monitoring the affect on markets, lending and future earnings progress, Moynihan mentioned.