BML-L Bank of America Corporation

 

This pricing supplement, which is not complete and may be changed, relates to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933. This pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these notes in any country or jurisdiction where such an offer would not be permitted.

 

Preliminary Pricing Supplement - Subject to Completion (To Prospectus dated December 30, 2022 and Series P MTN Prospectus Supplement dated December 30, 2022) August 6, 2024

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration No. 333-268718

 

 

$                      

Fixed Rate Callable Notes, due August 16, 2029

 

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The notes are senior unsecured debt securities issued by Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”). All payments and the return of the principal amount on the notes are subject to our credit risk.

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The notes will price on August 14, 2024. The notes will mature on August 16, 2029. At maturity, if the notes have not been previously redeemed, you will receive a cash payment equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

●

Interest will be paid on February 16 and August 16 of each year, commencing on February 16, 2025, with the final interest payment date occurring on the maturity date.

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The notes will accrue interest at the fixed rate of 5.10% per annum.

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We have the right to redeem all, but not less than all, of the notes on February 16, 2025, and on each subsequent Call Date (as defined on page PS-2). The redemption price will be 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

●

The notes are issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000 in excess of $1,000.

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The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.

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The CUSIP number for the notes is 06055JFN4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potential purchasers of the notes should consider the information in “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-4 of this pricing supplement, page S-6 of the attached prospectus supplement, and page 7 of the attached prospectus.

 

The notes:

Are Not FDIC Insured

Are Not Bank Guaranteed

May Lose Value

 

	Per Note			Total
Public Offering Price (1)	100.00%		$
Underwriting Discount (1)(2)	0.75%		$
Proceeds (before expenses) to BAC	99.25%		$

 

(1) Certain dealers who purchase the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling concessions, fees or commissions. The price to public for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts may be as low as $992.50 (99.25%) per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution—Conflicts of Interest” in this pricing supplement.

 

(2) We or one of our affiliates may pay varying selling concessions of up to 0.75% in connection with the distribution of the notes to other registered broker-dealers.

 

The notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and are not savings accounts, deposits, or other obligations of a bank. The notes are not guaranteed by Bank of America, N.A. or any other bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, and involve investment risks.

 

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor any state securities commission, nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these notes or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

We will deliver the notes in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company on or about August 16, 2024 against payment in immediately available funds.

 

Series P MTN prospectus supplement dated December 30, 2022 and prospectus dated December 30, 2022

 

BofA Securities

 

 

SUMMARY OF TERMS

 

This pricing supplement supplements the terms and conditions in the prospectus, dated December 30, 2022, as supplemented by the Series P MTN prospectus supplement, dated December 30, 2022 (as so supplemented, together with all documents incorporated by reference, the “prospectus”), and should be read with the prospectus.

 

	•	Title of the Series:		Fixed Rate Callable Notes, due August 16, 2029
	•	Aggregate Principal Amount Initially Being Issued:		$
	•	Issue Date:		August 16, 2024
	•	CUSIP No.:		06055JFN4
	•	Maturity Date:		August 16, 2029
	•	Minimum Denominations:		$1,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess of $1,000
	•	Ranking:		Senior, unsecured
	•	Day Count Fraction:		30/360
	•	Interest Periods:		Semi-annually. Each interest period (other than the first interest period, which will begin on the issue date) will begin on, and will include, an interest payment date, and will extend to, but will exclude, the next succeeding interest payment date (or the maturity date, as applicable).
	•	Interest Payment Dates:		February 16 and August 16 of each year, beginning on February 16, 2025, with the final interest payment date occurring on the maturity date.
	•	Interest Rates:		The notes will accrue interest at the fixed rate of 5.10% per annum.
	•	Call Dates:		February 16 and August 16 of each year, beginning on February 16, 2025, with the final Call Date occurring on February 16, 2029.
	•	Optional Early Redemption:		We have the right to redeem all, but not less than all, of the notes on February 16, 2025, and on each subsequent Call Date. The redemption price will be 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. In order to call the notes, we will give notice at least five business days but not more than 60 calendar days before the specified Call Date.
	•	Business Days:		If any interest payment date, any Call Date, or the maturity date occurs on a day that is not a business day in New York, New York, then the payment will be postponed until the next business day in New York, New York. No additional interest will accrue on the notes as a result of such postponement, and no adjustment will be made to the length of the relevant interest period.
	•	Repayment at Option of Holder:		None
	•	Record Dates for Interest Payments:		For book-entry only notes, one business day in New York, New York prior to the payment date. If notes are not held in book-entry only form, the record dates will be the fifteenth calendar day preceding such interest payment date, whether or not such record date is a business day.

 

 

	•	Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration:		If an event of default (as defined in the indenture relating to the notes) occurs and is continuing, holders of the notes may accelerate the maturity of the notes, as described under “Description of Debt Securities of Bank of America Corporation—Events of Default and Rights of Acceleration; Covenant Breaches” in the prospectus. Upon an event of default, you will be entitled to receive only your principal amount, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, through the acceleration date. In case of an event of default, the notes will not bear a default interest rate. If a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced in respect of us, your claim may be limited, under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, to the original public offering price of the notes.
	•	Calculation Agent:		Merrill Lynch Capital Services, Inc.
	•	Fees and Charges:		The public offering price of the notes includes the underwriting discount of 0.75% as listed on the cover page and may include an additional hedging-related charge of up to $7.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes that is more fully described on page PS-7.
	•	Listing:		None

 

 

 

Certain terms used and not defined in this document have the meanings ascribed to them in the prospectus supplement and prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this pricing supplement to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to BAC.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Your investment in the notes entails significant risks, many of which differ from those of a conventional security. Your decision to purchase the notes should be made only after carefully considering the risks of an investment in the notes, including those discussed below, with your advisors in light of your particular circumstances. The notes are not an appropriate investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about significant elements of the notes or financial matters in general.

 

Structure-related Risks

 

The notes are subject to our early redemption. We may redeem all, but not less than all, of the notes on any Call Date on or after February 16, 2025. If you intend to purchase the notes, you must be willing to have your notes redeemed as early as that date. We are generally more likely to elect to redeem the notes during periods when the remaining interest to be accrued on the notes is to accrue at a rate that is greater than that which we would pay on our other interest bearing debt securities having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes. No further payments will be made on the notes after they have been redeemed.

 

If we redeem the notes prior to the maturity date, you may not be able to reinvest your proceeds from the redemption in an investment with a return that is as high as the return on the notes would have been if they had not been redeemed, or that has a similar level of risk.

 

Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk, and actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. The notes are our senior unsecured debt securities. As a result, your receipt of all payments of interest and principal on the notes is dependent upon our ability to repay our obligations on the applicable payment date. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be at any time during the term of the notes or on the maturity date. If we become unable to meet our financial obligations as they become due, you may not receive the amounts payable under the terms of the notes.

 

Our credit ratings are an assessment by ratings agencies of our ability to pay our obligations, including our obligations under the notes. Consequently, our perceived creditworthiness and actual or anticipated decreases in our credit ratings or increases in our credit spreads prior to the maturity date of the notes may adversely affect the market value of the notes. However, because your return on the notes generally depends upon factors in addition to our ability to pay our obligations, such as the difference between the interest rates accruing on the notes and current market interest rates, an improvement in our credit ratings will not reduce the other investment risks related to the notes.

 

Valuation and Market-related Risks

 

We have included in the terms of the notes the costs of developing, hedging, and distributing them, and the price, if any, at which you may sell the notes in any secondary market transaction will likely be lower than the public offering price due to, among other things, the inclusion of these costs. In determining the economic terms of the notes, and consequently the potential return on the notes to you, a number of factors are taken into account. Among these factors are certain costs associated with developing, hedging, and offering the notes.

 

Assuming there is no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which the selling agent or another purchaser might be willing to purchase the notes in a secondary market transaction is expected to be lower than the price that you paid for them. This is due to, among other things, the inclusion of these costs, and the costs of unwinding any related hedging. In addition to the underwriting discount, the public offering price is expected to include a hedging-related charge, which reflects an estimated profit earned by one of our affiliates from the hedging-related transactions associated with the notes. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution—Conflicts of Interest” for more information. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, including BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofAS") and its affiliates. All of these charges related to the notes reduce the economic terms of the notes.

 

The quoted price of any of our affiliates for the notes could be higher or lower than the price that you paid for them.

 

We cannot assure you that a trading market for the notes will ever develop or be maintained. We will not list the notes on any securities exchange. We cannot predict how the notes will trade in any secondary market, or whether that market will be liquid or illiquid.

 

The development of a trading market for the notes will depend on our financial performance and other factors. The number of potential buyers of the notes in any secondary market may be limited. We anticipate that our affiliate, BofAS, will act as a market- maker for the notes, but neither BofAS nor any of our other affiliates is required to do so. BofAS may discontinue its market-making activities as to the notes at any time. To the extent that BofAS engages in any market-making activities, it may bid for or offer the notes. Any price at which BofAS may bid for, offer, purchase, or sell any notes may differ from the values determined by pricing models that it may use, whether as a result of dealer discounts, mark-ups, or other transaction costs. These bids, offers, or completed transactions may affect the prices, if any, at which the notes might otherwise trade in the market.

 

In addition, if at any time BofAS were to cease acting as a market-maker for the notes, it is likely that there would be significantly less liquidity in the secondary market and there may be no secondary market at all for the notes. In such a case, the price

 

 

at which the notes could be sold likely would be lower than if an active market existed and you should be prepared to hold the notes until maturity.

 

Many economic and other factors will impact the market value of the notes. The market for, and the market value of, the notes may be affected by a number of factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:

 

•

the time remaining to maturity of the notes;

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the aggregate amount outstanding of the notes;

•

our right to redeem the notes on the dates set forth above;

•

the level, direction, and volatility of market interest rates generally (in particular, increases in U.S. interest rates, which may cause the market value of the notes to decrease);

•

general economic conditions of the capital markets in the United States;

•

geopolitical conditions and other financial, political, regulatory, and judicial events that affect the capital markets generally;

•

our financial condition and creditworthiness; and

•

any market-making activities with respect to the notes.

 

Conflict-related Risks

 

Our trading and hedging activities may create conflicts of interest with you. We or one or more of our broker-dealer affiliates, including BofAS, may engage in trading activities related to the notes that are not for your account or on your behalf. We also expect to enter into arrangements to hedge the market risks associated with our obligation to pay the amounts due under the notes. We may seek competitive terms in entering into the hedging arrangements for the notes, but are not required to do so, and we may enter into such hedging arrangements with one of our subsidiaries or affiliates. This hedging activity is expected to result in a profit to those engaging in the hedging activity, which could be more or less than initially expected, but which could also result in a loss for the hedging counterparty. Any profit in connection with such hedging activities will be in addition to any other compensation that we and our affiliates, including BofAS, receive for the sale of the notes, which creates an additional incentive to sell the notes to you. These trading and hedging activities may present a conflict of interest between your interest in the notes and the interests we and our affiliates may have in our proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including block trades, for our other customers, and in accounts under our management. These trading and hedging activities could influence secondary trading in the notes or otherwise could be adverse to your interests as a holder of the notes.

 

 

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY

 

The following summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the notes is based upon the advice of Sidley Austin LLP, our tax counsel. The following discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regulations promulgated under the Code by the U.S. Treasury Department (“Treasury”) (including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current administrative interpretations and official pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below.

 

The following discussion supplements, is subject to the same qualifications and limitations as, and should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the prospectus under the caption “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” To the extent inconsistent, the following discussion supersedes the discussion in the prospectus supplement and the prospectus.

 

This discussion only applies to U.S. Holders (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) that are not excluded from the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus. In particular, this summary is directed solely to U.S. Holders that will purchase the notes upon original issuance and will hold the notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which generally means as property held for investment. This discussion does not address the tax consequences applicable to holders subject to Section 451(b) of the Code. This summary assumes that the issue price of the notes, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, equals the principal amount thereof.

 

The notes will be treated as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The notes provide for a fixed rate of interest. A U.S. Holder will be required to include payments of interest on the notes as ordinary income as such interest payments accrue or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes).

 

You should consult the discussion under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—General—Consequences to U.S. Holders” as it relates to fixed rate debt instruments not bearing OID in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the consequences to you of the ownership and disposition of the notes.

 

Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement, or other disposition of a note, a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement, or other disposition (less an amount equal to any accrued interest not previously included in income if the note is disposed of between interest payment dates, which will be included in income as interest income for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be the cost of the note to such U.S. Holder, increased by any OID, market discount, de minimis OID, or de minimis market discount previously included in income with respect to the note, and decreased by the amount of any premium previously amortized to reduce interest on the note and the amount of any payment (other than a payment of qualified stated interest) received in respect of the note.

 

Except as discussed in the prospectus with respect to market discount, gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement, or other disposition of a note generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the note has been held for more than one year. The ability of U.S. Holders to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.

 

You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION—CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

Our broker-dealer subsidiary, BofAS, will act as our selling agent in connection with the offering of the notes. The selling agent is a party to the distribution agreement described in “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” beginning on page S-51 of the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

The selling agent will receive the compensation set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement as to the notes sold through its efforts. The selling agent is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Accordingly, the offering of the notes will conform to the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. We or one of our affiliates may pay varying selling concessions of up to 0.75% in connection with the distribution of the notes to other registered broker-dealers. Certain dealers who purchase the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling concessions, fees, or commissions. The price to public for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts may be as low as $992.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes.

 

If all of the offered notes are not sold on the pricing date at the public offering price, then the selling agent and/or dealers may offer the notes for sale in one or more transactions at an offering price that may be at a premium to the public offering price. These sales may occur at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to market prices or at negotiated prices.

 

In order to meet our payment obligations under the notes, at the time we issue the notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) with BofAS or one of its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, including BofAS and its affiliates, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the tenor of the notes and the tenor of the hedging arrangements. The economic terms of the notes depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.

 

BofAS has advised us that the hedging arrangements may include a hedging-related charge of up to $7.50 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to BofAS or one of its affiliates from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by BofAS or one of its affiliates or any third party hedge providers.

 

All charges related to the notes, including the underwriting discount and the hedging-related costs and charges, reduce the economic terms of the notes. For further information regarding these charges, our trading and hedging activities and conflicts of interest, see the section above, “Risk Factors—We have included in the terms of the notes the costs of developing, hedging, and distributing them, and the price, if any, at which you may sell the notes in any secondary market transaction will likely be lower than the public offering price due to, among other things, the inclusion of these costs” and “Risk Factors—Our trading and hedging activities may create conflicts of interest with you.”

 

The selling agent is not acting as your fiduciary or advisor solely as a result of the offering of the notes, and you should not rely upon any communication from the selling agent in connection with the notes as investment advice or a recommendation to purchase the notes. You should make your own investment decision regarding the notes after consulting with your legal, tax, and other advisors.

 

Under the terms of our distribution agreement with BofAS, BofAS will purchase the notes from us on the issue date as principal at the purchase price indicated on the cover of this pricing supplement, less the indicated underwriting discount.

 

BofAS may sell the notes to other broker-dealers, including our affiliate, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), that will participate in the offering, at an agreed discount to the principal amount. Each of those broker-dealers may sell the notes to one or more additional broker-dealers. BofAS has informed us that these discounts may vary from dealer to dealer and that not all dealers will purchase or repurchase the notes at the same discount.

 

BofAS and any of our other broker-dealer affiliates, including MLPF&S, may use this pricing supplement, and the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus for offers and sales in secondary market transactions and market-making transactions in the notes. Our affiliates may act as principal or agent in these transactions, and any such sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of the sale. However, none of BAC, BofAS or any of our broker-dealer affiliates are obligated to engage in any secondary market transactions and/or market-making transactions or otherwise purchase the notes from the holders in such transactions.

 

European Economic Area and United Kingdom

 

None of this pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (each, a “Relevant State”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement may only do so with respect to Qualified Investors. BAC has not authorized,

 

 

nor does it authorize, the making of any offer of notes other than to Qualified Investors. The expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

 

Prohibition Of Sales To EEA And United Kingdom Retail Investors – The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom. For these purposes: (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the Insurance Distribution Directive), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; and (b) the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

 

United Kingdom

 

The communication of this pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other document or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby is not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), or who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, or who are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). In the United Kingdom, the notes offered hereby are only available to, and any investment or investment activity to which this pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relates will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.

 

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the notes may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to BAC.

 

All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

 

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