Bank of America To Turn Dusty Sandlots Into Fields of Dreams Through Its Keep the Change(TM) Savings Program

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help turn dusty sandlots into fields of dreams, Bank of America, the Official Bank of Baseball, announced today that it has expanded its support of Little League Baseball(R) with a matching program within its Keep the Change(TM) savings program. Bank of America will make a donation to the Little League Urban Initiative equal to five percent of all Keep the Change transfers made from June 27, 2006 until August 26, 2006 to improve little league baseball fields nationwide.

As the Official Bank of Baseball, a platform that includes an exclusive sponsorship of Little League, Bank of America is expanding its support to the Little League Urban Initiative. The Little League Urban Initiative strives to provide young people in metropolitan areas with the chance to play baseball where they would not normally have the opportunity. Since 2000, the Little League Urban Initiative has assisted more than 200 Little Leagues around the country by providing trained volunteers, baseball programs and recreational space - enabling millions of the nation's youngsters to learn about America's favorite pastime.

"For many baseball players who make it to the Majors, the Little League experience provides the foundation for significant achievement in our sport," said Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield. "Bank of America's Keep the Change match efforts throughout this summer ensure many more young people will have the ability to experience the joys of baseball and the groundwork for personal success in the future."

With Bank of America's Keep the Change program, for consumers who enroll, every purchase made with a Bank of America debit card is automatically rounded up to the nearest whole dollar and the difference is transferred from their checking account into their savings account at the end of the day. Bank of America matches 100 percent of the Keep the Change transfers for the first three months a consumer is in the program. After that, the bank will match five percent of the transfers a year, every year with a maximum yearly match of $250.

"Bank of America prides itself on its relationships with baseball, but no relationship is more fulfilling than the supporting and encouraging of America's youth through Little League Baseball," said Diane Morais, Deposits and Debit Products executive at Bank of America. "Keep the Change is an easy way for Americans to help the Little League Urban Initiative with everyday purchases - one penny at a time."

Keep the Change was created in response to customer demand and is part of Bank of America's Higher Standards in Checking portfolio of offerings which also includes SiteKey, an identity theft prevention system for online banking and the Lobby Leader program which delivers quick problem resolution for banking center customers.

Throughout the summer, Bank of America will bring baseball to a number of communities around the country. Kicking off on June 29th in Baltimore, Bank of America will give communities the chance to help in the fundraising efforts by participating in a Speed Pitch challenge, along with other baseball-themed activities like the Peanut Toss and House of Cards photo booth. For every pitch over a certain speed, Bank of America will raise its donation to the Little League Urban initiative. The markets and schedule of events include:

   - June 29: Baltimore
   - July 5: Washington, D.C.
   - July 13: Boston
   - July 16: New York
   - July 20: Philadelphia
   - July 28: Oakland
   - July 31: San Francisco
   - August 3: Los Angeles
   - August 16 & 19: Chicago
   - August 24: Miami
   - August 27: Atlanta

As the Official Bank of Baseball, Bank of America has national sponsorship agreements with the four leading organizations that represent America's national pastime-Major League Baseball(R), Minor League Baseball(TM), Little League Baseball(R) and the National Baseball Hall of Fame(R) and Museum. Bank of America's deep-rooted support for baseball includes banking sponsorships with 10 Major League Baseball Clubs and 68 Minor League Baseball teams. Additionally, Bank of America's completed merger with MBNA further expands its support of baseball with affinity credit and debit card relationships with 23 Major League Baseball Clubs.

Keep the Change

Bank of America launched the Keep the Change savings program last fall after responding to customer feedback asking for more ways to save. "Think of it as an electronic piggy bank," said Morais. "Everyday errands and chores now deliver added value for our customers and the response in the last few months has been tremendous." To date, more than 2.5 million American consumers have saved a total of more than $120 million in "loose change" with the Keep the Change program. The program has generated more than 800,000 new checking accounts and more than 1 million new savings accounts.

Matching funds paid to cardholders' savings accounts are paid annually after the anniversary of enrollment up to a maximum of $250 on accounts that remain open and enrolled. Eligible savings accounts include Regular Savings, which requires a minimum opening balance of $100 and pays a variable annual percentage yield that was 0.50% as of June 27. Fees could reduce earnings. Member FDIC. Patent Pending.

About the Little League Urban Initiative

A component of Little League Baseball and Softball, the Little League Urban Initiative began in 1999 with programs in Los Angeles and Harlem, N.Y. and expanded to other cities in 2000. The Little League Urban Initiative is now operating with more than 200 leagues in nearly 75 cities in the United States. The Little League Urban Initiative has stimulated the addition of more than 2,200 teams and nearly 27,000 players. The program has participated in 16 field renovation/development projects. The Little League Urban Initiative provides assistance packages for eligible leagues that aid the local volunteer group with equipment acquisition, capital improvement cash grants, field development and renovation, access to Little League Baseball and Softball Education and Training programs, advocacy, and networking. For more information visit: http://www.littleleague.org/.

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 54 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 5,700 retail banking offices, more than 16,700 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 19 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 175 countries and has relationships with 98 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 79 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more information visit http://www.bankofamerica.com/