Bank of America To Rally Nation Behind U.S. Olympic Team With the Debut of America's Cheer(TM)

NEW YORK, April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America, the official bank sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, today launched America's Cheer(TM), a new grassroots campaign that provides an opportunity for all Americans to cheer on the nation's finest athletes as they prepare to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Whether it's an energetic video or audio recording, heartfelt letter or inspiring photo, America's Cheer(TM) invites the entire country to express their support for Team USA(TM) through the act of cheering.

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The launch of America's Cheer(TM) also coincides with the introduction of U.S. Olympic Team Banking, the nation's first bundled set of U.S. Olympic Team-themed banking products that directly support Team USA(TM). U.S. Olympic Team Banking includes Check Cards, checks and credit cards that enable customers to support America's Olympic athletes and hopefuls with every purchase, while earning special rewards.

"At the heart of our U.S. Olympic Team sponsorship has been our continued commitment to America's dedicated and inspiring athletes," said Anne Finucane, Chief Marketing Officer, Bank of America. "America's Cheer creates opportunities for our customers and all Americans to participate in the excitement of the Games and be a strong voice of support for America's athletes in their pursuit of Olympic excellence. It is our hope that this expression of support will spread across to hometowns where we live and to virtual communities where we gather."

To upload a cheer, individuals or groups can visit http://www.americascheer.com/. Cheers can also be recorded by visiting the America's Cheer(TM) mobile tour which debuted today in New York City. From there, America's Cheer(TM) will visit 19 cities and 26 events, and travel 27,000 miles before its final stop in Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 24, 2008, a date that coincides with the Closing Ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games.

"The support from Americans everywhere is a huge boost to the U.S. Olympic Team," said Jim Scherr, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee. "Bank of America has been an invaluable partner to America's Olympic athletes and hopefuls, and the creation of America's Cheer will certainly lift spirits and support the U.S. Team's success in Beijing."

In addition to having an opportunity to meet a U.S. Olympian, visitors to the America's Cheer(TM) mobile experience can participate in a variety of Olympic-themed activities, including:

-- Cheer Capture Room: Visitors can see the many forms that cheers can take, and record a cheer of their own which will be shared with America's Olympic athletes. -- Athlete Connection Kiosk: Visitors have the opportunity to determine which Bank of America Hometown Hopeful(R) they most resemble. -- The Wall of Cheer: Visitors can write words of encouragement to America's Olympic athletes on a giant postcard that will be displayed in the Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls(R) Family Center in Beijing, China. -- Cheer It Forward Kiosk: Visitors can make a simulated purchase for the Bank of America Hometown Hopeful(R) of their choice using a U.S. Olympic Team Credit or Check Card, earning points redeemable for Bank of America U.S. Olympic Team prizes. -- Thrill of the Game: Visitors of all ages can play a virtual reality Nintendo Wii(R) game, "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games," while friends and family cheer them on.

Bank of America's comprehensive U.S. Olympic Team platform includes a number of additional elements that will be supported through an integrated marketing campaign, which includes a mix of national and local television, radio, print, online, direct mail and point of sale advertising. These elements include:

Support of America's Athletes

Bank of America's commitment to U.S. Olympic athletes is realized through the Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls(R) program. Through this program, the bank provides financial support and marketing exposure to 12 U.S. Olympic athletes and hopefuls. They include: Tony Azevedo (waterpolo); Howard Bach (badminton); Shannon Boxx (soccer); Jennie Finch (softball); Brett Heyl (kayak); Sada Jacobson (fencing); swimmers Cullen Jones, Tara Kirk and Aaron Peirsol; Ogonna Nnamani (volleyball); Alicia Sacramone (gymnastics); and Lauryn Williams (track & field).

U.S. Olympic Team Hospitality in Beijing

Bank of America will also continue to host the Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls(R) Family Center, a unique hospitality experience which will act as a home base for friends, families and more than 600 U.S. Olympians during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The multi-level 15,500 square foot facility will feature many of the comforts of home, including complimentary lunch, dinner, snacks and other refreshments; complimentary tickets to an Olympic event for up to four family members based on availability; wide-screen televisions with closed-circuit coverage of Olympic competition; information services; and an Internet lounge for athletes, families and friends who are eager to stay connected with others back home in the United States.

"The energy, resources and commitment that Bank of America is putting behind its support of U.S. Olympic athletes is truly amazing," said Jennie Finch, Gold medalist and pitcher for the U.S. softball team. "By helping to bring 300 million Americans together to cheer us on, we can't help but be energized in our pursuit of Olympic gold."

U.S. Olympic Team Banking

In recognition of what the U.S. Olympic Team means to its customers, Bank of America has developed U.S. Olympic Team Banking, a new suite of credit cards, checks and Check Cards that enables customers to support America's Olympic athletes with every purchase, while earning special rewards for themselves. With every U.S. Olympic Team Credit Card purchase, customers can earn points to redeem WorldPoints(R) rewards for cash, airline tickets, hotel stays and for Bank of America U.S. Olympic Team merchandise, memorabilia and exclusive experiences. Customers can also generate contributions to the U.S. Olympic Team when they open a new U.S. Olympic Team checking account and with every U.S. Olympic Team Check Card or Credit Card purchase.

U.S. Olympic Team Banking customers also are eligible for a special benefit associated with the bank's popular Keep the Change(TM) savings program that automatically rounds Check Card purchases up to the nearest whole Dollar and transfers the difference from the customer's checking account into their Bank of America savings account. For U.S. Olympic Team Banking customers, the bank will match 100 percent of the Keep the Change transfers for the first three months. Thereafter, the bank will reward U.S. Olympic Team Banking customers by matching 10 percent of their Keep the Change transfers, which represents double the 5 percent match for standard Keep the Change accounts. The maximum annual total match is $250 per year.*

Bank of America is widely recognized as a major corporate sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team, creating opportunities for the nation's best athletes to represent the United States in world-class competition. Bank of America's earliest known involvement with the U.S. Olympic Movement dates back to 1921, when the bank provided leadership and financing for the Los Angeles Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games. In 1992, Bank of America signed on as an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Barcelona, Spain, and has supported every U.S. Olympic Team since, including the American athletes who will compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

For more information, visit http://www.americascheer.com/. U.S. Olympic Committee

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

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 59 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, nearly 19,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with nearly 24 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 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Bank of America N.A. Member FDIC.

*Keep the Change matching funds 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 (or Market Rate Savings in WA and ID), which requires a minimum opening balance of $100 ($1 in WA and ID) and pays a variable annual percentage yield that is 0.20% as of 4/04/2008. Money Market Savings accounts are also eligible. Purchases with co-branded, rewards or ATM cards are not eligible for matching. Matching funds will be reported to the IRS on Form 1099. Fees may reduce earnings. Keep the Change patent pending.

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