![Management's Discussion and Analysis](images/managements_headers.gif)
This report contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates" and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would" and "could" are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers of the Annual Report of Bank of America Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Corporation) should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements and should consider all uncertainties and risks throughout this report as well as those discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors." The statements are representative only as of the date they are made, and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Possible events or factors that could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in our forward- looking statements include the following: changes in general economic conditions and economic conditions in the geographic regions and industries in which the Corporation operates which may affect, among other things, the level of nonperforming assets, charge- offs and provision expense; changes in the interest rate environment which may reduce interest margins and impact funding sources; changes in foreign exchange rates; adverse movements and volatility in debt and equity capital markets; changes in market rates and prices which may adversely impact the value of financial products including securities, loans, deposits, debt and derivative financial instruments, and other similar financial instruments; political conditions and related actions by the United States abroad which may adversely affect the Corporation's businesses and economic conditions as a whole; liabilities resulting from litigation and regulatory investigations, including costs, expenses, settlements and judgments; changes in domestic or foreign tax laws, rules and regulations as well as court, Internal Revenue Service or other governmental agencies' interpretations thereof; various monetary and fiscal policies and regulations, including those determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), state regulators and the Financial Services Authority (FSA); changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations; competition with other local, regional and international banks, thrifts, credit unions and other nonbank financial institutions; ability to grow core businesses; ability to develop and introduce new banking-related products, services and enhancements, and gain market acceptance of such products; mergers and acquisitions and their integration into the Corporation; decisions to downsize, sell or close units or otherwise change the business mix of the Corporation; and management's ability to manage these and other risks.
The Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates in 30 states, the District of Columbia and 44 foreign countries. The Corporation provides a diversified range of banking and nonbanking financial services and products domestically and internationally through three business segments: Global Consumer and Small Business Banking, Global Corporate and Investment Banking, and Global Wealth and Investment Management.
At December 31, 2006, the Corporation had $1.5 trillion in assets and approximately 203,000 full-time equivalent employees. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements referred to in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are incorporated by reference into Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.