Bank of America returns to profits as legal costs subside

Bank of America returned to profitability in the first quarter as the bank was able to move beyond its legal troubles last year. However, the results came in short of some analysts’ estimates.

The consumer banking giant said Wednesday that it earned $2.98 billion after payments to preferred shareholders, compared with a loss of $514 million a year earlier. BofA’s net revenue fell to $21.2 billion compared with $22.56 billion in the same period a year earlier.

On a per-share basis the bank earned 27 cents, compared with a loss of 5 cents a year earlier.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based bank’s legal expenses, which stemmed largely from the housing bubble and financial crisis, appear to be largely behind it for the moment.

BofA’s legal costs for the quarter were $370 million, down slightly from the $393 million in legal expenses in the fourth quarter and a fraction of the $6 billion the bank paid out a year earlier. The $6 billion in expenses last quarter was the major driver of the company’s quarterly loss last year. The bank has paid out more than $70 billion in legal settlements since 2008.

BofA’s overall business continues to have issues. Revenue declined or was basically flat in all four of BofA’s core businesses: consumer banking, wealth management, global banking and global markets.

Consumer banking, the largest business by revenue, reported flat results in the quarter. Net revenue fell to $7.45 billion from $7.65 billion a year earlier.

The bank said lower credit card yields and credit card balances, as well as market-related adjustments to some debt securities, were the reason for the flat to lower quarter.