Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-133852
STEP Income Securities® (STEPS®)
to be issued by Bank of America Corporation
STEP Income Securities® (STEPS®) are senior unsecured debt securities to be issued by Bank of America Corporation (BAC) that offer current income through periodic fixed interest payments and the opportunity for investors to receive an additional fixed payment at maturity (Step Payment) if the value of the underlying asset increases to or above a specified level (Step Level). Investors bear one-for-one (or in some cases, leveraged) downside exposure if the value of the underlying asset decreases below a specified buffer.
This fact sheet is intended to provide an overview of STEPS and does not provide the terms of any specific series of STEPS. Prior to any decision to invest in a specific series of STEPS issued by BAC, investors should carefully review the related disclosure document, which contains a detailed explanation of the terms of the offering of a specific series of STEPS, as well as the risks, tax treatment, and other relevant information about such a series of STEPS. Additionally, investors should consult their accounting, legal, or tax advisors before investing in STEPS.
HYPOTHETICAL PAYOUT PROFILE
The graph is for illustration purposes only. Different STEPS will have different payout characteristics from the one depicted. This example assumes bullish STEPS with the term of 12 months and an 8% annual interest, a 4% Step Payment, a 108% Step Level, a 100% downside leverage factor, and a 10% buffer.
RISK FACTORS
STEPS are one type of Structured Investment offered by BAC. Structured Investments are designed to meet specific investment objectives. The return on these investments comes from the performance of the underlying asset or assets to which the investment is linked. These assets can include fixed income, equities, foreign exchange, commodities, or a combination of these assets. Structured Investments can accommodate investors with various types of risk and return profiles. As described below, features of Structured Investments may include the following: principal protection, enhanced income, market participation, and/or enhanced participation. |
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BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN STRUCTURED INVESTMENTS
FLEXIBILITY Structured Investments can be used to implement a wide variety of market views.
SIMPLICITY Structured Investments offer a packaged solution for investors to access the potential returns of a combination of financial instruments linked to one or more asset classes.
DIVERSIFICATION Structured Investments enable investors to diversify a portfolio by providing access to the potential returns of a wide variety of asset classes.
OPERATIONAL AND TAX EFFICIENCIES Structured Investments can reduce complicated financial, tax, legal, and operational issues surrounding the execution of sophisticated strategies by providing them in a single security.
ENHANCED RISK/RETURN PROFILES Structured Investments may provide full or partial principal protection and/or incremental return potential through upside leverage or through other means. |
STRUCTURED INVESTMENTS MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING KEY FEATURES
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CATEGORY: |
KEY FEATURE:
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Principal Protection |
Offer full or partial principal protection at maturity, while offering market exposure and the opportunity for a better return than may be available from comparable fixed income securities. Principal protection may not be achieved if the investment is sold prior to maturity.
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Enhanced Income |
May offer an enhanced income stream through interim fixed or variable coupon payments. However, in exchange for receiving current income, investors may forfeit upside potential on the underlying asset. These investments generally do not include the principal protection feature.
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Market Participation |
Can offer investors exposure to specific market sectors, asset classes, and/or strategies that may not be readily available through traditional investment alternatives. Returns obtained from these investments are tied to the performance of the underlying asset. As such, subject to certain fees, the returns will generally reflect any increases or decreases in the value of such assets. These investments are not structured to include the principal protection feature. | |||
HOW CAN YOU GET STARTED? Contact your Financial Advisor to learn if STEPS may be right for you. |
Enhanced Participation
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May offer investors the potential to receive better than market returns on the performance of the underlying asset. Some structures may offer leverage in exchange for a capped or limited upside potential and also in exchange for downside risk. These investments are not structured to include the principal protection feature.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: BAC has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus supplement and a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the potential offerings to which this communication relates. Before investing, you should carefully read the prospectus supplement and the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents that BAC has filed with the SEC relating to any offering described in this communication for more complete information about BAC and these offerings. You may obtain these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, BAC, any agent or any dealer participating in the offerings will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement, the prospectus, and other documents relating to any of these offerings if you so request by calling Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll-free 1-866-500-5408.
STEP Income Securities and STEPS are registered service marks of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. | ||
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. is a subsidiary of BAC. |
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© 2009 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. |
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Member Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Printed in the U.S.A.
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374502PM-0209
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