OREANDA-NEWS. Bank of America Corporation's (BAC) stated first quarter earnings of $5.32 billion continue to show improvement and supports the positive trajectory highlighted in Fitch Ratings' May 2015 upgrade of the company's viability rating to 'a'.

Fitch calculated pre-tax profits, which exclude DVA/FVA adjustments and various other gains/losses amounted to $7.2 billion, or a 1.35% adjusted pre-tax return on ending assets. This is the strongest result BAC has delivered in some time and is continued evidence of the strength of its diversified franchise as well as management's continued efforts to reduce costs and streamline the company's operations.

Further, given the myriad of problems that management inherited in the wake of the global financial crisis, Fitch believes management has done a very good job of putting legacy issues behind the company, and positioning the franchise for profitable growth over time.

BAC's total revenue of $22.12 billion was up 4.32% relative to the sequential quarter and 1.70% relative to the year ago quarter. This was generally due to improved net interest income given the increase in long-term rates during the quarter that caused lower premium amortization in the company's mortgage-backed securities portfolio at the end of the period. Additionally, BAC had improved results in the mortgage banking business, which also buoyed revenue growth.

Total expenses for BAC declined significantly relative to both the sequential and year-ago quarters. This was due to significantly lower litigation costs, continued reductions in costs related to the Legacy Asset Servicing (LAS) segment, and improvements in core operating expenses.

During the quarter BAC achieved savings in the Consumer Banking segment through continued reductions in the company's branch network and the associated personnel declines.. These reductions were partially offset by some hiring of client facing personnel in the Global Wealth & Investment Management segment.

Over the balance of the year, Fitch would expect continued personnel reductions, particularly in the LAS segment, which should help keep expenses well managed.

Asset quality metrics for BAC -- as well as the rest of the industry -- generally continue to improve (excluding some oil & gas exposures), and Fitch believes them to be at or near a cyclical trough. Fitch would expect some reversion in asset quality metrics over a medium-term time horizon.

Fitch continues to believe that BAC's liquidity position is solid. Total deposits now amount to $1.15 trillion as of the end of 2Q15, and BAC continues to optimize its deposit base towards retail and other Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) 'friendly' wholesale deposits and away from wholesale deposits classified as non-operational.

Additionally, BAC's Global Excess Liquidity Sources (GELS) ticked up to $484 billion during the quarter.

BAC's capital position remains satisfactory, though its Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio is below the average of peer institutions. The fully phased-in Basel III ratio under the standardized approach was 10.3% at the end of 2Q15, and under the advanced approach was 10.4%.

However, as previously disclosed, in order to exit parallel run, regulators have requested certain modifications to some credit models which are expected to negatively impact the Basel III advanced approach ratio by approximately 110 basis points. As a result, the fully phased-in Basel III advanced approach ratio would be approximately 9.3% and become BAC's binding constraint capital ratio.

While this ratio is below some peer averages, the denominator of the ratio could be viewed as relatively conservative given the large component of operational risk weighted assets in the denominator.

Also, BAC is in compliance with the Enhanced Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) requirements at both the parent company and main bank operating subsidiary level.