Washington, D.C., Aug. 3, 2009 â The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Bank of America Corporation for misleading investors about billions of dollars in bonuses that were being paid to Merrill Lynch & Co. executives at the time of its acquisition of the firm. Bank of America agreed to settle the SEC's charges and pay a penalty of $33 million. http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2009/2009-177.htm