Bank of America CEO says lateness at work shows disrespect

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan says being on time is a basic sign of respect at the company, where he oversees more than 212,000 employees. In a recent NBC News interview cited by Fortune, Moynihan said lateness wastes colleagues’ time and is viewed inside the bank as selfish behavior.

Moynihan described a tightly scheduled morning routine that begins before most workdays start. Fortune reported that he reads five newspapers, reviews overnight email and works out before 7 a.m., then heads to the company’s Charlotte office.

“We have a pretty big history in this company—if you’re late, you’re actually selfish, and that’s ingrained in people,” Moynihan told NBC News, according to Fortune. He said the company tries to be on time because lateness imposes on other people, rather than because punctuality is treated as a written rule.

Moynihan also acknowledged to NBC News that managing that kind of calendar is helped by having a “great assistant,” Fortune reported. His comments add to a broader portrait of an executive who links preparation, meeting discipline and in-person expectations to workplace performance.

Office rules and pressure at a large bank

Bank of America has taken a firm position on office attendance under Moynihan, Fortune reported. In 2024, the bank reportedly sent warning notices, described as “letters of education,” to employees who did not meet its requirement to work in the office at least three days a week.

Fortune described Bank of America as the second-largest U.S. bank by revenue after JPMorgan Chase. The publication reported that the bank serves more than 70 million clients, a scale that helps explain why Moynihan puts emphasis on discipline and preparation.

Fortune also reported that Moynihan received a $1.5 million base salary last year and $39.5 million in equity incentive awards, with total equity incentives up 17% from the prior year. The company’s stock was up less than 1% for the year to date at the time of Fortune’s report.

Preparation as a leadership habit

Moynihan, 66, has held the CEO job for 16 years, according to Fortune. In an interview with Fortune last year, he said preparation helps him deal with pressure, comparing business leaders with professional athletes who keep focus when circumstances become difficult.

He told Fortune that earnings calls still make him nervous, even after years in the role. Moynihan said confidence comes from believing the message being delivered and treating such moments as a chance to have an impact.

Outside work, Moynihan told NBC News that time with his family, including his two grandchildren, helps keep him grounded, Fortune reported. He cited the simplicity of being around a 3-week-old baby or an 18-month-old as a contrast to the demands of his job.

Other CEOs have meeting rules too

Fortune reported that Moynihan is not alone among major executives in treating meetings as a test of respect. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has said he wants fewer meetings, but when meetings happen, he expects preparation and attention.

At Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit last year, Dimon said he completes the reading beforehand and gives meetings his full attention, according to Fortune. He also said he tells people to close devices if they appear to be reading email or checking notifications.

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan has also criticized overloaded calendars, Fortune reported. Jordan said at The New York Times DealBook Summit that new leaders can confuse attending meetings with leadership, and he has said he wants to clear parts of his afternoons for calls, writing and strategy work.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.