Keith Banks, Former Vice Chair, Bank of America & Chair CEO Forum Group Advisory Board
Mr. Banks is a former Vice Chair at Bank of America. Prior to his retirement in 2024, he was Chief Investment Officer of the Pension and Benefits Plan responsible for all investment related matters for the pension, defined contribution and deferred compensation plans encompassing approximately $80 billion in assets.
Banks was a member of Bank of America’s Chief Executive Officer’s Management Committee. Previously, he was a member of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee, the Global Diversity & Inclusion Council and a member of the Bank of America’s Charitable Foundation Board.
Previously, he was head of the Investment Solutions Group for four years which supports Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Bank of America Private Bank, Retirement & Personal Wealth Solutions, and Consumer Investments encompassing $4.2 trillion in client balances. Prior to being named Vice Chair in 2017, Banks served as president of U.S. Trust, Bank of America’s Private Bank for nine years.
During his career at Bank of America, he also served as president of the Global Wealth & Investment Management division and president and Chief Investment Officer of Columbia Management. He joined Bank of America in 2004, following FleetBoston Financial’ s merger with the company. Prior to this, Banks held the roles of Chief Investment Officer and CEO of FleetBoston Financial’s asset management organization.
Before joining FleetBoston in 2000, Banks was a managing director and head of U.S. equity for JP Morgan Investment Management. During his 16 years at JP Morgan, Banks served as global head of equity research, head of U.S. equity research and as a portfolio manager and equity research analyst for the chemical and textile industries. Banks began his investment career as an equity research analyst at Home Insurance Company in 1981.
Banks earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University. He graduated with high honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 2019, he was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Banks also earned his MBA in finance from Columbia Business School. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Banks is a member of Board of Advisors of Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Columbia Business School Board. He is Chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees and a member of the Red Apple Board. He was also on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Center and a member of the Rutgers Board of Governors.
He is a frequent commentator on CNBC, Fox Business and Bloomberg.