Here’s 1 Poll That Doesn’t Trash Bank of America Corp (BAC)

Public perception matters
While a healthier economy certainly has helped boost these banks’ profiles, this survey makes the salient point that reputation does matter — and banks know it. In addition, advertising campaigns targeting that metric do seem to make a difference.

The difference in sentiment may be fleeting, however. In B of A’s case, CEO Brian Moynihan has shown much concern for the bank’s reputation, with mixed results. Efforts in 2011, as noted in this Huffington Post article, did prop up the bank’s brand value that year, but there have been many slip-ups and downright awful reputational surveys since then, and outpourings of rage toward the bank occur with disturbing regularity.

While this poll is one of the few that shows any improvement in Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC)’s image, a gain of nearly 10% in positive perception is notable. Hopefully, the bank’s newer, softer side will help reduce occurrences where past incidents of bad behavior come back to haunt the bank in the present. If B of A could stem the flow of negativity long enough to build up a more lasting, friendly image, it just might have a chance to effect some permanent reputational repairs.

Fool contributor Amanda Alix has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Bank of America and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS). The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM).

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