How do we know B o A is going to fail?

Well, they just hired 1000 financial solution advisers to manhandle their preferred customer's money.  They are going to help these poor customers make standard investments in an irregular economy, I expect this effort to slightly +EV at best.  Make no mistake about it, this will not help bank of America in the short term.  Mortgage assets (burdens) inherited from countryside, malinvestment, and euro problems will be hurting BAC this year (we haven't hit bottom yet).   While the effort to improve service in areas in attempt to promote long term growth is admirable, BAC is not going to last long enough to see the long term.