Bank of America 2013 Annual Report Download - page 8

Helping L.A. thrive
O en described as the
creative capital of the world,
Los Angeles is home to
dynamic entrepreneurs who
are turning innovative ideas
into global brands, as well as
leaders in fashion, design,
entertainment and arts. It’s
also where 15,000 Bank of
America employees work
every day to serve the core
fi nancial needs of people,
companies and institutional
investors by connecting
them to what’s important.
L.A. CONNECTIONS
• Through our lending and investing activities,
Bank of America is helping to support
businesses and communities throughout
the Southland, from the revitalization of
downtown Los Angeles to our work in the
Atlantic Corridor of Long Beach and the
ongoing transformation of Boyle Heights.
• Our partnerships with iconic institutions
such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall,
the Los Angeles Dodgers, the University
of Southern California and the Getty
Museum are all part of our commitment
to spur economic opportunity and enrich
the quality of life in Los Angeles.
Supporting Panda Express as it
continues on its path of rapid growth
Panda Express is one of the largest privately held, fast casual
restaurant companies in the U.S., with annual sales of more
than $1.8 billion. Bank of America is proud to have helped
fi nance the company’s massive growth, from just 100 stores
when the relationship started to nearly 1,650 locations and
more than 24,000 associates today. Through the years, we’ve
worked closely with Panda Express to provide a broad array
of advisory and strategic services, including working capital,
fi nancing, and cash management and depository services.
Panda Express is optimistic about the future, with a goal of
becoming a global brand. Bank of America is also optimistic,
providing the resources and expertise to help Panda Express
achieve its long-term goals.
Helping the oldest lumberyard in California
In 1884, an Austrian immigrant named Christian Ganahl and
his brother Frank hopped on a train in St. Louis and came
to Los Angeles with hopes of capitalizing on the booming
construction under way in California. They opened a lumber
store and, with business fl ourishing, in 1923 turned to
Bank of America to help fi nance their ambitious plans for
a network of stores throughout the greater Los Angeles
region. Bank of America has served as Ganahl’s primary bank
ever since, providing credit to acquire more lumberyards,
open stores, and build a cutting-edge distribution center.
From its trade mark giant band saw in the front of its
Anaheim store to its continued focus on “doing ordinary
things extraordinarily well,” Ganahl is shaping the California
landscape and supporting the local economy, and Bank of
America is proud to be part of the company’s success.
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