If you hold shares of NationsBank Corp. you should have received the same number of shares of Bank of America stock in 1998, when the two companies merged. But if you never received the new shares, today you can exchange your NationsBank Corp. shares for Bank of America shares, either through Bank of America's transfer agent, or by depositing your shares into a brokerage account. What's more, you should receive twice as many shares of Bank of America stock as NationsBank Corp. stock since Bank of America stock underwent a 2-for-1 split in 2004.
Confirming Your Shares
Call Bank of America's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at 1-800-642-9855 to discuss your stock certificate.
Confirm with the transfer agent that the stock certificate you have is a valid certificate for which Bank of America stock was never received.
Ask the transfer agent how you can re-order the Bank of America shares you never received. Ask if you can do this with the help of your broker rather than having to mail your certificate to the transfer agent.
Ask the transfer agent how the accumulated dividends you never received will be paid. For example, you might be able to request that the dividends be paid to you as additional shares of Bank of America stock.
Depositing Your Shares
Contact your brokerage firm and ask for instructions on how to endorse and mail the stock certificate. Be sure to get a street address if you want to use an overnight delivery service to mail your shares.
Copy both sides of your stock certificate, including your signed endorsement to your brokerage firm, in case any issue arises with the delivery of your stock certificate.
Compose a signed note with your certificate indicating the original cost of your shares, along with any pertinent information you learned from Computershare Trust Company. Be sure to include your phone number on the note in case your broker has questions.
Use certified mail or other similar service that allows you to track the delivery of your package. You probably don't need additional insurance, since the transfer agent has a record of your ownership and can issue replacement shares.
Contact your brokerage firm after allowing sufficient time for the delivery and processing of your package, and ask how long before you can sell your Bank of America shares.
Set up a "sell" order (if you want to sell your shares) once your broker gives the green light. Bear in mind that you might have to wait to receive your sales proceeds until your broker has been able to fully validate your stock certificate with the transfer agent.
Warnings
Be sure to call the transfer agent before you call your broker. You could discover that you or your spouse already received and sold the Bank of America shares years ago.
Selling shares of stock is a taxable event. Your broker will send you a Form 1099 by early next year showing your sales proceeds.
References
Warnings
- Be sure to call the transfer agent before you call your broker. You could discover that you or your spouse already received and sold the Bank of America shares years ago.
- Selling shares of stock is a taxable event. Your broker will send you a Form 1099 by early next year showing your sales proceeds.
Writer Bio
Julia Thomson began writing professionally in 1996. Her work has appeared in "Stage Directions," "Phoenix New Times" and "The Valley Callboard." Thomson has expertise in investing and personal finance, with three brokers' licenses and certification as a budget counselor. She holds a Master of Music from Indiana University.