Aug. 21--Bank of America plans to complete the integration of LaSalle Bank into its operations on Oct. 20, and customers will notice some major changes this fall.

Since acquiring LaSalle on Oct. 1, 2007, Bank of America has been installing new signs at its 256 bank branches around the state and mailing new debit and ATM cards to customers. The changes have been mostly cosmetic.

But on Oct. 17, all accounts are to be moved to Bank of America's system. That means new wire routing numbers and deposit mailing addresses. Some of the other key changes include:

--Existing LaSalle accounts will be switched to the appropriate Bank of America ones. Checking and savings account numbers and passwords will remain the same. But brokerage, loan and line of credit accounts will receive new account numbers.

--Online accounts will also switch to Bank of America's system. Online customers will not be able to access accounts from Oct. 17-19 because of the transition.

Bank of America's online banking system includes an additional level of security that the LaSalle system lacks. It also offers more language choices and mobile banking.

--Bank customers using a non-Bank of America ATM will be charged a $2 fee per transaction. The operator of the ATM may also charge a fee. The current fee is $1.50 in the Midwest and $2.75 in the rest of the country.

--All checking account customers will be able to receive free online account statements, something LaSalle did not offer.

--Michigan customers, starting Oct. 20, can use the bank's network of branches throughout the country.

Michigan's largest bank in terms of deposits began notifying customers of these and other moves Friday. To prepare for Bank of America's systems, the bank's tellers are undergoing three hours of training each week.

"Our focus is to try to make it as transparent to our customers as we can," Kieth Cockrell, president of Bank of America's Michigan operations, said of the changes.

Despite the state's poor economy, the bank has experienced record volumes of business in many areas, Cockrell said.

Contact KATHERINE YUNG at 313-222-8763 or kyung@freepress.com.

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