Richard M. Rosenberg (1930–2023) was an American banking executive who served as the chairman and chief executive officer of BankAmerica Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Bank of America, from 1990 to 1996.
Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Rosenberg earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Suffolk University in 1952. He subsequently served as an officer in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Following his military service, he earned both a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Rosenberg’s career in the financial services industry began at Wells Fargo Bank, where he spent 22 years and eventually attained the role of vice chairman. He later served as vice chairman of Crocker National Bank and as president and chief operating officer of Seafirst Bank. He joined Bank of America in 1987 as a vice chairman and was elected CEO in 1990, succeeding A.W. Clausen.
During his tenure as CEO, Rosenberg oversaw a period of significant consolidation and growth for Bank of America. This included the 1992 acquisition of Security Pacific Corporation, which was the largest bank merger in United States history at that time. His leadership was noted for an emphasis on retail marketing and technological integration within the banking sector. He retired as CEO in late 1996 and was succeeded by David Coulter.
Beyond his professional career in banking, Rosenberg was involved in numerous civic and philanthropic organizations. He served on the boards of directors for several major corporations, including Northrop Grumman, Airborne Express, and the San Francisco Symphony. He also held leadership positions with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Foundation and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Rosenberg was a member of the California State Bar and was inducted into the Bay Area Council Business Hall of Fame in 2007.
