Bank of America Corp., the biggest US bank, promoted two investment bankers to strengthen relationships with its largest corporate clients amid departures following the Merrill Lynch & Co. takeover.

Stefan Selig, a 10-year Bank of America veteran, and Steven Baronoff, who was with Merrill Lynch, will now report directly to Brian Moynihan, president of global banking and wealth management, the Charlotte, NC-based company said in an internal memorandum yesterday. Selig becomes an executive vice chairman for global corporate and investment banking and Baronoff becomes chairman of global mergers and acquisitions.