In times such as these, it's very hard to go out on a high note. If out-going Bank of America (BAC) CEO Ken Lewis thinks he's going to get a pass because of his lame duck status, he may be in for a surprise--if a recent Reuters article is any indication.

"The myth of Ken Lewis as an exemplary dealmaker persists in some corners of Wall Street, even as he's being driven out of Bank of America...It's time to put this myth to rest. The only reason to keep lionizing Lewis for the many acquisitions he made during his nine-year run at Bank of America's helm is if you truly believe that too-big-to-fail banks are a good thing."

That may be a bit harsh. If it weren't for that one last deal, maybe the last two deals (Countrywide and Merrill Lynch), the bank would arguably be in great shape now. But that may be speculation not worth undertaking. At the end of the day, the numbers are damning: On a total-return basis, the bank has returned 4 percent from the beginning of the Lewis era in January 2001. 

For more:
- here's the article

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