Karl Kaufmann Spotlight

Karl Kaufmann

Karl Kaufmann joined Bank of America’s legal team supporting the Consumer business in 2010, during a period of ongoing evolution for both the company and the broader industry. Navigating change requires adaptability and resilience, and Karl recalls it as an energizing time marked by meaningful opportunities to support clients and the business. “Change is always stimulating, and it always creates work. I was given a lot of opportunities from the very beginning, and I was able to work on projects that are unique to huge banks. The work was interesting and challenging.”

Karl says that his teammates were an impressive group able to deliver the legal expertise the business needed. “I was working with some of the best of the best in the industry. The team was consistently good, and people were friendly and enjoyed what they did. It was high-performing, high-functioning environment that made it a great place to work.”

A lasting sense of connection

When Synchrony Bank reached out in 2015, Karl saw it as a natural time to consider new challenges. He was familiar with the company through previous work as a partner in a law firm and recognized that the role would offer a different perspective and new opportunities. “How often can you be part of a company going public?” He said. He now serves as Synchrony Bank’s Chief Banking and Regulatory Counsel.

As a Charlotte resident raising his family in the city, Karl says that lasting connections with Bank of America are part of everyday life. “I see former colleagues at my kids’ sports activities and have stayed friends with some of my teammates. We’re able to get together for coffee or dinner.”

Making an impact through athletic events

A dedicated endurance athlete, Karl has used his fitness journey in a positive way to raise money through running events for more than 20 years. While at Bank of America, he entered events in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and now focuses on fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Over the years, he estimates that he’s raised about $700,000 and says that one of the things he valued about working at Bank of America was the company’s support of both his ability to train and its matching gifts program that enabled teammates to double their impact as they contributed to his efforts.  

Joining the Alumni Network

Although he stays in touch with former colleagues, as a recent member of the Alumni Network, Karl says he is looking forward to reconnecting with many of the people he worked with at the company. “I hope the network will be a hub where people can get together, hear about what’s going on, and keep in touch. Life happens and it isn’t always possible to keep track of everyone, so this will be a great way to do that.”