Corporate Governance Guidelines

Together with the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws and the charters of the committees of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), these Guidelines set forth the governance policies and procedures of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (the “Corporation”). The Board retains discretion to amend these Guidelines from time to time.

The Board intends that these Guidelines serve as a framework within which the Board will conduct its business. These Guidelines should be considered in the context of the Corporation's Directors’ Code of Conduct with which Directors must comply, as well as applicable laws and regulations and the Corporation’s charter and bylaws.

These Guidelines, together with Board committee charters, the By-Laws, and the Directors’ Code of Conduct are published on the Corporation’s website, and paper copies are available upon request.

II. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. The Board's Role and Responsibilities

The business and affairs of the Corporation are subject to the general oversight of the Board. The Board's duties and responsibilities are described below.

1. Director Duties and Responsibilities, Generally

The Board's primary responsibility is to oversee the management of the Corporation in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders. Directors will perform their duties in good faith and with that degree of care that a prudent person would normally use under similar circumstances.

Directors' oversight duties and responsibilities, which, as appropriate, may be discharged through Board committees, include:

Participating in the development of and overseeing the Corporation's business strategies and plans and regularly reviewing financial performance;
selecting and evaluating the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and reviewing the process for the selection, evaluation, and development of other key managers;
reviewing key risks in the Corporation's businesses and overseeing the Corporation's management of those risks;
reviewing and approving major transactions;
reviewing the Corporation's processes for compliance with the Director’s Code of Conduct and the Code of Conduct for employees;
reviewing the Corporation's processes for maintaining integrity in financial reporting;
reviewing the Corporation's processes for compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
reviewing the Corporation's processes for protecting the Corporation's assets and reputation; and
approving policies and procedures as may be required by law or otherwise appropriate.

Directors are expected to attend meetings of stockholders, the Board and the committees on which they sit.

It is important that the Corporation speak to employees and outside constituencies with a single voice and that the Corporation's designated officers serve as the primary spokespersons.

2. The Board's Role in Overseeing Succession Planning

The Board, through the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee and the Human Resources and Compensation Committee, will oversee management’s planning for senior executive officer succession with the aim of proactively identifying, developing and retaining the requisite leadership talent critical for future business success. In support of this oversight responsibility, the CEO will review with the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee his or her recommendations and evaluation of potential successors to the CEO position, including a review of any development plans for such individuals. The Human Resources and Compensation Committee will review succession planning for the Corporation’s senior executive officers and potential senior executive officers in connection with its broader oversight of the Corporation’s human capital management strategy and planning. The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will report at least annually to the independent directors regarding its CEO succession planning activities and recommendations, if appropriate, and may consult or work together with the independent Chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”) or Lead Director, or any other committee of the Board on any succession related matters as it deems appropriate. In addition, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee shall maintain and review at least annually a CEO emergency succession management plan.

3. The Board's Role in Overseeing Executive Compensation

While the Human Resources and Compensation Committee has overall responsibility for executive compensation matters, as specified in its charter, the Committee will report its preliminary conclusions with respect to the performance evaluation and compensation decisions regarding the CEO to the other independent directors in executive session and solicit their input prior to finalizing the Committee's conclusions. The Committee will also advise and discuss with the other independent directors compensation decisions regarding the President and the process utilized by the Committee.

B. Board Composition and Related Matters

1. Director Elections

A slate of directors will be recommended by the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee, nominated by the Board, and submitted to a stockholder vote each year. Stockholders may propose nominees for consideration by the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee in accordance with procedures and other requirements set forth in the By-Laws and these Guidelines.

2. Term of Office

Directors serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders or their prior death, resignation or removal.

The Board values the contributions of directors who have developed valuable knowledge and insight into the Corporation during the course of their service, and, therefore, the Board has determined that imposition of a maximum period of service is not in the interest of the Corporation or its stockholders. At the same time, the Board recognizes the importance of an appropriate balance of experience and fresh perspectives and annually considers the overall composition of the Board to ensure that it meets the ongoing and sometimes changing needs of the Corporation.

3. Director Qualifications

The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will take into consideration, among other factors, the following criteria approved by the Board for selecting nominees for election as directors of the Corporation. The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will consider for nomination persons who:

have the highest level of character and integrity;
are capable of evaluating complex business issues and making sound judgments and constructively challenging management's recommendations and actions;
have built a sustained record of substantial accomplishments in senior-level management positions in business, government, education, technology or not-for-profit enterprises and possess the skills and knowledge essential to the oversight of the Corporation’s businesses;
have the interpersonal skills to work with other directors on the Board in ways that are effective, collegial and responsive to the needs of the Corporation;
contribute to the diversity of the Board (in all aspects of that term);
are willing and able to devote the necessary time and effort required for service on the Board;
are independent (except with respect to any management directors) and free from conflicts of interest that could interfere with a director’s duties; and
have a strong commitment to the ethical and diligent pursuit of stockholders’ best interests.

When considering a person for re-nomination as a director of the Corporation, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will consider, among other factors: the criteria for the nomination of directors; attendance, preparedness and overall contributions to the Board; and the needs of the Corporation. A person who would be 75 years of age or older at the time of election will not be nominated for election or re-election, provided, however, that the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee may recommend and the Board may approve the nomination for re-election of a director who would be age 75 at the time of such election, if, after considering the criteria for selecting director nominees, the capacity of such person to continue to make meaningful contributions to the Board and the needs of the Corporation, the Board determines, on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee, that such nomination is in the best interest of the Corporation.

4. Board Diversity

In considering diversity of the Board (in all aspects of that term), the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will take into account various factors and perspectives, including differences of viewpoint, professional experience, education, skill and other demographics, such as race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, as well as the variety of attributes that contribute to the Board’s collective strength.

5. Director Independence

The majority of directors will be independent in accordance with the independence standards set forth below and applicable laws and regulations, including the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and Item 407 of Regulation S-K. A director will be considered independent only if the Board has affirmatively determined that the director has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Corporation that would impair his or her independent judgment.

The Board will review factors affecting independence at the time a director is nominated for election or re-election, and upon a change in circumstances as appropriate. In making independence determinations, the Board will apply the following guidelines.

A director is not independent if:

the director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the Corporation, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer, of the Corporation, provided, however, that a director’s service as an interim Chairman, interim CEO or other interim executive officer for 12 months or less will not disqualify him or her from being considered independent following such service;
the director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from the Corporation except in his or her capacity as a Director or for service as an interim Chairman, interim CEO or other interim executive officer, and except compensation received by an immediate family member for service as an employee (other than an executive officer) of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries;
the director or an immediate family member is a current partner of a firm that is the Corporation's internal or external auditor, (B) the director is a current employee of such a firm, (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and who participates in the firm's audit, or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years (but is no longer) a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the Corporation's audit within that time;
the director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the Corporation's present executive officers at the same time serves or has served on the compensation committee;
the director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, the Corporation for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years of such other company's operations, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2 percent of such other company's consolidated gross revenues; or
a contribution (excluding matching gifts) of the Corporation to any charitable organization of which the director serves as an executive officer exceeded the greater of $1 million or two percent of the charitable organization's consolidated gross revenues in a single fiscal year within the past three years.

For purposes of these standards, a "family member" includes a director's spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares the director's home.

A director will be deemed not to be independent if the Board finds that the director has material business arrangements with the Corporation that would jeopardize his or her judgment. In making independence determinations, the Board will review business arrangements between (a) the Corporation and the director, and (b) the Corporation and an entity for which the director serves as an officer or general partner, or of which the director directly or indirectly owns 10 percent or more of the equity. Such arrangements will not be considered material if:

they are of a type that the Corporation usually and customarily offers to customers or vendors;
they are on terms substantially similar to those for comparable transactions with other customers or vendors under similar circumstances; or
in the case of personal loans, all such loans to directors are subject to and in compliance with Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Bank.

In applying the factors listed in (1) through (3), above, the Board may consider such other factors as it may deem necessary to arrive at sound determinations as to the independence of each director, and such factors may override the conclusion of independence or non-independence that would be reached simply by reference to the enumerated facts. In such cases, the basis for independence determinations will be disclosed in the Corporation's Annual Proxy Statement.

6. Board Independent Leadership

A. Chairman. The Board will select its Chairman in the manner it considers to be in the best interests of the Corporation at any given time. The Chairman may or may not be the CEO of the Corporation. The independent directors shall consider annually, during an executive session, the Board’s leadership structure and evaluate whether the position of Chairman shall be held by the CEO or shall be separated. If the Chairman and CEO positions are separated, the Board shall annually elect the Chairman from among the independent directors, subject to the discretion of the Board or an agreement providing for such service. The Chairman shall preside, if present, at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board and shall have and perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Chairman by the Board.

B. Lead Director. If the role of Chairman and CEO are held by the same person, a Lead Director shall be selected annually from among the independent directors by a majority of the independent directors. The Board generally favors the periodic rotation of the Lead Director, but also recognizes that at times it may not be in the best interest of the Corporation to change a Lead Director. It is expected that the Lead Director will serve up to five years in order to facilitate the rotation of the Lead Director position while maintaining experienced leadership. After a Lead Director serves in such capacity for five or more consecutive years, the independent directors shall review his or her tenure, considering the Lead Director’s qualifications and contributions to the Board and balancing the benefits of the Lead Director’s experience and knowledge with the benefits of fresh perspectives, in order to determine whether the Lead Director should continue in that capacity.

In addition to the other duties and responsibilities of the Lead Director set forth in these Guidelines or the By-Laws of the Corporation, the Lead Director shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

Act as a non-exclusive liaison between independent directors and the Chairman and CEO;
Facilitate communication among directors and between the Board and management;
Review and approve, in coordination with the Chairman and CEO, agendas for Board meetings, materials, information and meeting schedules and have the authority to add items to the agenda for any Board meeting;
Preside at Board and stockholder meetings if the Chairman is absent;
Call, set the agenda for and preside over executive sessions and meetings of independent directors;
Be available to meet with major stockholders and regulators under appropriate circumstances;
Consult with the Human Resources and Compensation Committee regarding its consideration of CEO compensation and discuss, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee, with the CEO the results of the Board’s annual evaluation of the CEO’s performance;
Consult with the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee on CEO succession planning;
Consult with the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee on the Board’s annual performance evaluation; and
Perform such other functions as the Board shall direct or request from time to time.

If the Chairman of the Board is an independent director and no Lead Director is then serving, the Chairman shall be responsible for performing the foregoing duties to the extent applicable.

7. Service on Other Boards

The Corporation values the experience directors bring from other boards on which they serve but recognizes that such service may also entail significant time commitments, conflicts or legal issues. Directors should advise the Chairman of the Board and the CEO as well as the Corporate Secretary before accepting a position on the board of directors of another company or making any other significant commitment to any business or governmental body beyond the primary occupations in which they were engaged at the time of their most recent election to the Board. They should accept such a position or make such a commitment only after obtaining the consent of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee of the Board. Upon receipt of such notice, the Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee shall consult with the Chairman of the Board and the CEO and the Company's General Counsel on such matters prior to the Committee’s determination. It is suggested that directors who serve as an executive officer of a publicly traded company not serve on the board of more than two publicly traded companies (including his or her own company) in addition to the Corporation and that other directors not serve on the boards of more than three publicly traded companies in addition to the Corporation. In making its determination, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee may take into account any and all factors it deems to be relevant, including without limitation whether the director in question is currently employed or retired from full-time employment, the number of other boards of which the director is a member, any actual or potential conflicts of interest and the director’s other commitments.

8. Director Resignations

A director who also serves as an officer of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries will tender his or her resignation as a director when the director discontinues such service.
An independent director who retires from, or otherwise discontinues his or her active employment or substantially changes his or her position or responsibilities with, the business or other enterprise with which the director was primarily affiliated at the time of the director's most recent election to the Board should promptly notify the Corporate Secretary of such retirement, discontinuance or substantial change. The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will review the director's continued service on the Board in light of all the circumstances and recommend to the Board whether the director should be requested to tender his or her resignation to the Board. If such a request is made, the director shall promptly tender such resignation.
In accordance with the By-Laws, each director is elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast (which means the number of votes cast "for" a director's election exceeds the number of votes cast "against" that director's election, with abstentions not counted as votes cast) with respect to that director's election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if, as of the record date of such meeting as initially announced, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected at such meeting (a "Contested Election"), the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast.

For an election that is not a Contested Election, any incumbent director who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast will tender his or her resignation to the independent Chairman or Lead Director (or such other director designated by the Board if the director failing to receive the majority of votes cast is the independent Chairman or Lead Director) promptly after the certification of the stockholder vote. The matter will then be referred to the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee.

The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will promptly consider the tendered resignation and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it, or whether other action should be taken. If, because of recusals, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee is unable to meet and consider the issue with a quorum of its members participating in the discussion, the Board may assign the issue to another committee consisting solely of independent directors. In considering whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation, or to take other action, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee (or other committee to which the matter is assigned) will consider whatever factors its members deem relevant including, without limitation, the stated reasons for the "against" votes, the length of service and qualifications of any incumbent director whose resignation has been tendered, the incumbent director's contributions to the Corporation, and the mix of skills and backgrounds on the Board.

The Board will act on the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee's recommendation (or the recommendation of such other committee to which the matter is assigned) no later than 90 days following the certification of the election in question. In considering the recommendation of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee (or such other committee), the Board will consider the factors considered by the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee (or such other committee) and such additional information and factors as it deems relevant. Following the Board's decision, the Corporation will publicly disclose the Board's decision (and, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation) in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). If the Board does not accept the director's resignation, it may elect to address the underlying stockholder concerns or to take such other actions it deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders.

A director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this Section (C) will not vote on the issue of whether his or her tendered resignation will be accepted or rejected.

If the Board accepts an incumbent director's resignation pursuant to this Section (C), or if a nominee for director is not elected and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board may fill the resulting vacancy pursuant to the By-Laws.

9. Vacancies; Board Size

In the event of a director's resignation, removal or death, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will recommend to the Board whether to fill such vacancy or vacancies or to reduce the size of the Board;
the Board may fill vacancies with directors who will serve only until the next election of directors, at which point, if nominated in accordance with these Guidelines, they may be elected by the stockholders to continue such service; and
from time to time and as appropriate, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will make recommendations to the Board regarding the size of the Board.

C. Board Meetings

1. Meeting Frequency and Calling of Meetings

The Board normally holds six regular meetings per year. Subject to notice to the contrary, regular Board meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of even numbered months.

A special meeting of independent directors may be held at the discretion of the independent Chairman or Lead Director.

In the event of the death or disability of the Chairman or CEO, a special meeting of the Board will be held as soon as practical at a date and time to be determined by the independent Chairman or Lead Director. The independent Chairman or Lead Director will preside at such meeting.

2. Meeting Agendas and Materials

The Chairman is responsible for the agendas for the Board meetings. In consultation with, and with input from, the CEO and the Lead Director, as applicable, the Chairman will prepare an agenda for each meeting and cause it to be distributed to Board members in advance of the meeting. The Lead Director (if any) may add agenda items in his or her discretion, and Board members may suggest any items for inclusion on the agenda.

The Chairman and/or the Lead Director will also have the opportunity to review, approve and/or revise Board meeting materials. Information and materials should be transmitted to each director, to the extent practicable, in advance of the Board meeting to which they relate. Board members are expected to review meeting materials that are provided in advance. When time constraints or exceptional circumstances preclude advance distribution, written materials may be distributed at the meeting.

3. Executive Sessions

Independent directors will hold an Executive Session without management at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. The independent Chairman or Lead Director will preside over executive sessions of independent directors and may convene such sessions at other times.

4. Confidentiality

To foster open discussions, the proceedings and deliberations of the Board are confidential. Each director will maintain the confidentiality of non-public information received from the Corporation or its advisors.

D. Board Information and Resources

Management will communicate regularly with directors, who may also consult with other employees and independent advisors, such as independent auditors and outside counsel, as the Board or its committees deem appropriate, the fees of such advisors and the expenses of such consultation to be borne by the Corporation.

In performing his or her duties, a director is entitled to rely in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Board by any of the Corporation's officers or employees or committees of the Board, or by any such other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

E. Board Committees

1. Committee Structure

The Board will have such committees as may be required by the Corporation's By-Laws — which will include all committees required by the rules of the NYSE — and may appoint such additional committees as the Board may determine to be necessary or convenient for the conduct of its responsibilities.

The Corporation will comply fully with all legal and regulatory requirements concerning the composition, responsibilities and procedures applicable to any committee of the Board, including those applicable to the Audit, Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility, Human Resources and Compensation and Risk Committees.

Each of the Audit Committee, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and Risk Committees, and any other committee required by legal or regulatory requirements, will be composed of at least three members, and all members of these committees will be independent directors.

Independent Directors are expected to serve on one or more committees of the Board.

Directors serving on certain Board committees may also be required to have other qualifications as specified in the relevant committee charters. In particular, members of the Audit Committee must meet all applicable independence requirements and must satisfy the NYSE requirements for (i) financial literacy and (ii) accounting or related financial management expertise; in addition, at least one Audit Committee member will qualify as an "Audit Committee Financial Expert" under the SEC's rules.

2. Committee Assignments

The Board generally favors the periodic rotation of Committee chair positions, but also recognizes that at times it may not be in the best interest of the Committee to change a chair position. It is expected that Committee chairs will serve up to five years on average in order to facilitate rotation of Committee chairs while maintaining experienced leadership. After a Committee chair serves in such capacity for five or more consecutive years, the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee shall review his or her tenure, considering the Committee chair’s qualifications and contributions to the respective committee and balancing the benefits of the Committee chair’s experience and knowledge with the benefits of fresh perspectives, in order to determine whether such Committee chair should continue in that capacity.

3. Committee Agendas and Reports

The agenda for each regular meeting of all standing committees of the Board will be furnished to all directors in advance of the meeting. All directors are invited to make suggestions to the committee chairman for additions to the agenda or to request that an item from a committee agenda be considered by the Board. Directors not serving on a committee who have a particular interest in an agenda item for that committee are encouraged to express their views to the committee chairman. The chairman of each committee will report regularly to the Board on matters discussed and actions taken by the committee.

F. Board and Committee Evaluations

Annually, the Board and each of the standing committees of the Board will conduct a self-evaluation to continually enhance performance.

The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee, in consultation with the independent Chairman or Lead Director will determine the process, scope and content of the Board’s annual performance evaluation. Areas of consideration in the Board self-evaluations include Director contribution and performance, Board structure and size, Board dynamics, the range of business, professional and other backgrounds of Directors necessary to serve the Corporation and the range and type of information provided to the Board by management.

Based on the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee’s determination of the evaluation process and scope, each committee self-evaluation is conducted in an executive session led by the Chairman of the committee. The results of the self-evaluation of each standing committee is reported to the full Board.

The Board and management work together to enhance Board and committee effectiveness in light of the results of the self-evaluations.

G. Director Orientation and Continuing Education

Each newly elected director will participate in an orientation program that will include a review of the Corporation's financial position and recent financial results, risk management program, internal audit program, compliance program, Directors’ Code of Conduct, Code of Conduct for employees, business plan (focused on key businesses and business objectives), and Board procedures as presented by the Corporation's Chairman, CEO, President, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Auditor, Director of Human Resources, Secretary, and other senior executives.

The directors will receive additional information about these subjects through their regular meetings, meeting materials, presentations at meetings, and copies of corporate organizational documents, periodic filings, and significant presentations made to analysts and investors.

H. Communications to Directors

The Secretary of the Corporation is authorized to open and review any mail or other correspondence received that is addressed to the Board or any individual director unless the item is marked "Confidential" or "Personal." If so marked and addressed to the Board, it will be delivered unopened to the independent Chairman or Lead Director. If so marked and addressed to an individual director, it will be delivered to the addressee unopened. If, upon opening an envelope or package not so marked, the Secretary determines that it contains a magazine, solicitation or advertisement, or is of a general nature not specifically related to the Corporation’s business, the contents may be discarded.

The Corporation will maintain, and will publish on its web site and in its annual proxy statement, a method for interested parties to communicate with the independent directors as a group or with the independent Chairman or Lead Director.

I. Director Compensation and Expenses

Compensation for independent directors' services may include annual cash retainers, shares of the Corporation's common stock, deferred stock units or options on such shares; meeting fees; fees for serving as a committee chairman or independent Chairman or Lead Director; and fees for serving as a director of a subsidiary of the Corporation. The Corporation will also reimburse directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, using the principles set forth in the Corporation’s policy on executive officer travel and entertainment. Directors are reimbursed for their travel expenses not exceeding, in the case of air fare, the first-class commercial rate. In addition, corporate aircraft and charter aircraft may be used for directors in accordance with the Corporation’s Aircraft Policy. Directors will also be reimbursed as provided above for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including tuition and registration fees) relating to attendance at seminars and training sessions relevant to their service on the Board and in connection with meetings or conferences which they attend at the Corporation’s request.

The Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee will periodically review director compensation and make recommendations to the Board. Such compensation should be consistent with market practice and should align directors' interests with those of long-term stockholders while not calling into question directors' objectivity.

Unless and until amended by the Board on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee, the compensation of independent directors for service on the Board and on standing committees of the Board shall be as follows

Annual cash retainer: $110,000 payable quarterly in advance
Annual membership retainer for Audit and Risk Committees: $15,000
Annual retainers for committee chairmen:
Audit and Risk Committees: $30,000
Human Resources and Compensation, Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility, Finance and Technology Committees: $25,000
Lead Director Retainer: $50,000
Independent Chairman Retainer: $150,000

In addition, independent directors who are members of any special committee of the Board will receive a per meeting fee of $1,800, and each independent director will receive an annual stock award in an amount to be determined by the Board on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee. On the recommendation of the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Social Responsibility Committee, the Board may also approve other fees for independent directors, including retainers for the chairman of any special committee of the Board.

J. Director Stock Ownership

By the fifth anniversary of their service on the Board, directors are required to maintain ownership of shares of the Corporation's common stock with a market value of at least five times the annual cash retainer.

K. Clawback and Recoupment Policy

The Human Resources and Compensation Committee administers the Corporation’s recoupment policy that applies to equity awards granted to executives, including the named executive officers. Under that policy and in addition to forfeiture provisions based on risk outcomes during the vesting period, the Corporation may cancel all or any portion of unvested equity awards made after the policy was adopted and require repayment of any shares of common stock (or values thereof) or amounts that were acquired from the award if:

the executive directly or indirectly engages in conduct, or it is discovered that the executive engaged in conduct, that is materially adverse to the interests of the Corporation, including failure to comply with the Corporation’s rules or regulations, fraud or conduct contributing to any financial restatements or irregularities;
during the course of employment, the executive engages in solicitation and/or diversion of customers or employees and/or competition with the Corporation;
following termination of employment with the Corporation for any reason, the executive violates any post-termination obligations or duties owed to the Corporation or any agreement with the Corporation; or
any compensation otherwise payable or paid to the executive is required to be forfeited and/or repaid to the Corporation pursuant to applicable regulatory requirements.

In addition, the Corporation’s cash recoupment policy provides that the Corporation may claw back some or all of a cash incentive award within three years of the award date if, during the award performance period, the employee (including each of the named executives) is found to have engaged in fraud or to have directly or indirectly contributed to the need for a financial restatement or other irregularity. The Corporation continues to monitor regulatory requirements as may be applicable to its recoupment policies.

III. AUTHORITY VESTED IN MANAGEMENT

Management may exercise any and all authorities as set forth in the By-Laws. Management is authorized to implement plans, make expenditures, and acquire or dispose of assets consistent with the annual operating plan and the annual capital expenditures plan approved by the Board.

All expenditures for fixed assets (whether purchased or leased and whether to be paid directly by the Corporation itself or through any subsidiary) should be authorized in the annual capital expenditures plan approved by the Board. Any such expenditure that would, either individually or when aggregated with related transactions, exceed one percent of the total stockholders' equity of the Corporation as shown on the most recently published balance sheet must be approved by the Board.

All acquisitions and dispositions of assets (whether by the Corporation itself or through any subsidiary) — other than (i) acquisitions and dispositions in the normal course of business, (ii) acquisitions and dispositions of assets that are being or have been acquired through foreclosures or other proceedings on account of loans previously made and (iii) acquisitions of the stock or assets of other entities (addressed below) — that would, either individually or when aggregated with related transactions, exceed one percent of the total stockholders' equity of the Corporation as shown on the most recently published balance sheet, and all acquisitions or other capital commitments that would represent the Corporation's entry into a significant new line of business, must be approved by the Board.

If approved by the CEO, acquisitions (either through the Corporation or any subsidiary) of the stock or assets of other entities may be made, without specific approval by the Board, in an amount not to exceed, in any such case, one percent of the total stockholders' equity of the Corporation as shown on the most recently published balance sheet, provided, however, that Board approval must be obtained if the acquisition represents the Corporation's entry into a significant new line of business.

If approved by the CEO or the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), capital contributions to new or existing subsidiaries of the Corporation may be made, without specific approval by the Board, in an amount per transaction not to exceed two percent of the total stockholders' equity of the Corporation as shown on the most recently published balance sheet, provided, however, that Board approval must be obtained if the capital contribution represents the Corporation's entry into a significant new line of business. Extensions of credit may be made by the Corporation to new or existing subsidiaries of the Corporation, without specific approval by the Board, upon such terms and conditions as the CEO, the President, the CFO, the Controller, the Treasurer, any Senior Vice Chairman, any Vice Chairman or any Senior Executive Vice President of the Corporation (the “Authorized Officers”) or any other person designated in writing by any Authorized Officer may in his or her discretion approve. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Board approval shall not be required for internal reorganizations involving solely and exclusively the Corporation and/or one or more of its subsidiaries unless such internal reorganization would result in a material change in the overall risk profile of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Management shall report to the Board on such internal reorganizations at the next regular meeting of the Board following completion of any such internal reorganization.

Expenditures, consideration, payments and other amounts referred to in this section include the total of all payments to be made or received and the liabilities to be assumed, directly or indirectly.

Management may exercise any and all additional authorities as the Board may from time to time approve by resolutions duly adopted.

Approved: April 12, 2023

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BNY Mellon Quarterly Earnings - First Quarter 2024

BNY Mellon Annual Report 2023 - Building on Opportunity