Professional Profile

Dega Nalayeh is a Managing Director and Private Client Advisor with Bank of America Private Bank in Los Angeles, California. She and her colleague, Avi Cohen, currently oversee approximately $6.4 billion in client balances (as of March 2022). With more than two decades of experience managing complex and strategic relationships, Dega helps successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and their families, who have created their wealth in the media technology, healthcare, real estate, and sports and entertainment industries, navigate the complexities that accompanies significant wealth.

To aid her in addressing clients’ often-dynamic situations, she leads a dedicated team of specialists with deep experience in specialized credit and lending solutions, wealth management, trust and estate planning services , risk management, and philanthropic opportunities.

With a passion for working with women who are wealth creators taking control of their financial and legacy decisions, Dega holds financial empowerment classes to help them make informed decisions about their future. As an private client advisor, she draws on her extensive knowledge of non-profit organizations, such as schools and public foundations, to offer sophisticated perspectives and strategic guidance to help them achieve their missions. She also has a depth of knowledge understanding the specialized needs of international clients with multinational wealth.

Dega began her career at Bank of America in 1998. Over the course of her career, she has held several roles within the bank, including analyst, consumer banker, and premier banker. She joined the Private Bank (formerly U.S. Trust) in 2006. Dega received her Bachelor’s degree with honors in applied mathematics and physics from York University in Toronto, Canada. She also attended the Wharton School for Executive Education. Dega is a member of the Bank’s African American committee leadership team.

Dega enjoys spending time with her son and family. She is passionate about fitness, outdoor activities, personal development, and community service. In her spare time, she volunteers as a mentor to teach inner city women and children financial awareness and empowers them to be at the forefront of their financial decision making.