CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a move to improve its global corporate and investment banking unit, Bank of America said yesterday it plans to lay off 3,000 employees.

The layoffs will affect less than 2% of the company's staff with the majority of the GCIB-cuts spread through business lending, Treasury services and capital markets and advisory services as well as supporting infrastructure, according to a statement on BofA's Web site.

News of the layoffs comes a week after the bank reported a 93% drop in profits in the third quarter. The company also said that in the wake of a disappointing third quarter results in its capital markets businesses, it has launched a strategic review of GCIB to determine how it can operate more effectively while continuing to meet client financial needs.

Replacing GCIB President Eugene Taylor, who will retire this year after 38 years of service, is Brian Moynihan, the bank's former head of global wealth and investment management. Keith Banks, president of Columbia Management, BofA's asset management organization, will succeed Moynihan.

“While some of these changes are a direct result of our underperformance, others have been contemplated for a number of months as we looked at how we could operate more effectively,” said Kenneth D. Lewis, chairman and CEO of BofA.