Kenneth Lewis’ planned retirement from Bank of America Corp. at the end of the year, announced late Wednesday afternoon by the bank, set off broad speculation about potential successors.

Brian Moynihan, the recently appointed head of consumer banking, is believed to be a leading candidate. Thomas K. Montag, a former Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch executive and BofA’s chief of investment banking, is another likely contender. CFO Joe Price, Barbara Desoer, president of Bank of America Home Loans, and Sallie Krawcheck, head of wealth management, are also potential candidates.

Another intriguing name suggested as a candidate is former BofA CFO Al de Molina, the CEO at GMAC Financial Corp.

Moynihan, a lawyer by trade, joined BofA when the bank acquired FleetBoston Corp. in 2004. Lewis appointed him to lead the integration of Merrill Lynch and then moved him to lead consumer banking this summer. Analysts say he has the experience in several areas of the bank to be a top candidate.

Montag may also be a leading candidate. He built his career at Goldman Sachs before joining Merrill in 2008. After the merger, he was appointed to lead investment banking for BofA. UNC Charlotte banking professor Tony Plath says the bank’s increased focus on investment banking and a global presence make Montag a possibility because of his expertise in those areas.

Price is often mentioned as a successor to Lewis because of his ties to Charlotte and lengthy tenure at the bank. But he is not considered the best operations manager of the other candidates.

Rochdale Securities analyst Dick Bove says Desoer is a dark horse candidate because of her successful work improving the bank’s customer service scores and the integration of Countrywide Financial Corp. She joined the bank in its 1998 acquisition of San Francisco-based BankAmerica Corp.

Krawcheck, a Charleston, South Carolina, native, joined the bank this summer after a tenure at Citigroup where she served as both CFO and head of the SmithBarney brokerage. She’s well-respected on Wall Street but doesn’t have enough experience inside BofA—a company that likes to promote from within—to be a leading candidate, Plath says.

De Molina’s name hasn’t been discussed as often as other candidates. But he has a home in Charlotte and experience with the company.

“I think the more important thing for Charlotte is that the board considers the best-qualified candidate, and in my mind that’s Al de Molina, hands down,” says a former BofA executive who asked to remain anonymous. “He’s got real hands on turnaround experience now with GMAC and he’s doing an unbelievable job there. It would be a shame for Charlotte if that one got away.”

De Molina was reportedly a candidate to succeed Ken Thompson at Wachovia before that bank’s board chose Bob Steel. De Molina was named CEO of GMAC Financial Corp. last year.