BofA finds CEO Lewis virtually 'irreplaceable'

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: Bank of America is having such a hard time finding a new CEO that some analysts are wondering if Ken Lewis might have to stay past his planned Dec 31 departure.

The largest US bank had said Lewis' replacement could be announced by Thanksgiving, but with no obvious right candidate emerging, analysts don't see that happening.

And that may not be a surprise - this has been no ordinary CEO search. Like other struggling banks that have received federal bailout money, Bank of America is operating under government restrictions, among them having to get approval from federal pay czar Kenneth Feinberg for how much it can pay its new leader.