Beware the Clash of altures The first m stake acqunng companies make underestimating the problems tha unalke company cultures can infict on a merger. Staid Bank of Americas acqusition of white-shoe Memo Lynch and its Emndenng herd of highly pad brokers highlights just how important alture is in determinng the success or failure of a merger, Dozens of senier Merril bankers. George H. Young m, have left since the merger join competitors ike Lazare Ltd. Many kft because they dn't want te gre up the fast of Wal where money is king, te work in a commercial banking culture with Southern characteristies.