Kristin Broughton

Pain stemming from slow U.S. commercial loan growth has spread north of the border, contradicting the yearslong narrative that Canadian banks are relying on their U.S. operations to offset economic problems at home. However, TD and BMO executives said this week there is still upside in U.S. consumer banking.

Auto risks mounting. Mortgage market tightening. Are there any good risks these days in consumer lending? Regional bank executives insist partnerships with online lenders, unsecured personal loans and other niche efforts can work if done properly.

Declines in commercial products and mortgage banking fees at the Minneapolis company offset some of the benefits of higher interest rates.

On the first big day of 2Q results, bankers said their investments in middle-market lending have started paying off. JPMorgan Chase and PNC have added commercial loan officers in new markets across the country.

Aggressive restructuring moves and stock buybacks are giving CIT time to remold itself, but it will need to show core-banking growth to stave off calls for the company to sell itself.

Chaos broke out periodically as investors and activists spoke out against the board, at times yelling or choking back emotion.

Shareholders voted to re-elect 12 board members and elect three more nominated by the company, but the slim margins sent a clear message.

Executives at BB&T, KeyCorp and Citizens are milking commercial lending niches and balancing cost control with new investments while waiting for more rate hikes to fatten margins.

The hand-wringing over business lending has overshadowed the fact that consumer lending — particularly for regional banks — has become a strong and steady engine of growth.

Speaking at a town hall event in Washington, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said that post-crisis regulations have made mortgages too costly for consumers — and made homeownership unattainable for borrowers with low incomes or blemished credit histories.