Laura Alix

Insurers are seeing modest gains in market share as banks, facing increased scrutiny from regulators, lightly tap the brakes.

The Salt Lake City company also benefited from increases in investment securities and several large loan recoveries during the quarter.

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.

The Pittsburgh company, pleased with employee and client retention from its March purchase of Yadkin Financial, is looking to hire lenders from other institutions.

The Buffalo, N.Y., bank also said commercial and consumer lending ticked up, while residential real estate fell during the second quarter.

The Georgia company made more loans and controlled costs. As a result, it had a 1% return on assets and an efficiency ratio below 60%.

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.

While the courts have affirmed cities’ right to file predatory lending suits, they are also now holding them to a much higher standard in proving that banks knowingly steered minority borrowers into high-cost home loans.

Canada's big banks are pursuing wholesale banking, capital markets and select M&A opportunities across the border to hedge against a slowing mortgage market and other economic concerns on the home front.

The city joins a growing list of municipalities that have filed similar lawsuits, just two weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that municipalities have standing to sue lenders under the Fair Housing Act.