Total loans fell 1.6% at the North Carolina-based regional bank, which has been scaling back in key segments such as residential mortgages and auto. Wider margins offset that reduction, but earnings were flat and revenue growth small.

Bank of America set aside $100 million in its reserves for representation and warranty claims ahead of a pending settlement to resolve legacy mortgage issues.

Fee income also surged as the San Francisco bank reached the $100 billion mark in wealth management assets.

The Pittsburgh company benefited from loan growth and higher interest rates, though fee income fell and expense rose in the third quarter.

Wells Fargo took a surprise $1 billion charge in the third quarter for previously disclosed pre-crisis, mortgage-related regulatory investigations. It contributed to a 19% fall in profits.

JPMorgan Chase reported a rise in value of its mortgage servicing rights despite lower originations in this year's third quarter.

A 38% increase in new loan originations led to another quarter of record earnings.

Demand for commercial loans has been weak for much of the past year and among the big questions bank executives will face this earnings season is when they can expect the pace to finally pick up.

The Louisiana company also set aside funds to cover efforts to settle litigation tied to its mortgage business.

Higher net interest income and modest growth in expenses helped boost bank earnings by 10.7%, the FDIC said in its Quarterly Banking Profile.