Commercial banking

SunTrust sold an insurance financing unit that it deemed noncore, but it is on the lookout to buy more complementary businesses such as a CRE lender it acquired last year.

Top banking executives called the Republican tax plan an important first step toward tax reform and economic stimulus, but questions immediately arose about whether trade-offs and complexities in the bill would undercut it.

Net income at the Livingston, N.J., company climbed 67% due to a variety of one-time items tied to its ongoing restructuring.

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.

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

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.

Putting faith in its team of experts analyzing every loan application, the Arkansas bank is shrugging off warnings of a real estate downturn.

A slight decline in core deposits in the second quarter stoked worries that tighter liquidity is around the corner. Bankers are exploring responses beyond the typical CD rate special if third-quarter results show the trend is continuing.

“You can’t serve the public if your employees are shellshocked,” said one top banker, comments echoed by other institutions dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

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.

Doug Bowers said the company has moved beyond past issues, including corporate governance shortcomings and the abrupt departure of his predecessor, and is ready to bring in more loans and core deposits.

The Pennsylvania bank's mortgage performance contributed to stronger loan growth, fee income and profits.

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 German bank posted two consecutive years of losses partly because of misconduct fines tied to the Libor and other scandals.

First Financial in Ohio says financial health tools for its clients’ employees will build more lasting commercial banking relationships.

Growth in commercial real estate loans is a big reason the New Jersey bank had a strong quarter.

The Atlanta company's profits rose on stronger net interest income and investment banking income as well as a tax maneuver.

The Birmingham, Ala., company's profit climbed 8% as higher market interest rates and investment securities balances offset lower average loan balances.

The Columbus, Ga., company also announced late Monday that it is buying the credit card assets and brokered deposits of the retailer Cabela's and will then sell the card portfolio to Capital One.