Kristin Broughton

Chargeoffs jumped 13% at the Dallas lender, and its warning that they could increase further because of deterioration in subprime auto lending set off alarm bells about the broader consumer finance market.

Santander Consumer USA Holdings on Wednesday reported a sharp drop in profits, due to losses tied to its exit from personal lending.

UMB Financial in Kansas City, Mo., reported higher fourth-quarter profit, thanks to loan growth tied to a recent acquisition.

The Mississippi bank hopes its settlement talks with the CFPB and Justice Department ultimately clear the way for it to complete acquisitions in Texas and Louisiana, but time is running short.

At least five regional banks on Thursday discarded concerns about the global economy, stocks, interest rates and credit quality, forecasting loan growth for the rest of this year.

Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati on Thursday reported a big spike in profits, after selling shares in the payment processor Vantiv.

Still facing revenue challenges, Regions, PNC and U.S. Bank vowed to reduce overhead in 2016. The cuts are less about bolstering short-term returns than funding investments in cutting-edge technologies or new products and services to remain competitive.

U.S. Bancorp on Friday reported a dip in profits, due to a mix of lower fees and higher credit costs.

Bank chiefs should brace for a barrage of questions about economic uncertainty, if JPMorgan Chase's experience after releasing fourth-quarter results is any indication. Double-digit increases in loans and profits were not enough to stave off questions about the odds of recession, energy risks and adequacy of reserves.

Having shored up capital following the financial crisis, many banks are flush with cash and in search of ways to put it to use. One option for banks that did sale-leasebacks in the past is to reacquire their branches.

The rule, set for 2018 implementation, would force companies to record gains and losses from equity investments on their income statements. That should create volatility for 50 to 70 institutions, mostly mutuals, that have such investments.

Several small banks are beginning to offer employer-based loans, a payday loan alternative for under-banked consumers.

Banking industry officials hailed changes Tuesday to a Financial Accounting Standards Board rule that they have long complained unfairly distorts banks' quarterly earnings.

The company badly missed Wall Street estimates in the third quarter, prompting management to ramp up plans to cut costs. Mariner Kemper, in a wide-ranging interview, discussed those challenges while also addressing key changes among his executive ranks.

Ken Karels has guided the South Dakota company through an initial public offering and its first acquisition in three years. He is worth watching next year as ag lending comes under pressure and as Great Western continues hunting for acquisitions.

Hancock Holding's decision to significantly raise its allowance for energy loan losses reveals that oil-related issues could last longer — and cut deeper — than what bankers had originally forecast.

Carver Bancorp in New York, like many community banks, seems to be back on track after surviving the financial crisis. But the company, and CEO Michael Pugh, have an new objective - figuring out how to stay relevant with younger customers.

An interbank loan market that was created for small and regional banks has begun operations, recording $15 million in transactions on its first day.

Over the past three decades William Cooper has led TCF Financial through two crises and reinvented the bank to keep it profitable. He also sued the Federal Reserve in the aftermath of the financial crisis, for imposing a cap on debit card fees. For his strong leadership in the industry — as well as his candid, off-the-cuff style — American Banker has named him its lifetime achievement honoree.

Patriot National once suffered seven straight years of losses. Again profitable, the company is looking to use capital to buy back leased branches, improve technology and make the first acquisition in its 21-year history.