Kristin Broughton

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.