Laura Alix

The new Explore Visa card is seen as a "bridge" to more traditional banking services, said Regions' head of retail products and payments.

The Tulsa, Okla., company reported loan growth in all categories, including a 56% increase in personal loans.

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 Rhode Island bank plans to build out its fee income capabilities, expand C&I lending in the Southeast, renegotiate vendor contracts and take other steps to produce expense cuts and revenue enhancements of at least $90 million.

But the Connecticut company says the efficiencies of its recent acquisition of Suffolk Bancorp will begin to be realized soon.

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.

In a sign of broader competition ahead, bigger banks are raising the interest they pay on deposits held by business customers. The big question is how hard will it be for banks to maintain margins and to stave off consumer demands for better rates.

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%.