Laura Alix

Most general counsels are men, but in 2017 women filled more than half of the top legal positions that opened up at large financial firms. The trend is likely to continue as the population of women lawyers swells and banks continue to diversify their senior ranks.

The Texas bank also capitalized on rising rates and a positive adjustment to deferred taxes tied to tax reform in reporting a double-digit gain to profits in the fourth quarter.

Both proposals aim to establish institutions that would be modeled after Bank of North Dakota, the nation's only public bank.

Net interest income has surged thanks to rising rates, but noninterest income has lagged as trading revenue has weakened, refi demand has softened and fees from deposit service charges have barely budged. Is this the new normal?

BOK benefited from rising rates and revenue from its wealth management businesses, even as loan growth remained flat and other fee income categories declined.

The Oregon company's commercial and consumer lending grew even though fee income declined sharply.

Record net interest income, helped by a 22-basis-point gain in net interest margin, boosted quarterly results in spite of declining fee income.

The Honolulu bank reported strong loan growth in the fourth quarter, but one-time charges related to the new tax law suppressed its profit.

Citizens Financial, Regions and SunTrust reported strong gains in consumer banking, including loans made through partnerships with retailers and fintech lenders. They want to keep it up to compensate for slack in commercial lending.

Regions also saw significant increases in its point-of-sale consumer lending, even though overall loans were slightly down from 2016.