Laura Alix

The U.S. subsidiary of the Spanish banking giant BBVA said Friday that direct consumer loans increased 40% in the first quarter and that its digital strategy is bearing fruit.

The San Antonio company said that it has scaled back its exposure to energy loans in favor of a greater emphasis on loans of less $10 million.

Grayson Hall has served as CEO since 2010. He will leave the post in July but remain executive chairman through the end of the year.

Double-digit growth in personal loans and record wealth management revenue also helped the Tulsa, Okla., beat earnings forecasts.

The $17 billion-asset Bank of Hawaii reported higher profits on rising interest income, even as it saw yearly declines in mortgage banking and deposit fee income, as well as losses on investment securities.

The regional bank's net income rose 37% thanks to those factors and others.

Investing in technology has been an important focus for banks. But big questions remain about these investments, including how best to pay for them.

The Waterbury, Conn., company also posted a double-digit gain in net interest income thanks to a 7% increase in commercial loan balances and a widening net interest margin.

The Bridgeport, Conn., company said that first-quarter net income climbed 52% over the same period last year to $107.9 million.

Results were also aided by strong growth in residential construction, commercial and equipment financing.

Banks may need to do more to help small businesses after a hurricane, flood or other calamity as those firms tend to favor nonbank lenders after an emergency for a number of reasons, according to research by four regional Federal Reserve banks.

The Rosemont, Ill., bank rode loan growth, interest rate trends and noninterest-income gains to a double-digit increase in profits in the first quarter.

Previously the head of commercial banking, Tory Nixon — also a former NFL cornerback — will now oversee the bank's digital strategy.

A $135 million increase in litigation expenses related to its 2011 acquisition of Wilmington Trust overshadowed a wider net interest margin and improved credit quality for the Buffalo, N.Y., company in the first quarter.

Bankers hoped the tax overhaul would stimulate a boom in business borrowing, but several said this week that hasn’t happened yet. PNC’s Bill Demchak warned that the tax cuts could be encouraging lenders to underprice loans.

During earnings calls, bankers praised regulators' latest efforts to modify capital rules. JPMorgan Chase CFO Marianne Lake, meanwhile, called on policymakers to focus on overhauling the G-SIB surcharge.

The Pittsburgh company reported a 39% gain in retail banking profits amid a lot of strong first-quarter numbers, yet it still fell short of analysts' earnings expectations by a penny and wants to push for stronger loan growth.

The Kansas City, Mo., company also benefited from higher yields on its loans and flat funding costs.

James Smith said his late enrollment in the state’s Republican Party meant he would be ineligible to be a candidate in its August primary and that he did not want to disrupt the nomination process.

TriStar Bank in Tennessee says a shortage of appraisers is slowing down its commercial real estate lending and raising the cost of appraisals. The claim has outraged appraisers, who argue that the bank is simply trying to avoid paying their fees.