Paul Davis

Many banks are wringing their hands about growth, but a small group of regionals have an even weightier imperative: growing enough to avoid the wrong end of a takeover offer.

With defense not enough for Richard Davis, U.S. Bancorp launches an offensive; Ken Lewis recycles quote from Hugh McColl's signoff; and more.

Lewis, who is set to retire at yearend, used his opening remarks at a conference hosted by B of A to again tout recent acquisitions such as Countrywide Financial Corp. and Merrill Lynch & Co.

Bank of America's and Citigroup's succession messes have resembled reality shows this year, but many regional banking companies are ripe for minidramas, too, with chief executives poised to turn over en masse.

Bank of America's and Citigroup's succession messes have resembled reality shows this year, but many regional banking companies are ripe for minidramas, too, with chief executives poised to turn over en masse.

That loud ticking you hear is Ken Lewis' tenure running out. Bank of America Corp.'s shareholders won't miss the sound.

Bank stocks ended a volatile day up slightly Tuesday as investors digested shakeups overseas and domestic uncertainty.

BB&T Insurance Services bought Oswald Trippe and Co. Inc. of Fort Myers, the $165 billion-asset parent company said. The acquisition includes 130 employees and offices across southwest Florida. It does not include four Oswald Trippe offices in North Carolina. The sale price was not disclosed.

Several banking companies' decision to adjust their overdraft fee policies, along with an expected Federal Reserve ruling affecting other vital fee structures, threaten to alter the ubiquitous product.

More than a year into the financial crisis, the carnage caused by high unemployment has expanded into states whose economic health had been taken for granted. Banks once thought to be relatively immune from the woes of California, Florida and Nevada are finding there's no place to hide.

Bank of America Corp. wants to remind everyone that Merrill Lynch & Co. is more than just a sideshow. Trying to move beyond the lawsuits and congressional hearings, Bank of America will finally start using Merrill Lynch & Co. for what it intended when the Charlotte company bought the beleaguered investment bank in January — to develop wealth management products.

Capital One Financial Corp. returned to profitability in the third quarter. The $168.5 billion-asset McLean, Va., company earned $425.6 million, compared to $374.1 million a year earlier.

Synovus Financial Corp. reported its fifth straight quarterly loss due largely to credit costs. The $34.6 billion-asset Columbus, Ga., banking company lost $423.4 million in the third quarter, or $1.27 per share.

Tech glitch interrupts Regions' 3Q conference call; Belgian consulting firm sets up banking group in North America; and more.

Remember the old days, when some regional banks would report good news at earnings time, and others bad? The financial crisis is far from over, but a pack of regionals provided just such a study in contrasts Tuesday. Not only did the split news give a whiff of the old normal, but it provided signs of recovery and what kinds of companies could lead it.

Far from predicting the worst is over, BB&T chief Kelly King offered remarks during an earnings conference call that foreshadowed an indefinite case of the doldrums for the industry.

Departing Chief Executive Kenneth D. Lewis had better hope Bank of America Corp.'s third-quarter results are not the final draft of his legacy. Nearly all the company's big acquisitions of the past four years contributed to a hefty loss. Cards, mortgages and private banking were in the red; commercial lending suffered notable credit losses, and investment banking income dipped from the preceding quarter.

Departing Chief Executive Kenneth D. Lewis had better hope Bank of America Corp.'s third-quarter results are not the final draft of his legacy.

JPMorgan Chase CFO Cavanagh plays down succession speculation; familiar name moving up the ranks at Synovus; former BB&T chief Allison a hall of famer; and more.

The apparent end of a sticking point between Bank of America Corp. and investigators of the Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. takeover highlights the pitfalls of big companies hiring numerous law firms for legal opinions.