Commercial lending

Oil and gas companies are borrowing to invest in more drilling and new processing facilities to meet rising global needs for U.S. fossil fuels. Several banks said energy loan demand is expected to strengthen further this year.

A bill offered by Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, would repeal Dodd-Frank Section 1071 and eliminate any data-collection requirements for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The Dallas bank made some headway on its goal to slim down its multifamily loan portfolio, but $17 million in bad loans led to a bottom-line loss in the fourth quarter.

The Rutherford-based Blue Foundry Bancorp reported an eighth consecutive quarter of red ink, but a widening margin and positive loan growth trends hint at better times ahead.

During fourth-quarter earnings calls, bank leaders said they don't expect borrower demand to pick up until the second half of 2025. But to the extent there's optimism, it involves business lending.

Valley National Bank and Dime Community Bancshares expect a better balance of deposit costs to help boost their net interest margins in 2025.

The case against Yellowstone Capital, which state officials alleged deceived small-business borrowers, has brought attention to the industry.

The Dallas-based company expects average loan growth to be flat to up 1% from 2024, driven by the ongoing payoffs of commercial real estate loans, executives said.

The Alabama-based regional bank reported stronger earnings on a bump in capital markets fee revenue and lower expenses, but its total loans declined and its charge-offs increased. It expects only modest loan growth this year.

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday approved UMB Financial's pending $2 billion acquisition of Heartland Financial.