Bank of America Corp., the second- biggest U.S. lender, said fourth-quarter profit more than quadrupled as the company sought to quell claims tied to defective mortgages. The results beat most Wall Street estimates, and the stock rose in early New York trading.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland has freed United Community Financial (UCFC) from a six-month-old enforcement action.

Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle reported substantial deposit runoff tied to its purchase of 51 Bank of America (BAC) branches.

In the wake of a new edict from Washington, the San Francisco bank must decide whether to discontinue the controversial consumer loan product.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp (HEOP) in Paso Robles, Calif., disclosed that its chief financial officer is leaving after only a year at the company.

The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the termination of an enforcement action levied in 2010 against First Southwest Bancorp of Alamosa, Colo.

JPMorgan Chase's large and diversified operations -- including auto lending, wealth management and one-time sales of assets -- helped it shrug off its most recent round of eye-popping settlement and other costs.

The wife of a former Missouri State Representative has filed a lawsuit against Central Bank of Kansas City for alleged fraud.

The San Francisco bank's solid gains in auto, business and other lending could bode well for other large and regional banks, analysts say.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has lifted a consent order against the recently recapitalized North Community Bank in Chicago.

Mortgage banking is like the little girl in the nursery rhyme: "When she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad, she was horrid."

Golden Pacific Bancorp in Sacramento, Calif., has hired Virginia A. Varela, a longtime banker and regulator, as chief executive.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has already cut its forecast for mortgage lending this year because of declining loan applications and rising interest rates.

Banks should brace for smaller mergers as technology vendors look to provide more one-stop shopping.

Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle posted higher quarterly earnings despite costs tied to a recent acquisition.

The South Florida-based defendants in an alleged mortgage relief scam will surrender their assets and be banned permanently from providing mortgage relief and debt relief to consumers under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo kicked off bank earnings season with decidedly mixed results. Both were solidly profitable, but their methods for remaining so suggest that smaller rivals may have a hard time following suit. American Banker editors discuss the results and what they say about the industry's prospects for the year ahead.

New York state regulator Benjamin Lawsky on Tuesday recommended reforms that aim to prevent online payday lenders from debiting consumers' bank accounts through the automated clearing house network.

The CFPB should establish a working group – of banks, credit reporting agencies, other regulators, Silicon Valley startups, retail consumer lenders and others – to ensure a level regulatory playing field and to conduct a thoughtful examination of American consumer credit.

Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) in Kansas City, Mo., reported lower quarterly earnings because of lower income from lending.