Astoria Financial (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., reported strong second-quarter results thanks to a decline in expenses and improving credit quality.

Fifth Third, Huntington and KeyCorp all meet or beat earnings estimates, but in conference calls with analysts Thursday their executives were cautious about their growth prospects for the second half of the year.

Deposit costs lagged short-term interest rates on the way up and the way down during the last cycle. A relatively large representation of long-term certificates of deposits could help as rates rise.

First Republic Bank's shares surged Thursday after the San Francisco lender reported a 16% rise in quarterly profit, driven by investment-advisor revenue.

The $23.3 billion-asset company reported Wednesday a second-quarter profit of $74 million, 5% higher than the second quarter of 2012.

Dodd-Frank spurred many mutual banks to convert to stock ownership. Now these well-capitalized, strategically located institutions are approaching the end of the three-year probationary period before they can be sold.

Flagstar Bancorp (FBC) in Troy, Mich., plans to outsource the servicing of some $3 billion of defaulted mortgages.

PrivateBancorp (PVTB) in Chicago reported a jump in quarterly income as costs associated with soured loans and foreclosed properties fell sharply.

The nation's largest retail banks could lose $92 billion in deposits and $5.1 billion in revenues in the next year, as frustrated customers switch to smaller banks and credit unions, according to a new study.

KeyCorp (KEY) reported a decline in second-quarter earnings, citing additional expenses from a cost-cutting initiative.

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) in Los Angeles reported flat quarterly earnings as higher expenses offset gains from securities sales.

Fifth Third Bancorp said second-quarter profit rose 58% as lending and fee income grew and the bank posted a gain from selling a stake in Vantiv Inc.

BB&T posted a 7% increase in second-quarter profit on improved performance at its insurance and securities units and lower bad-loan charges.

NEEDLES, Calif. – Desert Communities FCU has moved into its new location, an old Bank of America building.

Customers are putting their cash to work, or at least taking it out of the bank, and bankers like U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis think that could signal higher demand for loans down the road.

With mortgage rates climbing in recent weeks homeowners have switched from feverishly pursuing refinancing to buying new homes, a Federal Reserve Board report said Wednesday.

SLM Corp., the student lender known as Sallie Mae, reported a second-quarter profit of $543 million as private education delinquencies fell.

American Express Co., the biggest credit-card issuer by purchases, posted a second-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates as customer spending increased.

Higher expenses and an uptick in problem loans weighed down quarterly profits at Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) in Pikeville, Ky.

Strong gains in asset-management fees and a variety of one-time benefits helped offset a dip in interest income at the Pittsburgh bank. Its CEO says to look for more of the same in the second half of the year — and not to expect it to buy another bank.