Banner Corp. (BANR) in Walla Walla, Wash., reported higher than expected earnings because of a surge in mortgage-banking income and service fees.

Loans and fees lifted Community National Bank in Great Neck, N.Y., in the fourth quarter.

Following bankers' positive reaction to the bureau's QM regulation, industry observers are optimistic about the prospects for added flexibility in the QRM rules that will follow.

Two dozen former mutual thrifts, including OmniAmerican, have reached or are nearing the end of a three-year ban from selling themselves. Let the M&A chatter begin.

Flushing Financial in Lake Success, N.Y., is set to convert to a bank.

Conversion activity has declined in recent years, though some observers believe mutual thrifts could find market conditions more accommodating in coming months.

Univest (UVSP) in Souderton, Pa., reported lower quarterly earnings because of higher expenses.

Political denial and cover-up are in the CFPB's DNA. The agency was predestined to be overbearing, which will only hurt borrowers in the long run.

A.W. "Tom" Clausen, who led San Francisco-based Bank of America before and after serving as president of the World Bank, has died. He was 89.

Trustmark (TRMK) in Jackson, Miss., posted double-digit quarterly earnings growth because of increased mortgage-banking activity and higher fee income.

Better credit quality helped Bank of Commerce (BONC) in Charlotte, N.C., narrow its losses.

The No. 2 home lender will market the government's Home Affordable Refinancing Program to hundreds of thousands of customers acquired from MetLife. To speed closings, it's licensing Quicken Loans' technology.

BV Financial (BVFL) in Baltimore added profits in the company's fiscal second quarter.

Citigroup's private wealth management division has agreed to sell a trust bank subsidiary to Reliance Financial in Atlanta.

Management expressed frustration about expense control during a conference call to discuss quarterly earnings.

Banks including Wells Fargo and KeyBank are helping online customers predict their short-term cash flows, in an effort to increase satisfaction.

State Street Corp. said Friday it will shed roughly 630 positions, or 2% of its global work force, in the coming year.

Southwest Bancorp (OKSB) in Stillwater, Okla., reported higher earnings because of lower expenses, fewer loan losses and higher fee revenue.

Northfield Bancorp in Woodbridge, N.J., has completed the stock offering for its conversion to a fully public company.

It seems clear that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau believes balloon mortgages are not abusive or predatory. Why, then, does the rule so restrict their use?