SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of protesters descended upon San Francisco's financial district to protest against Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) at the bank's annual shareholder meeting here.

PremierWest Bancorp's losses widened in the first quarter as problem loans continued to drag down results as the Medford, Ore., company.

Aided by strong client transaction growth, Total System Services reported that its first-quarter earnings rose more than 15%, to $56.4 million, from a year earlier.

The Birmingham, Ala., bank made more money and spent less on bad loans than expected, but CEO Grayson Hall had to answer questions about why other Southeastern regional banks grew loans and revenue when it did not.

BancorpSouth (BXS) of Tupelo, Miss., is coming off its strongest quarter in two years as improved asset quality and modest growth in fee income more than offset declining loan revenue.

A former H&R Block Inc. (HRB) unit has agreed to pay $28.2 million to settle charges it misled investors by failing to disclose that its financial condition was significantly deteriorating, the Securities and Exchange Commission said.

Loan-loss provisions keep plummeting at community banks, as credit trends improve and a need for protective stockpiles subsides. The drop has contributed to some community banks beating analysts’ profit estimates for the first quarter.

Truman Bank of St. Louis has been undercapitalized since late last year and the Federal Reserve Board has issued a Prompt Corrective Action order saying said it has 90 days to either bolster its capital levels or find a buyer.

PrivateBancorp (PVTB) in Chicago reported first-quarter earnings of $10.8 million, up 44% from a year earlier, as credit costs fell and the company collected more fees.

Most major banks sell rights to soured loans to debt collectors for pennies on the dollar. Those pennies can add up to tens of millions in dollars in revenue for a large card issuer, but American Express and USAA have long left that money on the table.

Strategic defaulters have lost the incentive to pay. Something should be done to replace that incentive, not simply reduce debt.

PNC Bank executive William S. Demchak has moved a step closer to the corner office now occupied by Chief Executive James E. Rohr.

The CFPB is seeking information for a study about consumer arbitration clauses, viewed by observers as the first step toward imposing restrictions on the controversial provisions.

Shares of UMB Financial (UMBF) hit a 52-week high Tuesday after the Kansas City, Mo., company reported a record $46.4 million profit in the first quarter, a 50% increase from the same period last year.

Synovus Financial (SNV) is coming off its most profitable quarter in four years and now everyone wants to know when the Columbus, Ga., company plans to repay the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

A program unveiled by two federal agencies Tuesday will allow banks to provide more than just loans to aspiring small-business owners.

BOK Financial (BOKF) in Tulsa, Okla., reported first quarter earnings of $83.6 million, up from 29% from a year earlier, as credit costs lowered and mortgage banking revenues soared.

Aided by strong loan growth, Signature Bank (SBNY) in New York reported first-quarter net income of $42.4 million, up more than 22% from a year earlier.

The acquisition would add 15 branches and deepen penetration in key markets.

Goldman Sachs shareholders will decide next month whether to reelect board member James A. Johnson, a former CEO of Fannie Mae, who is facing vocal opposition from a large mutual fund investor.