The company, which completed a major acquisition last year, said tax reform will help it generate a higher return on average assets.

The Rosemont, Ill., bank rode loan growth, interest rate trends and noninterest-income gains to a double-digit increase in profits in the first quarter.

Profits soared at the Dallas bank as recent interest rate hikes and ongoing expense cuts outweighed weakness in the company’s loan book and in its fee income.

Lending, especially in some consumer segments, increased at Bank of America in the first quarter, and CEO Brian Moynihan expects that to continue this year. However, for market watchers skeptical about the industry's growth prospects, BofA's numbers may do little to change their minds.

A $135 million increase in litigation expenses related to its 2011 acquisition of Wilmington Trust overshadowed a wider net interest margin and improved credit quality for the Buffalo, N.Y., company in the first quarter.

Bank’s earnings report notes possible $1 billion in fines; loan-loss accounting rule will be rolled out over three years.

Bank of America Corp. hit a milestone in its years-long effort to get costs under control.

The bank revealed Friday that it is facing hefty regulatory penalties and will likely have to restate first-quarter earnings. Declines in loan balances and fee income and questions about upcoming stress tests are only adding to investors' worries.

The firm warned Friday that it may take a charge of as much as $1 billion to settle a U.S. probe of its consumer business.

Record loan originations and strong growth in wealth assets under management more than offset a double-digit increase in expenses at the San Francisco company.