The Minneapolis company reported gains in lending and fee income, but merit-pay increases and compliance-related spending contributed to higher noninterest expenses.

Citigroup reported fourth-quarter profit that surpassed analysts’ estimates as trading revenue jumped 31%, more than the bank had forecast last month.

Three midsize banks projected increases in loans this year in the latest round of earnings discussions, but their levels of optimism varied, and their commercial lending strategies in some cases conflicted.

Higher lending for mortgages, construction and commercial real estate boosted Fulton Financial's profit.

The Michigan company expects a recently announced mortgage initiative to produce solid growth in 2017.

Asset quality remained solid as the Little Rock company improved loan-to-deposit, efficiency ratios last quarter following two major bank acquisitions.

Improved credit quality also helped compensate for flat loan growth at the Dallas bank.

The Columbus, Ga., bank reported higher fourth-quarter profit on growth in business loans and mortgage banking.

The San Francisco bank said Friday that it plans to close at least 400 branches over the next two years, part of an effort to reduce annual expenses by $2 billion.

JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and PNC reported lackluster revenue growth as higher trading fees and increases in commercial lending barely compensated for consumer-side challenges.