Finance

Net interest income rose sharply at Wells Fargo and especially JPMorgan Chase last quarter, thanks to lighter-than-expected deposit costs. But questions linger about how long both companies can keep a lid on those expenses and whether smaller competitors can do the same.

Jane Fraser defended Citigroup's recently announced organizational overhaul and specific performance targets, saying the plan is different from prior restructurings because it's designed to fundamentally change how the company operates.

JPMorgan Chase now tops Wells Fargo in third-party servicing, origination volume and on-balance-sheet home loans, according to company filings.

The Pittsburgh-based regional bank expects to save $325 million next year as it reduces its staff by 4%. Executives said the cuts are necessary because revenue has fallen amid a surge in interest rates and a decline in loan volumes.

The recent round of terminations comes after the neobank cut 225 employees in January.

The San Francisco-based bank reported $13.1 billion in net interest income in the third quarter, up 8.3% from a year earlier, and raised its full-year guidance. Noninterest expenses rose more than expected, though, totaling $13.1 billion in the quarter.

Net interest income was $22.9 billion in the third quarter, above analysts' expectations. The biggest U.S. bank says it now expects to generate $88.5 billion from the revenue source this year.

The job cuts came after CEO Bill Demchak said in July that he was "taking a hard look" at opportunities to reduce expenses. PNC joins a growing list of banks that have laid off workers amid declining growth prospects.

Other banks likely will follow the lead of the Richmond, Virginia, company and tap the equity in their branch networks as alternative sources of capital grow more costly, experts say.

The shape it takes could have implications for how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac price loans for nonbanks and depositories.