Finance

The company benefited from increases in residential and construction lending.

Though total loans and deposits were down from the end of 2017, management expressed optimism that things will pick up over the rest of this year.

The divide highlights a lingering question about how much commercial and retail depositors value cutting-edge technology over price — and whether midsize banks can keep pace with bigger rivals when it comes to tech investments.

A Virginia bank's decision to pursue a charter in North Carolina puzzles some observers, given the added complexity and costs.

The Los Angeles bank also benefited from a reduced reliance on costlier certificates of deposit.

The Chicago custody bank also benefited from a recent acquisition of a UBS business in Europe and the lower federal income tax rate.

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

The Alabama bank agreed to buy Peoples Bank for $23 million as part of a plan to target new Southeastern markets.

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.