Texas

Bank executives have faced relentless questions about their energy-sector exposure during fourth-quarter earnings calls this month, as oil has bobbed above and below $30 a barrel. They are taking more drastic actions to contain losses, but it still might not be enough.

The energy sector downturn took a big bite out of quarterly earnings at Cullen/Frost Bankers in San Antonio.

Santander Consumer USA Holdings on Wednesday reported a sharp drop in profits, due to losses tied to its exit from personal lending.

Independent Bank Group in McKinney, Texas, has exited the Small Business Lending Fund program.

KeyCorp believes it can surpass cost-cutting projections tied to its purchase of First Niagara Financial, while BB&T believes market duress could present it with more acquisition opportunities.

Texas Capital Bancshares in Dallas reported lower quarterly profit that largely reflected an increased provision for energy loan losses.

Management has also been allocating more resources to other markets to add loans and boost fee income in businesses such as card services and wealth management. Such moves are designed to offset fallout from an energy book that shrunk by 14% last year.

BOK Financial in Tulsa, Okla., has acquired E-Spectrum Advisors, a Dallas investment bank that focuses on the energy sector.

Banks have made changes to overdrafts, such as lowering fees offering clearer explanations. They better, as the CFPB will soon offer new rules for overdrafts. Plus, overdraft revenue has declined at many banks. Still unanswered is the question of how to offer short-term credit, if overdrafts disappear.

BOK Financial in Tulsa, Okla., has agreed to buy Weaver Wealth Management, an investment advisory firm in Texas.