With the Education Department nearing a deal with Navient Corp. over allegations the company cheated active-duty troops on federal student loans, the end could be near for a much delayed and heavily criticized investigation.

SunTrust Banks in Atlanta reported higher first-quarter profit as stronger fee income and lower expenses helped offset a drop in income from lending.

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OFG Bancorp in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said it will record a $24 million provision tied to a loan participation it placed on nonaccrual status.

WASHINGTON — Consumers may see little change in the ultimate cost of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loans despite a restructuring of certain loan fees announced Friday by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Coastal Financial and Prime Pacific Financial Services, each based in Snohomish County, Wash., have agreed to merge.

The California company is dealing with a pool of stressed energy loans it inherited from last year's purchase of CapitalSource. The pain shouldn't make the deal less appealing, but it is likely taking up more time than management may have expected.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week, including thoughts on the sale of GE Capital and how the CFPB's new mortgage disclosure forms will shake up the industry.

Costco Wholesale Corp. has attained a goal that retailers have sought for years: near-zero expenses for credit-card payments.

Comerica reported strong loan growth across many of its business lines in the first quarter, but it's the bank's exposure to the energy sector that continues to draw the most attention from analysts and investors.Energy-Related Exposure Surfaces in Pacwest's Earnings.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., reported a 3.4% increase in profits in the first quarter as fee-income and loan growth helped offset lower margins and higher expenses.

American Express' financial performance is already suffering from the pending loss of its Costco card business in U.S., pressuring the company's focus on emerging payments technology to provide a financial lift to calm nervous investors.

Digital innovation has yet to coalesce around any one executive. Chief marketing officers are ideally positioned to fill the void, since they are the natural leaders in understanding the entire customer experience from origination and sales through delivery and measurement.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., swung to a first-quarter loss after it paid $212.5 million to settle an investigation into its pre-crisis mortgage dealings.

Home Bancshares in Conway, Ark., has bids out to buy three banks that, if successful, would add $2 billion in assets.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and from our social media platforms.

People's United Financial in Bridgeport, Conn., reported higher first-quarter profit on higher lending fees and gains on the sale of loans.

American Express Co., this year's worst performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, said first-quarter profit rose 6.5% as expenses declined.

Sandy Spring Bancorp, in Olney, Md., reported an increase in quarterly profit because of an increase in mortgage revenue.

The high-flying sector is primed for a correction, industry leaders said this week. Declining credit standards are one of the top concerns.