Bank of America (BAC) has hired more than 30 bankers in the greater Chicago area as part of a broader plan to beef up its services for small-business owners.

Provident Bank in Montebello, N.Y., has recruited another team of lenders away from a rival bank as part of its broad plan to boost its commercial lending in the New York City area.

The new tool, Equifax says, monitors identities across dozens of industries and thousands of banks.

Use eminent domain to refinance unaffordable mortgages, cut through the mire of servicers, home equity investors and trustees. Protect homeownership and communities while respecting everyone's property rights.

Double-digit loan growth boosted the bottom line more than 20% at Signature Bank (SBNY) in New York.

The giant retailer has said it will oppose a swipe-fee settlement with Visa and MasterCard that was proposed earlier this month.

Synovus Financial (SNV) continued its comeback, reporting its fourth profitable quarter in a row.

RBS Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., has signed a referral agreement with brokerage Oppenheimer & Co., in a bid to boost its commercial lending to middle-market businesses.

Consumer advocates, regulators and others are encouraged when companies take a "we want to design the best product" approach rather than a "we want to meet a minimum threshold" approach.

Regions Financial's second-quarter earnings spiked as the Birmingham, Ala., company managed to reduce expenses and problem loans.

Second-quarter profits almost doubled at Zions Bancorporation (ZION) from a year earlier, but the Salt Lake City company's results still fell short of analysts' expectations.

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BancorpSouth posted lower earnings from the first quarter after adjusting for lower valuations in its mortgage servicing rights, the company said Monday.

Second-quarter profit at Eagle Bancorp (EGBN) rose 57% from a year ago, as the Bethesda, Md.-based company grew its loan portfolio and gathered more fee income.

Fueled by increased fee income, Chemical Financial (CHFC) in Midland, Mich., posted its highest quarterly earnings per share in more than six years.

Visa and MasterCard repeatedly have been targets of legal actions and legislation over their policies. It has cost them and their issuers billions over the years in settlements and lost revenue.

The Milstein family's recent sale of Emigrant Bank's New York branches shows how banks can innovate when they don't answer to a wide shareholder base.

The U.S. regulator overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks has hired a consulting firm to create contingency plans for taking the mortgage-finance firms into receivership, according to contract documents.

S&T Bancorp's second-quarter profit fell 36% from the same quarter last year, to $8.6 million, as gains in fee income could not offset narrowing margins and an uptick in problem loans.

Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) in Warren, Pa., posted higher second-quarter earnings after delinquent and nonaccrual loans fell to their lowest levels in four years.