Higher dividends and more aggressive repurchase programs are bound to attract more investors, which could boost stock prices and prompt more dealmaking, analysts said.

The largest banks announced plans to distribute capital back to shareholders after the Fed gave passing grades to everyone following this year’s CCAR stress tests.

Even with card defaults ticking up slightly, regional banks remain committed to pursuing more credit card business as they look to both diversify their balance sheets and deepen relationships with customers.

Fifth Third, Huntington Bancshares and KeyCorp are among the companies backing an effort to bring startups to the Buckeye State.

Even with net interest margins improving, banks are reluctant to raise rates on deposits until more floating-rate loans reprice. But how long can they wait before depositors start demanding higher yields?

Huntington, Wintrust and Eagle reported extremely low quarterly chargeoff ratios, and their CEOs say they remain confident about the future. But, as one observer says, "ultimately some sector is going to get overextended."

Opus Bank has added Paul Greig, who was CEO of FirstMerit until its sale in July, as a director.

Andy Harmening will succeed longtime retail banking chief Mary Navarro, who is retiring in June.

Huntington Bancshares says it is especially well positioned to benefit from a commercial lending boom that could accompany a revival of U.S. heavy industry, but other lenders also say they are upbeat.

Acquisition pushes quarterly revenues past $1 billion for first time ever.