Now that the Federal Reserve has raised short-term rates four times in the past 18 months, all eyes are on deposit costs as banks seek to keep pricing low and fatten margins. But that effort is complicated by the fact that banks must prepare for the unwinding of the Fed's balance sheet and consumers' rapid adoption of mobile deposits.

In a sign of broader competition ahead, bigger banks are raising the interest they pay on deposits held by business customers. The big question is how hard will it be for banks to maintain margins and to stave off consumer demands for better rates.

As you'll see from this list, regional banks are doing a better job bolstering their reputations than the big banks are, according to the 2017 American Banker/Reputation Institute Survey of Bank Reputations.

Wells Fargo aside, the industry overall should be pleased with the results of our annual survey of bank reputations. One key insight: Displaying strong ethics is an effective way to improve what people think of your bank.

Even as units of a larger holding company, local banks fight the perception that they can’t provide sophisticated services like corporate or private banking. Executives say that unifying the brand will help Synovus better compete against larger players.

The hand-wringing over business lending has overshadowed the fact that consumer lending — particularly for regional banks — has become a strong and steady engine of growth.

The Columbus, Ga., company also announced late Monday that it is buying the credit card assets and brokered deposits of the retailer Cabela's and will then sell the card portfolio to Capital One.

Bank earnings could be hurt this year as big retailers close stores and file for bankruptcy. The situation has sparked a debate about how much CRE and C&I books will suffer just as lenders were putting other commercial woes behind them.

Three midsize banks projected increases in loans this year in the latest round of earnings discussions, but their levels of optimism varied, and their commercial lending strategies in some cases conflicted.

The Columbus, Ga., bank reported higher fourth-quarter profit on growth in business loans and mortgage banking.