Americas

Fulton Financial (FULT) in Lancaster, Pa., has added its name to the growing list of banks closing branches to cut costs.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. filed a lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court in Colorado against nine former executives and directors at United Western Bank, which failed in 2011.

The $5.6 billion-asset company’s fourth-quarter earnings rose 29% from a year earlier, to $15.3 million.

Renasant (RNST) in Tupelo, Miss., posted a big increase in quarterly profit following its recent purchase of First M&F.

TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) in Chico, Calif., has agreed to buy North Valley Bancorp (NOVB) in Redding, Calif.

Zions Bancorporation (ZION), the Utah lender that forecast last month the new Volcker Rule would wipe out its profit, said losses will be about half what it expected after regulators eased enforcement.

TrustCo Bank (TRST) in Glenville, N.Y., reported higher quarterly profits because of loan growth and improved asset quality.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill., recorded higher fourth-quarter earnings because of an increase in net interest income and a lower loan-loss provision.

The $2.1 billion-asset People will pay $12.6 million in cash and stock for the $91 million-asset Midwest in a transaction that is expected to close by mid-2014. Midwest also has $61 million in loans and $79 million in deposits.

The $22.4 billion-asset company reported a profit of $64.3 million, or $1.34 per share, a 28% increase from the same quarter in 2012.